Page 72 of The Serpent’s Shadow

I rushed down the empty hall of Nottdeen and gave myself a quick rinse in the showers, to wash the dirt of travel and the stink of caves off me.

Feeling refreshed, staring at myself in the mirror, I gave a stern nod in the reflection before setting off for Vala Chamber. If I was quick, I could still make Runeshaping Basics class.

Dagny was napping on her desk at the front like a lazy bobcat, a small smile on her face. I wondered if she had cat-likedreams as I tiptoed my way out of the dormitory, careful not to wake her.

Breathing in a lungful of sweet mountain air, I headed east. Students moseyed around all over—big barrel-chested men and broad-shouldered women; there were no weak people at this military training academy.

I noticed a few initiates double-take when they saw me trudging with purpose down the road. Brows rose, eyes bulged, and whispers scattered between them as I passed.

It slowed my roll, catching me by surprise. It appearedeveryonethought I’d been dead, because they looked at me like they’d seen a ghost.

I made it to the odd, egg-shaped structure of Vala Chamber—the runeshaping hub nestled within the village of longhouses where Astrid Dahlmyrr had jumped me with her goons a month ago.

With five minutes to spare, I walked inside along with the trickle of other initiates.

The first thing I noticed once inside the theater-style classroom was that Magnus was nowhere to be seen. He was the only man I’d traveled with who was a first-year initiate like me. I figured he must have been sleeping off his journey, with how sunken and exhausted he had seemed.

I didn’t think too much of his absence, and just hoped he didn’t have some debilitating disease or infliction he wasn’t telling me about.

The other thing I noticed as I took my seat near the front of the stage was the thread of whispers shooting from ear to ear didn’t stop. Gossip about me swam in circles, and I wondered if there was more to the whispers than I realized.

I waited impatiently at my seat, drumming my knees—

When a gasp ripped through the classroom behind me.

I glanced over my shoulder to find Randi Ranttir bounding down the steps in the middle of the room, two at a time.

“Raviiiin!”

She dropped her books. Her arms flailed wildly. She’d done her hair differently—four red-tipped braids flew around her head like whips.

I smiled as I stood to brace for impact.

Much like Dagny, the smaller lass launched at me and gave me a bear hug, pushing the air out of my lungs. She wrapped her legsandarms around me, going airborne and weighing me down. I had to dig my heels in to stay standing.

I held her in a hug like a front-facing backpack before she stumbled to her feet. She beamed at me, ear to ear. “I didn’t believe the rumors at first! You’re reallyback!”

With a crooked smile, I rubbed the back of my neck. “There’s already rumors?”

“Word travels fast at an academy so small, babe.”

I sighed. “Guess so. Well, um, yeah. Here I am.” I matched her smile and tried to match her energy, but it was impossible. We were simply built different.

Also like Dagny, I could see the cogs of questions spinning around in her head. She didn’t have time to barrage me with them, as a voice cleared behind us and got everyone’s attention.

Hersir Gudleif Selken, the sharp-faced, gaunt runeshaping professor, waded onto the stage in her black robe. Her gray-streaked hair fluttered behind her, and from the high ground she met my gaze.

Her expression was stern, which wasn’t surprising in itself, though Selken had always given me the benefit of the doubt because of the way Astrid treated me. Even though I couldn’t Shape in the past, she gave me preferential treatment, even allowing me to use unorthodox means to pass the midterm. Ifa water-filled condom and arrow combo could be considered “unorthodox.”

I quickly took my seat next to Randi, and the Hersir’s eyes never veered from mine, which left me spooked.

Gulping, I waved up at her. “Well met, Hersir Selken.”

She blinked. Crossed her thin arms over her robed chest. “Ravinica Linmyrr. Welcome back.” Her head tilted. “Do you find it appropriate to return to Runeshaping Basics . . . after everything that’s happened?”

My brow furrowed in confusion. “Um. E-Excuse me? I believe it’s appropriate, ma’am. I can Shape now.” I smiled, proud of myself.

With a sigh, Gudleif turned away, palming her forehead. “Gods above, no one’s told her,” she muttered to herself. Louder, to the rest of the two dozen students scattered about the semi-circle of stadium seating, she said, “Everyone sit. We’re continuing where we left off last week, delving into the intricacies of rune directives.”

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