There’s a loud burst of applause.
“Which is why it means so much for all of you to be here with me,” Helga continues. “When I look around this room, I know that Egillhimself would be proud of all we’ve accomplished. And what we will continue to accomplish in the future. But I would be remiss not to mention those we lost in the Tragedy that took place thirty years ago. I’d like to ask for a moment of silence for them now.”
Helga lowers her head, and everyone around her starts to as well.
I’m torn on whether I should bow my head or not. Uncle Trygve was one of the people who died, after all. How is Father reacting to this? I look around, trying to gauge his reaction, but I don’t see him anywhere. Strange.
“Thank you,” Helga says after a long pause. “That was a horrible day, but enough time has passed. Now we must look forward. When I asked myself what I want Skallagrim’s future to be like, one thing became clear to me. We must reopen the seer campus and welcome those students to Skallagrim again.”
A murmur rises through the crowd.
“Seers deserve a place where they can learn to use their powers instead of being plagued by them,” she continues, her voice louder. “A place that teaches the safety and caution that was so sorely lacking in the events leading up to the Tragedy. We cannot allow the mistakes of the past to dictate where we go from here.”
More than a few groups start whispering.
“I’m certain some of you may have mixed feelings about this. But rest assured, the school will be cleansed before repairs begin. Of course, restoring the school comes with a considerable cost, one I look to you—our students, alumni, friends, and family—to help with. With your generous donations, we can make Skallagrim a safe haven forallpractitioners of seiðr once more.”
Helga raises her glass. “Now, please join me in a toast to Skallagrim’s future.”
Most everyone holds up their drinks, the sound of clinking glass filling the room, before people sip their punch. I must be the only one without a drink.
Isaac raises his glass in my direction.
“Here’s to ending this tonight,” he mutters, and throws back his drink.
The lights turn low and music floods the hall.
People run out onto the dance floor, bursting with energy and excitement.
The Unity Celebration has officially begun.
I turn toward the band, taking in the eclectic range of ancient instruments. Lutes, harps, flutes, lyres. It’s so far removed from anything I do, it’s easy for me to forget that Skallagrim offers band and music as electives. To my surprise, the music they play isn’t old. It sounds more modern than I’d expect, but played on the ancient instruments, it creates something entirely new.
People start gliding around in time to the music.
Tala and Val are dancing together, laughing and having a good time.
I smile. At least Val’s mission went well.
I walk around the perimeter of the dance floor, looking over the crowd. The school board flocks around Helga, in a heated debate about her announcement. More than a few tables of alumni I pass are discussing it as well.
“I can’t believe she wants to reopen that school after what happened,” an older man says.
His companion frowns. “I don’t know, shouldn’t seers have a chance to learn about their powers too?”
It’s all the conversation I can catch with music pumping loudly through the gym.
Students are laughing and dancing, determined to have a good time. I have to squint to see their faces clearly with the flashes of bright strobe lights. Among a group of witches, I recognize a familiar face.Irina. She’s swaying to the music, her arms swishing in time with the beat, as her friends dance around her. Her face is flushed, her eyes glassy.
How long has she been here? I didn’t see her arrive.
Unless… was she here the whole time?
Could I be wrong about Irina?
Isaac said the killer hasn’t shown yet.
There’s still one person I haven’t seen any sign of: Edith. My desperation grows as I keep searching the crowd. Her sister, Bea, is here, along with her foster mother, Patricia, and a man I assume must be their foster father. But Edith isn’t with them. She should be easy to spot because of her hair, yet there’s no sign of her anywhere.
