Page 21 of The Serpent’s Shadow

Chapter 8

Ravinica

ALARM BELLS WENT OFFin my head. I sat back, stunned, blinking at Corym. “Wait, w-what?” I stammered. My eyes swiveled from Corym’s brilliant orbs to the smug expression on Deitryce’s face.

Corym’s younger sister wasn’t fond of me. The feeling was mutual. In fact, all the elves except Corym seemed to want me out of here, if not dead. They saw me as an imposition—same as it ever was.

Even separated from my race, I couldn’t find my place here among the foreign Ljosalfar elves.

I shouldn’t have been surprised about Corym’s admission. Humans and elves were enemies. It was folly to think otherwise, and foolish for me to imagine a peaceful coexistence, it seemed.

My throat went dry as a desert. A hint of betrayal swept through me, which felt awful considering I had gotten rather close to Corym E’tar over the past few weeks. He had, at the very least, made my stay here manageable. The elf had tried to make me as comfortable as possible, despite the warnings and mutterings from his kinsfolk. He had trained me in new forms of physical combat I hoped to exploit back at the academy, and had helped burgeon my new runeshaping powers.

I didn’t have an answer for why my inherent magic had decidednowwas a good time to awaken. I wondered if my meeting with Lady Elayina had anything to do with it, or if mycontact with the elves and my proximity to Corym had been the cause.

It didn’t matter right now. I felt trapped, suddenly, by Corym’s announcement he’d been sent here to discover the defensive capabilities of Vikingrune Academy. I hoped that didn’t mean he was planning ontestingthose capabilities, too.

I had now learned thehowandwhythey were here. Both answers were concerning.A weakened portal? A scouting mission? What does it all mean? They aren’t telling me everything.

I had to remember, if our positions were reversed, I would probably do the same. Despite everything that had transpired over the past three weeks, I was more human than elf, had lived with them my entire life, and was considered an enemy to these people.

Cormy said nothing for a long time, simply studying the growing panic on my face. Then, “You asked,lunis’ai. I answered.”

I flared my nostrils in frustration. “I can only think of one reason why you would need to understand the defenses of Vikingrune Academy, Corym.”To attack it.

“I am sure. However, let me explain.” He twirled his fine wrist, lifting his palm from his knee. The entire situation here—crossed legs, sitting on the floor, eating from clay bowls—seemed very peaceful and Zen.

“I fear we are not the only people to have discovered the weakening wards of Midgard’s portals,” Corym said. “There are other races much more worrisome than ours, where humans are concerned.”

I chewed my lip. My rampaging heart managed to settle a bit at his explanation, though I wasn’t completely satisfied with his answer. “Can you expand on that, please?”

He glanced over at Deitryce, who gently shook her head, as if I wouldn’t notice. Then he went on, going against her gesture, which caused her to roll her eyes.

“The goblin and kobold tribes, inhabiting many of the nine realms. The jotnar, giants from Jotunheim, Muspelheim, as well as trolls. Dwarves and Dokkalfar from Svartalfheim. The list goes on, as I’m sure you know. They all pose threats to the middle-lands of Midgard. And, thus, humankind.”

I leaned forward, planting my hands on my kneecaps. “You’re saying they’re all headed here?”

“We can’t be sure. All we can do is prepare for the worst.”

“Prepare for the inevitability, you mean, brother,” Deitryce amended.

At least one person in this room was certain of an invasion.What about the elders? They haven’t said a damn word, the three of them sitting there with blank looks on their faces as if they don’t even understand us.

I found the three elder elves disconcerting. Were they saving their energy for something important? Were they vowed to silence by some creed of their people?

I shook the thoughts aside and focused on Corym and Deitryce. This seemed incredibly important—like knowledge I should have known the first damn day I came here.

“So, to be clear,” I said, “it’s not the Ljosalfar elves planning on invading Vikingrune Academy?”

“Not unless we’re given a reason to,” Corym said.

It was a half-ass answer, but it would have to do for now. “Why would all these creatures wish to come to Midgard?”

“For the same reason species always invade others: resources, power, enslavement, conquest. The empires of the realms are always looking for ways to outclass their opponents. Can you imagine what would transpire if a specific race had the resources of Migard at their disposal, and the sheer numbersof humans enslaved to their armies? It would make a people unstoppable.”

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