Page 153 of The Serpent’s Shadow

My brow furrowed, creases digging into my forehead. “What does that mean?”

He sighed and scratched his chin. “I think it’s alluding to the portal you said the elves took to escape the Huscarls attackingthem. Either that, or it was simply to designate a place of battle. This marking looked different—more important than the other ones, like the one near the hillside and river where we fought.”

“They know about that?” I hissed. “About all the Huscarls we killed?”

He nodded gravely.

“What . . . what do you think the marking meant, Magnus?”

“I think Vikingrune Academy is trying to force open the portal to Alfheim, love.”

I was utterly, completely freaked out. My gasts were flabbered and my heebies were jeebied. Magnus steamrolled an absolutebombshellat me, raising way more questions than I had before.

After we returned to the cafeteria to rejoin my other mates, I couldn’t stop chewing my lip. I kept thinking about Magnus’ words—the claim that the academy wanted to open the portal to Alfheim, the realm of the elves.Why? What do they want in Alfheim? To bring the war to the Ljosalfar? Could it be something so simple and devious?

I felt there had to be more to it.

I recalled my studies in Mimir Tomes. I didn’t know enough. Even my fragmented “memories” Lady Elayina had shown me were drawing a blank. That seemed like an eon ago, now.And what the hell is this about my relation to Elayina? How can that be possible?

I figured I could tackle that issue later on. I still had Corym to worry about—I needed to find and free the elf, for my own sanity.

Maybe I could even get him back to Alfheim, to his homeland, if I could break him out of whatever prison cell the academy was holding him in.

As Sven, Grim, and Arne carried on a blithe conversation, their words fading around me, Magnus stared across the table at me.

It didn’t take long for the others to get concerned with my quietness.

It was only when Grim said, “Little sneak, you all right?” that I raised my head and snapped into action.

Corym . . . Alfheim . . .

An idea came to me. I got up from the table without another word. I needed more information.

I knew where to find it.

I commissioned Dagny for my scheme. She was sitting in the lobby at Nottdeen Quarter, reading a book with her feet close to a hearth fire.

It was practically freezing outside now. This seemed like the most appropriate place for her: nestled up with a book in a cozy nook.

Snow was on the horizon, just waiting for the right moment to fall and smother Academy Hill in white frost.

Dagny obliged my request and we went to Mimir Tomes. Many students were walking through campus with luggage and belongings, preferring to take the next two weeks off before the start of the next term.

I envied them that ability, because I was too wrapped up in the goings-on at the academy to eventhinkabout leaving.

At the column-riddled library, Dagny went behind a bush. When she came out, she was a cat, prancing down the cobblestones.

I didn’t want to show my face in Mimir Tomes because Tomekeeper Dahlia scared the shit out of me—even more after what Magnus had said about her trying to poison him.

The fact Kelvar the Whisperer rescued him doesn’t make it any better. That man is the scariest fucker at this entire school!

Dagny slunk into the library through the front door.

I waited impatiently behind the bushes, gazing at the doors, murmuring to myself, “Come on, Dag. Don’t fail me now.”

When I saw the black-and-white fur of the cat shifter meandering out the front door, I silently cheered. Randi Ranttir walked behind her, dressed in gray acolyte-in-training robes.

My seeking mission—asking Dagny to bring Randi to me—was a success.

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