Page 16 of Blood of Ancients

“Iceshaper,” she answered, stepping past me to move through the hall. She said the word with more iciness in her tone than I commanded with my runeshaping.

I followed her, briskly keeping up with her shuffling gait. “How is the new field duty treating you?”

“I don’t like people. But I like helping people.”

I winked, smile growing. Ravinica’s best friend was nothing if not straightforward. “That quality is what made you such a great RA at Nottdeen, lass.”

She stopped walking, blinking at me behind her big Coke-bottle glasses. “Maybe. There’s no need for a resident’s assistant underground.”

I scratched the back of my neck. “Too true. Will you resume your RA duties once the snow stops and we emerge from this godless, dank dungeon?”

She tilted her head. “Are you always this dramatic?”

“Yes.”

Dagny kept walking. We turned a few corners and came into a room where three other acolytes-in-training stood eating their lunch at crooked benches.

“What is it you need, Arne?” she asked.

“Ravinica’s birthday is coming up. Randi told me that.”

“I’m aware.” She narrowed her eyes, as if expecting me to say something suspicious or secretive.

I rubbed my nape, feeling bashful. “I was wondering, erm, if you have any idea . . . uh.” I let out a deep breath. “What she . . . likes.”

“Likes, iceshaper?”

Loki save me, talking to the cat shifter was like pulling teeth at times, if you were on her bad side. Which I evidently still was.

“Yes.” I rolled my wrists in front of me, trying to spit it out. “For gifts! What sheenjoys. You know, presents, that sort of thing.”

For the first time with me, Dagny’s lips curled into a half-smile. It vanished as quickly as it had come on, and she became focused as she tapped her chin. “Uh, actually . . . no. Randi is more fun than me. Maybe she’s the bestie to ask.”

I frowned. “I’m asking you, Dagny. You’ve spent more time with her than anyone.”

“Except for her mates. Like you.”

I winced. “That might be true.”

I didn’t think it was true, because Ravinica had ended up at Nottdeen Quarter nearly every night for almost an entire year, and Dagny was always there.

Hearing the slight tinge of jealousy in her voice was curious, though. As if Dagny wished Vini had spent evenmoretime with her, rather than her men.

“She likes chocolate-covered peanuts,” Dagny said at last.

My face went blank. “Peanuts?”

A nod. “Isleton is the only place to get them around here. Probably hard to reach right now.”

I carded a hand through my blond locks, sighing. “True.”

“I think she also likes . . . spears? Weapons? Sorry, I’m not much help in this department.”

I let out a sigh. “Fair enough, lass. I’ll let you get back to your patients then.” With a wave of my hand and a slump in my shoulders, I turned to wander off.

“Wait, Arne.”

I spun with a smile plastered on my face.

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