Page 108 of The Last Valkyrie

As the students took their seats, the chatter didn’t die down. People were thrilled. Many of them came up to me to ask questions, wondering what else I could do.

“Can you breathe fire from your mouth?”

“How about breathing fire from your ass?”

“Hel,Ican do that—just did this morning after that spicy stew we had in the southern mess hall last night.”

“Are you a real dragon, or just, like, part-dragon? The wings are cool . . . but where’s your tail? Your talons?”

“Where do your wingsgowhen you don’t have them out?”

“Can I have your powers?”

“Can I have your autograph?”

I didn’t have answers for them. For the funnier questions, I joined in the laughter and camaraderie. My wings were gone,dissipated into nothingness, leaving no marks behind. Yet I could stillfeelthem somewhere inside me, in my soul perhaps.

My celebrity status ended when the Hersirs took the stage at the bottom of the hall, speaking loudly to get everyone in their seats and shutting up.

Kelvar, Dahlia, and Ingvus, the trio who had spearheaded the vote and seemed most involved in the situation, were at the front. Behind them were Axel, Gudleif, and six other Hersirs I only knew from cursory experiences—lesser tutors, men and women who stayed quiet, and newly arrived councilmembers who joined in the tally.

My eyes locked on the threesome at the front when I took my seat between Arne and Sven, up in the middle rows of the hall. Other students were still filtering in at the top level—students who hadn’t joined in the dragon event outside but had gotten word of the campus-wide assembly.

Which one of these three will it be?I wondered nervously. I didn’t trust Tomekeeper Dahlia or Hersir Jorthyr at all, yet I knew Kelvar was the most reluctant to leadership. Some months ago he had explained to us how leadership had passed him over to go to Sigmund Calladan, and how he’d been perfectly fine with that.

Some of the best leaders are those who don’t want the job . . .

I shared anxious looks with my men. We fell quiet so the Whisperer could speak to the students gathered. Not everyone in the academy was here, but the word would spread quickly enough.

“This has been a grueling process, cadets,” Kelvar said lowly. He didn’t have the booming, authoritative voice of Sigmund. If this was how he expected to run things, he was off to a bad start. “First thing, we have news to share with you which will be disconcerting and worrying. That is why we have taken our time in Fort Woden, exploring all our options.”

The students muttered amongst themselves, before being cut off by Kelvar with a lift of his palm.

“Gothi Sigmund Calladan is dead.”

Gasps and shock, rolling through the hall like a lightning bolt tagging from one head to the next.

No way to sugarcoat that one, I guess.

Kelvar kept his palm raised, and Tomekeeper Dahlia took over next to him.Funny to see them aligned on one thing.

“A burial and wake will be held for our departed Gothi, who died in battle against the dark elves on an academy-oriented mission off campus.”

That’s one way of putting it.

Dahlia cleared her throat, her large body jiggling as she stood straighter, more proudly. “We have been voting on the new leader of Vikingrune, and it has not come without its fair share of squabbles and doubts, students. However, we have finally reached a consensus.”

Ingvus Jorthyr took over then, so they could all have equal speaking time and look like they were in agreement. I noticed the scowl on his face, and my first assumption was he hadn’t gotten the top spot like he’d wanted.

Ingvus said, “We decided it is in the academy’s best interest to explore outside influences. Someone who can come in with fresh eyes, who can look at our situation with an unbiased, calm demeanor, and help us navigate our struggles.”

Shit. If not him . . . if notanyof them . . . then who?A headache built behind my eyes from the way he said things—the anxiety of it all.This is all political speak! Just get to the damned point, Jorthyr!

“And so,” Ingvus said, glancing at the man and woman to his left and right, “we would like to introduce you to your next Gothi of Vikingrune Academy.”

He stepped aside, creating a lane for the newcomer to step between the Hersirs.

As the tall, lanky presence filled out the stage from the back, the dark shadow cast on him became illuminated.

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