“This must be how the Icelandic live,” Wendy teases. “Something has to melt the cold.”
“I’m so excited about tomorrow,” Mercy says. “I can’t wait to see this school. Have you visited it before, Dr. Keller?”
Kendrick shakes his head. “I have not. I’ve seen about as much as you have of the school. Only what’s available online.”
“It looks like a typical college campus,” Corwin says. “From what I can tell, anyway.”
“That’s my impression too,” Samuel agrees.
They begin talking about tomorrow and visiting the campus, meeting the students. Kendrick pulls me into the conversation sometimes, though I’m content just to listen. I haven’t given the campus much thought, honestly. I guess I’m a little excited, too. I’ve never seen a college campus outside of RDU. It’s the only place I applied, so I’m fortunate I even made it to college.
It was meant to be. RDU is where I belong.
CHAPTER 12
KENDRICK
It’s nice to listen to the students talking animatedly about what we’re here for. They’re excited about tomorrow, the school, the students, the student life. They’re excited to tell them all about RDU. That’s exactly what I was hoping for.
I try to split my attention evenly three ways, with one on Brevan—as I didn’t miss the way he bowed his head, becoming quiet as soon as Anna and Philomena approached—second, I watch the two girls, and third, I try to remain engaged with the conversation.
I’m not opposed to forgiveness if someone makes a mistake. Not at all. I don’t think anyone has a right to forgiveness, though. Your actions and words have consequences, and if you’re going to engage in either medium in an unsavory way, then the consequences are yours alone.
I note Anna trying to talk to Brevan, attempting to get him talking a few times. He seems to sink further into himself whenever she addresses him, though. Thankfully, she gets the hint and leaves him alone after the third attempt.
Brevan is much more willing to talk if someone outside the two girls engages with him. That makes me feel better. I don’tblame him. Why would you want to talk to people who you know think you’re a stupid jock? I can’t imagine that feels good.
“þórðargleði has an Arctic studies program,” Wendy says. “I’m dying to know more about that. I didn’t even know that Iceland’s an Arctic state until researching for this trip. That’s exciting!”
“That’s really cool,” Jerome agrees. “I didn’t know that either.”
“Okay, wait,” Xile says. “How do you say the name of the school? I’ve been pronouncing it TOR-dark-leh-dee.”
“Well, according to the internet, it’s THOR-thar-gleh-dih. It means happiness and joy,” Wendy says.
“I’ve also seen it translated to Thor’s joy,” Brevan offers, his voice timid.
“I saw that meaning too,” Wendy says, offering him a big smile. Brevan returns it, though with less sunshine behind it.
“It’s cool that we’re going to a school that has the same meaning as ours,” Xile says.
I’m not the only one who looks at them.
“Oh?” Jerome asks, raising a brow.
“How can a rainbow mean anything other than joy? And I’m sorry, but when do you see a rainbow?” Xile says.
“After a lightning storm,” Anna answers, grinning.
“Andwhocontrols lightning?” Xile prompts.
“Zeus,” Samuel, Corwin, and Mercy say together.
Xile rolls their eyes. “Sure, maybe in Greece. But here, it’s Thor. So yeah, our schools are already related.”
“I hate to spoil your theory, but Dorset has something to do with docile, white-faced sheep,” Zarek says. “Or it refers to a county in southwest England.Orit refers to a prehistoric culture in the American Arctic during the 1st millennium CE and was displaced by the Thule culture.”
“That’s the last name,” Xile says without missing a beat. “Like… last names trace our lineage, right? Clearly, we came from somewhere. In this case, we’re sheep from descendants of England who established a base in the frozen north. I’d like to point out that we’ve once more made a full circle and we’re back in the frozen north. Thor’s land!”
