Page 27 of The Serpent’s Shadow

“It’s no wonder to me.”

The iceshaper scoffed and spit again, clearing his throat. “What is your plan for my little fox—for Ravinica?”

I pursed my lips. “I plan to rescue her from her captors. If they even exist.”

He snorted at the last part of my remark, all but calling him a liar. “The big guy, I understand.” His chin nudged toward Grim behind me. “Butyou? You’ve done nothing but torment the girl since she arrived at Vikingrune. Same with your brother Ulf.”

“Ulf is an idiot.”

“We’re not talking about Ulf.”

Our eyes met in a stare-off.

I glanced away. “Maybe I’ve had a change of heart.”

“Why?”

“I’m not the one tied up being interrogated, Arne Gornhodr. You’re the one on trial here.”

He smiled humorlessly at me. It was a sickly expression with his eye closing up, bulging, the side of his pretty face looking a bit saggy.

When his smile vanished, he sat up straighter, adjusting his weight. His arms dug against the rope holding him in place. “Do you give me your oath you mean Ravinica no harm?”

“Of course,” I said swiftly. “You think I want to rescue her to harm her? What sense does that make?”

“So far you haven’t made a lot of sense, Torfen. I can’t read your mind. I have to be sure.”

“Fine. You have it. My oath.”

Arne nodded slowly, still examining me.

Grim had remained quiet during this entire interlude. He was observant and stoic. That was typical for him, and it allowed me to work my own way.Maybe we wouldn’t make such a bad team after all.

“I’ve been speaking with Kelvar the Whisperer,” Arne said, letting the words linger in the air.

I didn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me surprised. I nodded. “As I thought.”

He blinked. “Then why the fuck did you ask?”

“I wanted to see if you’re capable of telling the truth. What have you two been talking about?”

“The attack on me, Ravinica, and the Huscarls.”

“By the elves.”

“Yes.”

“What kind of elves were they?”

“Ljosalfar.”

“After a thousand years, give or take, they’ve decided to come to Midgard now? Why?”

Arne’s shoulders bobbed. “You’ll have to ask them.”

“And they took Ravinica.”

“Yes.”

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