Page 35 of The Last Valkyrie

Ingvus spoke about Corym like he wasn’t a living entity, merely a commodity to be traded. I hated it, yet as long as Corymcould keep his cool, so could I. He didn’t deserve me trying to insert myself on his behalf, because he didn’t need my aid and it would have been small of me to try.

“Who would you have join me, sir?” Corym asked Sigmund. “You said on the battlefield a human—”

“I know what I said.” Sigmund pulled at his beard, thinking it over. “It can’t be a Hersir. After the loss of Thorvi—”

“Gods rest her soul,” Dahlia chirped.

“—our numbers are too thinned. It will have to be a respected soldier or cadet.”

My brow jumped when Magnus Feldraug stood up beside me. “Allow it to be me then, sir.”

I stifled a gasp, clearing my throat at the abruptness of Magnus’ suggestion.

The Gothi set his stare on Magnus, eyes getting narrower. Now it was Tomekeeper Dahlia who looked ready to pop at the suggestion, thinking she was going to lose her little science project.

Magnus explained himself, waving a hand, “I was made Drengr of my class. I am respected among the Hersirs”—his eyes comically glanced over to Dahlia—“and I have proven myself capable in battle. I am no friend to the elves, yet I have met them after escaping the Dokkalfar by slipping into the portal to Alfheim, alone. I already survived them once.”

There was a pause, a lull in the conversation as his words sank in. He said all the right things, surely, but I could see the hesitation on all three of the Hersirs’ faces.

Dahlia said, “Yes, you slipped into the portal, though we still haven’t had a proper investigation on the deaths of those Huscarls.”

There was accusation in her tone. It was rich, coming from her, considering that if she’d gotten her way, Magnus wouldhave been theonlyone to die during his scouting mission, from her hired assassins, rather than the only one to live.

Magnus had proven himself against all odds. Knowing that did nothing to dim the pang of loss and despair I felt pulling at my heart as I considered my two mates leaving me for any length of time.

“I will keep a close eye on Corym E’tar,” Magnus added. “I consider him a friend, but I consider the livelihood of Vikingrune Academy an even greater duty. I will succeed in lending Corym assistance where it’s needed, if it’s needed.”

I almost laughed as he painted it on thick. Trying to hide my smile at his sheer bootlicking—none of which sounded true if you knew the bloodrender at all—I turned my head to my other mates.

None of them were smiling. They looked perturbed, because we hadn’t discussed this and it seemed like Magnus was throwing his hat in the ring because he had some ulterior motive we didn’t know about.

After a lengthy bout of silence, Sigmund let out a grunt. It was neither a sign of acceptance or denial, it was simply a grunt. “I’ll bring the proposition up to the other Hersirs. Meeting adjourned.”

With that, he made to move off the stage. As Tomekeeper Dahlia and Steward Jorthyr saluted and went down the rightmost ramp, the Gothi went to the left.

I jumped up from my seat, hurrying after him before he could get behind the curtain and disappear. “Gothi, sir, if I may have a word?”

He froze, slowly turning to face me as the curtain flapped open from Thane Canute behind it, hidden, parting the way for the Gothi to join him.

I read Sigmund’s face for any signs of deceit, betrayal, vengeance—any sign Damon, Eirik, or the other cadets who had seen my dragon wings had spilled the truth to him.

I didn’t see any of it.

“What is it, cadet?” he asked brusquely. “You look exhausted. We all are. Get some rest before classes begin in earnest tomorrow.”

I gulped, feeling the presence of my mates behind me, giving me distance to speak in solitude with the chieftain. “That’s just it, sir. It’s about the letter I received before the battle.”

“From Lindi.”

“Yes. I must return to my village to speak with her. The note said—”

“Your mother is sick.”

My face screwed up. “You told me you didn’t read the letter, sir.”

“It was your mistake for believing me. The Gothi of this academy must be aware of everything going on.”

At least you’re honest in your lying. “So?”

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