The question might be theoretical for my classmates, but not for me. I’m responsible for stopping these attacks. Edith could have died. More still might. If someone does, it will be my fault because I couldn’t stop the berserkr. Even worse, I allowed it to escape. I was too distracted by needing to help Edith. I look around the room, hoping someone has an answer to my dilemma.
“Hunt it down before it can do more harm,” Val calls out.
“Even though it’s one of your classmates,” Idris asks, “and not a wild animal?”
Val arches an eyebrow. “If they’re attacking people, does it really matter?”
“I see.” Idris rubs his chin. “Does anyone else agree with Valerie?”
Most of the class raise their hands in agreement.
So would Father.
I grip my pen tighter, unable—or unwilling—to raise my hand.
“Interesting,” Idris says, walking down the middle aisle. “Amund, I take it you disagree?”
“The berserkr is still human,” I say, giving voice to the internal debate that’s been plaguing me for days. “They should be treated as a criminal, not an animal. Once there’s enough evidence, they should be imprisoned in the holding cells.”
“What if evidence can’t be found in time?” Idris posits.
That’s the problem. I’ve been investigating Isaac the past week and haven’t gotten any closer to catching him. I still don’t have enough proof. It’s impossible to find out much because of the hostility the berserkir hold for hunters. They want nothing to do with me.
Except Edith.
“It has to be,” I say, steeling my voice.
“We can’t afford to take that risk,” Val says. “Someone could be killed before that happens. We’re supposed to protect them from the berserkir.”
“What if you hunted someone who turned out to be innocent?” I ask.
I almost did with Edith. Despite that, she’s willing to work with me to catch the killer. Even if I don’t want to involve her more than she already is. I can still see her, covered in blood. It’s my fault she was hurt. Because I mistakenly suspected her instead of looking for theactualkiller.
I have to catch Isaac before he hurts anyone else. To do that, I’m going to need Edith’s help, as much as I hate to admit it. That’s the only reason I’m considering her offer. Not because I like being around her or because I’m looking for an excuse to get closer.
“Okay, so you want to let berserkir run around Skallagrim unchecked?” Val asks, rubbing her temples. “The longer we wait, the more likely it is someone winds up dead. As hunters, it’sourresponsibility to dispose of berserkir who lose control.”
“Not without proper evidence,” I say. “Or we could take an innocent life ourselves. Then how are we any different from the berserkir?”
“Interesting point, Amund.” Idris taps his chin. “The answer to that depends on how we value lives—the lives of humans, of animals, and of berserkir—who are both or neither, depending on how you view them.”
“Once they lose their humanity, theyhaveto be taken down,” Val insists. “Or else a lot more people will die. Innocent people.”
“But this berserkr hasn’t lost their humanity yet, have they?” Idris asks.
“I thought it was a wild berserkr,” Dorian calls out.
“That’s one theory, yes,” Idris admits, but it doesn’t sound like he believes it any more than I do. I know Father suspects a wild berserkr, but I can’t convince myself he’s right.
“For the sake of this discussion, let’s assume it was another student,” Idris continues. “Presumably, since they haven’t been caught, they transformed back into a human and are blending in among your berserkr classmates. Are they any different from you?”
Val sputters like she’s been caught off guard.
Tala said something similar to her in Heightened Senses last Monday.
It must still be bothering her.
“Of course,” Val says, trying to recover. “They attacked someone. Weprotectpeople.”
