“I have to go,” Amund says, sounding reluctant to leave.
I nibble on my lower lip, trying to hide my relief. “Thanks again.”
Amund opens his mouth like he wants to say more, but stops himself. He nods and then follows the other hunter deeper into Skallagrim.
They ride past a stately woman hustling down the walk toward us, flanked by two students. The woman wears a long, loose dress with a thick shawl wrapped around her generous frame. Her shoulder-length gray hair bounces with every hurried step, surrounding a familiar face.
“Welcome to Skallagrim Academy!” Helga says.
I do a double take. “H-Helga? What are you doing here?”
She gives a wry smile. “You must have me confused with my twin.”
I notice the name tag she’s wearing, withHEADMISTRESSwritten beneath it.
“But your name…”
Helga waves her wrinkled hand. “One of us is actually Hilda, but our mother couldn’t tell us apart as babies, so we don’t know who is who, and we both prefer Helga.”
“Stubbornness must run in the family,” I say before I think better of it.
Helga barks a laugh. “I can see why Helly likes you.”
I blink. I wasn’t aware she did despite how long I’ve known her.
My Helga—Helly, I guess—is hard to read.
This Helga clears her throat. “Anyway, I wanted to welcome you and your sister personally. Skallagrim is more than just a school; it’s a community. I brought two of our best and brightest students to show youaround and help get you settled.” Helga turns toward the boy. “One of whom is my nephew Nils.” Her eyes crinkle as she smiles. “He’s something of a prodigy, really.”
“Aunt Hel,” Nils groans. Wearing a white shirt and dark pants, he has messy brown curls and a slight frame. He offers us a sheepish smile. “Edith and… Beatrice, right?”
“Bea,” she corrects him quickly.
The other student, a girl dressed in a cozy sweater and jeans with long wavy blond hair and doe-like eyes, shakes my hand. Despite her appearance, her grip is strong and confident. “I’m Emilía, student council president.”
“Well, I’ll leave you to it, then,” Helga says.
“Thanks, Hel—Headmistress,” I say, catching myself quickly. This isn’t the same Helga I know, just someone who looks identical to her. Unlike my Helga, I haven’t known this woman most of my life. I don’t know what her motives are for taking someone like me in. A favor to her sister? Something else?
As we follow Nils and Emilía down the uneven cobblestone walkway, I look around campus. Everything is bathed in fog. Every towering building seems ominous. Spires remind me of sharp teeth. Ancient stone is stained by something dark that looks a little too much like dried blood. In the distance, a massive mountain overlooks the school.
“What do you know about Skallagrim?” Nils asks.
I shake my head. “Nothing, really.”
“Skallagrim’s huge!” Emilía says. “There are four main branches. Witches, berserkir, hunters, and…” She trails off, pursing her lips. “Anyway, we all study seiðr together.”
“Speaking of hunters, why do they go here?” I ask. “Doesn’t that seem a little dangerous?”
“We didn’t really have much of a choice,” Nils says with a frown. “It’s a long story.”
Emilía waves him away. “One you’ll learnallabout in history.”
Bea groans. “We have to takehistory?”
“Let’s get started with the tour! I can’t wait to show you around,” Emilía says, unable to contain her excitement. Seems she has Bea’s hyperactive energy. “As soon as you set foot in Skallagrim, you’re in the berserkr part of campus.” She hurries ahead, walking down the cobbled path. “That’s what you two are, right?”
“Supposedly,” I say, gripping my suitcase handle.
