“Yeah,” I say, knowing full well a hunterdiddo that to him.Amund.
Isaacisthe killer after all.
I throw the shield up as he attacks me again.
My arms shake from the effort. He’sstrong. It must be his berserkr strength. Isaac batters the shield again and again. With each blow, it feels like I’m being knocked down on the kitchen tiles again, crushed by his weight.
He’s taking out all his frustration on me. My anger builds with each strike. Is this how Mom felt? She never fought back when Dad attacked her.Why?I ask myself each time Isaac batters the shield.Why? Why?
I block blow after blow—
“Enough,” Gunnar calls out. “Now switch.”
Suddenly, the onslaught stops.
“Shit, sorry,” Isaac says, pushing his sweaty hair out of his face. “Guess I got a little carried away.”
You think?I’m left panting, barely able to breathe.
Isaac takes the shield from me and holds it up.
“One minute,” I manage to gasp out. “I just… I need a minute.”
I cut through the class and find Gunnar instructing another pair of students.
“I have to speak with you,” I tell him.
“Whatever it is, it can wait until after class.”
“It really can’t,” I insist. “It’s about the attack.”
Gunnar turns to me with a scowl. “What is it?”
“I know who did this to me.” I point at my lip. “And it wasn’t just me he hurt. He’s killed—”
Gunnar grabs my shoulder. “Everyone, keep sparring.”
He ushers me outside into the hall and slams the door behind us.
“What are you talking about?” Gunnar demands.
“Isaac did this to me,” I tell him. “And he’s the one who killed Idris.” I don’t mention Emilía, since I’m not sure if Gunnar even knows about her death or not. “I’m worried next time Isaac is going to kill me—or someone else. You have to do something. Please.”
Gunnar narrows his eyes. “I assume you have proof?”
“When I was attacked, the hunter who saved me inflicted an injury on him.” I roll up my sleeve, showing my forearm. “Right here. Isaac has the same exact injury.”
Gunnar grunts. “Plenty of students have injuries. Skallagrim is dangerous. Now go back in—”
“Ithasto be him,” I say, desperate. “He was supposed to meet me in the dining hall when I was attacked. He knew where I was. He wanted to get rid of me after I warned Tala about him. And it’s not just that—”
“Enough, Edith,” Gunnar says. He points his chin toward the door. “Leave the investigating to those more qualified and get back in there.”
Why won’t he listen? He’s dismissing me like Principal Matthews and everyone at my old school. They didn’t believe me about the knife.Now Gunnar won’t believe me about my attacker. Like my words aren’t worth anything. Like I’m notworthbeing believed.
I rip the door open and return to class.
“While you attack,” Gunnar calls, resuming his lesson, “think of something that makes you angry.”
