Page 89 of The Serpent’s Shadow

“I’m fine,” I said stubbornly. “It hasn’t even started snowing yet.”

Arne gazed up at the dark sky. “It will soon. Winter in the Isle is no joke, Rav. What happened to that fur coat we bought you?”

That’s right. We. He was there when I got my new wardrobe—he made that possible.I cleared my throat, staring at the ground as I walked. “In my room. I forgot it.”

Arne said nothing, silence falling over us as we meandered away from the mess hall, out into the open campus grounds.

Far to my right as we made our way south, I could see the stark edges of the wall that surrounded the campus, the gates closed off. To my left, near the first line of trees that led deeper into campus, I felt the strange sensation of someone watching me.

When I glanced over there quickly, I thought I spotted yellow eyes out my peripheral, but it was gone once I stared at the dark, yawning trees.

Arne chuckled. “Told you he’s out there.”

Sven Torfen, eh? I’ll be damned.

“What is it you need from me, little fox?” Arne asked. He stopped walking. “Just ask, and I’ll be your courier.”

I stopped with him, facing the iceshaper. “A courier is exactly what I need.” My voice lowered, just in case, and I leaned in. “I want you to find the Lepers Who Leapt for me. That is if you don’t already know where they are.” Raising an expectant brow, I studied his face.

He shook his head, golden hair bobbing on his shoulders. “I don’t. But I swear I’ll find out for you.”

“Good.”

“Can I ask why?”

“No.”

His face tightened. Dipping his chin, chewing on the inside of his cheek—likely from frustration—he nodded glumly. “Very well. I won’t pry.”

His eyes lifted. I stared into them, noting the speck of green and purple that danced in his blue orbs. The man was Viking stock, through and through, even if he didn’t physically resemble our brawny forefathers.

He had the attitude of a Viking. The temperament. Cool under pressure. Knowing when to speak, when to shut up.

Arne understood the predicament he was in with me. I didn’t need to tell him one more fuck-up would cost him our relationship—and any good will hanging on by a thread—forever. He could read it in my face, just as I could sense the sincerity in his.

We both turned away at the same time, before our faces could get any closer. He cleared his throat and I felt a flush come to my cheeks. “If that’s all, Ravinica, I’ll be going. I’ll need to plan my escape out of the academy if I’m going to find—”

“Who sent you, Arne?” I abruptly asked.

His head whipped over. “Pardon?”

“To spy on me. Who was giving you your orders?”

He looked to the ground, ashamed. “My directives always came from Hersir Kelvar. Don’t know if he was working with anyone else. I suspect he was.”

I let out a hum. It was as I thought: The spy master was a dangerous man, pulling the strings around here.

Problem was I didn’t know which puppet his strings were attached to. I’d need to find out more about him if I was going to start some sort of mutiny, because he’d be the first line of defense against me.

Notably, Arne Gornhodr could prove invaluable on that front.In time, I’ll pry all the information out of Arne I need. He used me, so I can’t feel bad for using him, either.

“Do you know why Kelvar wanted me?” I asked.

His headshake was tiny. “No, lass. I was never told that part. Only that my sister would meet her grisly end if I didn’t do as he told.”

With a harrumph, anger rising through me—for what Arne had put me through, for what Kelvar had puthimthrough—I nodded slowly and tried to control my rage.

“For what it’s worth, Arne, I’m sorry for the stress the Whisperer put on you. I know it wasn’t an easy decision to make.”

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