Page 5 of The Last Valkyrie

Sigmund said, “Huscarls will follow Thane Canute, commander of the guard. I will be among that troop. We will be the vanguard unit.”

The one-eyed, gnarly-looking soldier who never left Sigmund’s side stepped onto the stage next. He was a scary, huge man, nearly Grim’s equal in size. Somehow, the Thane made even Sigmund Calladan seem small by comparison.

“Bringing up the rear will be the initiates, led by Hersirs Gudleif Selken, our runeshaping expert, and Thorvi Kardeen, our historian.”

When the two women stepped onto the stage it became quite crowded. Thorvi was a frizzy-haired professor with big glasses, and didn’t look like she belonged anywhere near a battlefield. I also knew looks could be deceiving. Gudleif was taller, fierce with battle armor instead of her teaching robes, making her look like a shield maiden. I wouldn’t want to fuck with her, knowing her ability with runeshaping.

The three Hersirs next to Sigmund were my favorites: Osfen, Kardeen, Selken. I had come to appreciate them. They’d all helped me in times of need, in some way. Axel Osfen had provided me with the tools to succeed in my first runeshaping test, before my powers unveiled. Thorvi Kardeen was kind and patient with me, knowing my background. She was warm where everyone else was cold. Gudleif Selken had never joined in the animosity people like Astrid Dahlmyrr had shown a half-bred bog-blood like me. She had allowed me to pass tests in unorthodox ways. She rewarded cleverness rather than scoffed at it.

I would hate to see anything happen to any of them.What about the other Hersirs? What are their roles in this?

Sigmund paused, letting everyone mull over his commands and the striking wall of strength standing before us. Pin-dropsilence surrounded the assembly hall, the tension thick as a meaty steak. It had all gotten very real, very fast.

My mates and I would be with Axel Osfen, which made my blood pressure drop a little. It was relieving knowing I wouldn’t be separated from my guys, or Dagny and Randi, who were also third- and second-year cadets, respectively.

Part of me had expected Gothi Sigmund to do his usual underhanded tactics of not telling the students his plans. Instead, he was showing his cards, trying to mark a position of strength by lining up the Hersirs like the Avengers.

I was starting to see this threat was just as big and worrisome as I’d imagined, if the chieftain was throwing our whole army at the jotnar.

As I played over his words, a sick thought came to me, nagging and obtrusive. I tried to ignore but couldn’t.The initiates who showed up during winter—a good fifty of them, my brother Damon included—came early. They weren’t supposed to arrive until spring. I assumed they were brought in because of the Huscarl deaths reportedly caused by the elves to replenish our numbers.

But what if Sigmundknewsomething like this would happen? What if he needed cannon fodder for an upcoming war, and brought the initiates here as a preemptive measure?

My throat went dry at the prospect of Gothi Sigmund Calladan using our newest Vikingruners as human shields, to protect the stronger, verified warriors. As initiates, they didn’t even have the authority to use certain weapons, engage in specific combat drills, or Shape difficult runes.

Then again, he said they’d be the third regiment, bringing up the rear. Somewhat protected. Hopefully.I took solace in that tidbit and tried to tell myself I was being ridiculous, always assuming the worst about the Gothi’s motives.

My cynicism when it came to Sigmund didn’t come from nothing. He had a track record tainted by subterfuge and lies. The biggest lie of all, which I was determined to try and break, being that Vikingrune Academy was a place to teach humans how to fight elves, and that theelveswere our most feared enemies.

Sigmund hasn’t evenmentionedthe Dokkalfar roaming our lands! He knows they’re here because Hersir Kelvar told him during our debriefing.

Clearly, the aim had shifted. Now, instead of elves of both light and dark variety, it was giants.Theywere the threat, until a new one popped up for him to train his sights on.

It dawned on me that in order to keep Vikingrune Academy running and relevant, we wouldalwayshave an enemy. This was just the newest stock of them, no matter how much he said these were “unprecedented times.”

As always, the enemy comes from within. I’m certain of it.

I blinked aside my wayward thoughts. I was getting off-track. Though I loathed this man and believed he wanted me and my people compliant and submissive—if not dead—the fact remained: The jotnar were here. I couldn’t deny the risk they posed to our livelihoods, or that fighting them wasn’t the best route.

Continuing his sleepy pacing, Sigmund started up again, hands behind his back like a field sergeant.

“When you report to your respective Hersir tomorrow, you will be given a map of your route and your placement within the regiment. You willstayto your placement and not waver. Rations and water will be doled out in your travel packs. Our neighboring village of Isleton, as well as our academy storekeepers, have been working tirelessly over the past three days to make sure we have what we need for success—weapons, armor, equipment, food, water. Ten-percent of the academy willstay behind to guard our gates. I’ll be leaving Hersir Ingvus Jorthyr, our Steward, as regent in my absence. Tomekeeper Dahlia Anfinn will act as his deputy.”

A new palpitation rocked my heart.Ingvus and Dahlia. My two least favorite and the ones who hate me and my guys the most. Acting as leaders while we’re gone . . .

I could see a million ways that could turn out awfully. At the same time, I was content knowing they’d be away from us. The last thing I needed was distractions or backstabbing “allies” while on the battlefield.

Gothi Sigmund quieted, folding his hands in front of him, while students stared up at the men and women gathered on the stage. His voice lowered, causing students to lean forward to hear him as he spoke in a sage, calm way.

“I will leave you with this, students. Trust the man or woman to your right in the shield wall. Listen to your commanders. This is what Vikingrune Academy was created for by King Dannon a thousand years ago—to act as the first and last line of defense against extraplanar invaders seeking to wreak havoc on the rest of our beautiful planet.

“War is a terrible thing. Yet a necessary one. We’ve been lucky until now. Fighting has been inevitable all these centuries, and we’ve made sure not to get complacent in the invaders’ prolonged absence. We’ve always known there are beings from the other eight realms that would do everything in their power to subjugate and destroy us.

“Now that fight for survival is upon us, stomping on our doorstep. We will answer with steel, magic, and grit, and make our ancestors proud.”

The Gothi pounded a gauntleted fist to his armored chest with a clang then lifted it high in a salute.

“Long live Vikingrune Academy!”

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