Page 12 of The Serpent’s Shadow

“Are you here to bring up Vini, then?” she asked, tilting her head. “Because I’m rather tired of crying.”

I let out a soft sigh and shook my head, staring down at the counter. When I lifted my gaze, I said, “I am here to apologize, lass.”

“For what?”

“Ravinica had nothing to do with Astrid’s death. She was angry about getting attacked by Astrid, certainly. But she is not vengeful . . . like I am.”

Dagny’s angry expression returned. “How do you know that? What makes you an expert on how vengeful Vini might be—oranythingshe feels?”

“Because I have spent more time with my silvermoon than you might know, Dagny.” I lowered my chin to give her a pointed gaze. “What we spent our time doing alone is my memory to hold and cherish. I just wanted you to know—”

“Fine,” she cut in, waving her hand at me. “I already suspected as much. There’s a reason Grim was in a jail cell when we broke him out.” She matched my gaze with an expectant look of her own, narrowing her eyes. “Should I feel bad about breaking Grim out, Magnus?”

I pursed my lips. Slowly, I shook my head. “Grim Kollbjorn did not kill those girls, either. He was wrongly accused. So, no, you should not feel bad about helping him escape his cell.”

Dagny flared her nostrils. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because I killed them.”

She blanched a sickly pallor, pale as me. Her neck tightened, hollowed, and she lurched back, stumbling a step away from me.

I said it with no emotion, no change to my face. My twisted mind and rage during their deaths was gone. I had carried out the killings because I needed to keep a secret with Corta, and I needed to make sure Astrid never did something like that again to my silvermoon. It was as simple as that.

I could only tolerate bullies so far, and Astrid would have made Ravinica’s entire existence at Vikingrune Academy a hellscape.

Now, I had to deal with the fallout of my decisions. Namely, I had to ease the worries of theotherwomen on campus, like Dagny, and I had to face the consequences of my actions. There was also Tomekeeper Dahlia Alfinn to contend with—Astrid’s mother—who had been in an odd state of disappearance since her bastard daughter’s death.

I didn’t like that. Quiet plotting was scarier than outright rage, in my book.

As I studied Dagny’s startled face, she leaned forward and hissed, “Why did you just tell me that?!”

It was an odd reaction. I slanted my head. “I thought you’d want to know the others under your care are safe. Is that not the right thing to do?”

I was asking honestly. It was foreign for me to feel any sort of obligation toward others’ wellbeing.

Dagny looked baffled. “Well, yes, but—what the hell! Am I supposed to keep that a secret?”

I shrugged. “What you do with the information doesn’t matter to me, Dagny Largul. I have a plan to rectify the issue.”

“What’s your plan?”

I stood in front of Hersir Ingvus Jorthyr’s office, counting my breaths. It was at least five minutes before I knocked on the Warden’s door.

I knew Jorthyr’s ego was bruised after our break-out of Grim from his cell. The information I had to share was above Jorthyr’s pay grade, yet initiates like me could not get direct meetings with the Gothi.

I hoped what I had to say would get to Sigmund Calladan’s ears eventually. I suspected it would.

“Come in,” said Jorthyr’s gruff voice from the other side.

I entered the small office room and stood over the desk the Hersir sat behind.

“Magnus Feldraug,” he said, looking up. “What can I help you with?” The man’s blond-gray beard was in braids down to his chest. He had a hawkish look on his face.

“I have information you’ll want to hear, Hersir. In fact, the Gothi will want to hear it too, because I have come seeking a negotiation with Vikingrune Academy.”

Jorthyr stood. He was a tall man, equal to my height. His forehead creased with furrows. “What is this pertaining, initiate?”

There was no levity or acceptance in his voice. Only suspicion.

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