Chapter Thirty-One Edith
“Are you coming to the vigil?” Tala calls out from the common area.
I stop working on my homework and open the door to my room. “What vigil?”
“One of the faculty was found dead last night,” Tala says with a frown. “Maeve’s husband. I know they were super in love, even though hardly anyone approved of their relationship, let alone marriage. I can’t imagine how she must be feeling. We’re all going to the vigil to support her.”
I pull on my coat. “Of course. What happened?”
“Apparently a wild berserkr got onto campus, and Idris was killed,” she says while we head out.
My legs move on their own. Did a wild berserkr really kill him—or did Isaac? It can’t be a coincidence someone else died. As we leave Odin Hall, all I can think of is Emilía. It makes me sick to my stomach. If something so horrific happened to Maeve’s husband… I hope I’m wrong for her sake.
“How is that possible?” I ask, following Tala toward the center of campus.
“Idris must have tried to stop the berserkr since he used to be a hunter himself.”
“Maeve is married to a hunter?” I ask.
Tala nods. “After they met, he gave up hunting for her.”
“Wow.”
I didn’t realize that was an option. He must have really loved Maeve, and now she’s lost him. My chest aches. I know all too well how it feels to lose someone you love to a berserkr.
It makes a sick sort of sense why Isaac killed Emilía, but why Idris? If he was a retired hunter, it’s not like Isaac even knew him. And since he gave up hunting and married a berserkr, I can’t imagine it was about revenge, either. So why?
Could it have actually been a wild berserkr like Tala said?
I nibble on a nail. Amund must know more. I need to talk to him.
When we reach the quad, hundreds of students are gathered around the statue of Egill.
Candles cover the courtyard, bathing the buildings in a warm orange glow.
Students hold small candles in their cupped palms, firelight flickering over their faces.
Not just hunters but witches and berserkir alike.
All of Skallagrim has come together to mourn.
Tala hands me a candle, and we join the rest of the students.
Some hunters are crying and comforting each other. Others are stone-faced, eyes coldly furious. The divide between hunters and berserkir has never felt so impassable. More than a few hunters glare in our direction, their faces full of violence.
They blame us. All of us.
I don’t see Amund among the hunters. I look around, searching the faces of everyone gathered. Idris must have been one of his instructors. I can’t imagine Amund would miss this vigil.
Helga is standing before the statue of Egill, wearing a somber expression and pitch-black clothes.
“We’re gathered here today to honor Idris Cadwalader.
Not only was he one of our finest instructors, but he was also an integral part of our community.
” Helga looks out over the crowd. “I know he served as a mentor to many of you.”
There he is. Amund stands on the outskirts of the crowd, hanging back by himself.
His hands are empty. Even without a candle, he looks like he’s trying to hold back tears.
My stomach squeezes at the sight of him.
I know I belong with Tala and the berserkir students, but as soon as I see Amund, my body starts moving on its own.
I have to go to him.
“Be right back,” I whisper to Tala.
When I reach Amund, the light from my candle illuminates the tears running down his cheeks.
I’ve never seen him so exposed, not even when he drank the truth-teller potion.
This is a different kind of honesty. Not words but raw emotion.
And I wonder if that’s why he’s back here, standing away from everyone, so that no one else can see.
“Amund,” I say gently. It’s all I can manage, seeing him like this.
His throat works. “Edith.”
Just the way he says my name, I can hear how much pain he’s in. Idris must have been really important to Amund too, even more than a teacher. I hate seeing him hurt like this.
“Here, take my candle,” I say, not knowing what else I can offer him.
Amund reaches for it wordlessly. His hands brush mine as he takes the candle, sending a surge through me. But his touch is too brief. I already miss it as he holds the candle close to his chest. I stand beside him instead, our shoulders not quite touching.
“Idris was taken from us too soon,” Helga continues. I’m not sure how long she’s been talking for, or what else I missed. I was lost in Amund. “He leaves behind his beloved wife, Maeve.”
Maeve is beside her, tears running down her cheeks. She sobs loudly, so at odds with how calm and collected she normally is. I can’t imagine the pain she must be in. Eva is with her, rubbing her back. She pulls Maeve into an embrace, hugging her tightly.
Amund nudges my hand with his free one, like he’s asking me for permission.
I take his hand in mine, intertwining our fingers.
“I almost didn’t come,” Amund admits quietly. “I knew I’d get emotional, and I didn’t want Father or the other hunters to see me like this. But I had to come for Idris. There’s no one I respected more. He showed me a different path, one I didn’t even know was possible until he walked it.”
Like loving a berserkr? some small part of me wants to ask.
I press my lips together. One way or another, love always ends in loss.
“For the second time in our history,” Helga continues, “a wild berserkr has gotten past our gates. This was a tragic incident, one we’re doing everything in our power to ensure never happens again. Our duty is to protect our students and staff.”
“Is that true?” I ask, glancing over at Amund.
He shakes his head but can’t bring himself to say more at first.
His voice is thick with emotion as he adds, “Idris… he was one of our best, but he died just like Emilía did. I saw that symbol on him, the one you asked me about. The three triangles.”
I look out over the rest of the school. So it was Isaac after all. How can Helga stand there and lie to everyone? There’s a killer in Skallagrim. Until he’s caught, we’re all in danger. As I search the crowd, I realize someone else is missing.
Isaac.
I thought he would target another girl, but it makes sense he’d go after a hunter, too. A hunter killed his and Tala’s best friend a few years ago. Maybe it was Idris.
Helga continues with her speech. “It’s up to all of us now to continue his legacy. My hope is it will be a legacy of love. Idris wanted nothing more than to help us overcome our differences. We are all practitioners of seier.”
Someone taps my shoulder.
I slip my hand free of Amund’s and turn to see Nils standing behind us, his forehead creased. “Hey, Edith. My brother isn’t giving you a hard time, is he?”
I exchange a look with Amund. “No, I’m okay,” I tell Nils. “You?”
Nils’s mouth contorts into a grimace. “I’m doing as well as I can be, given the circumstances. Why don’t we get dinner together soon? I was hoping we could talk, but this probably isn’t the best place for it. How’s Tuesday?”
Guilt twists my insides.
I already agreed to meet Amund for dinner then.
But I definitely can’t mention that to Nils.
Given his shaky relationship with his brother, he would take it the wrong way no matter what I say.
He could misunderstand and mistake it for a date.
I also can’t tell him I’m working with Amund to try to catch Isaac either.
Nils might be offended I’ve teamed up with his brother instead of him. Amund can handle himself, but Nils?
“Sorry, I already have plans.”
Nils glances between me and Amund, narrowing his eyes. “Then will you go to the Unity Dance with me?”
I blink, taken aback. “I…”
If I say no, Nils will just assume I’m going with his brother. I glance in Amund’s direction. Some part of me wishes I could go with Amund. But how would that even work? A hunter and a berserkr together? No, that would be impossible now.
We’re more divided than ever.
Nils has a hopeful look on his face while he waits for my response. I don’t want to hurt his feelings. He was my first friend here. The first person to believe in my innocence. Don’t I owe him this much? At least one of us will be happy.
“I’d like that,” I say, forcing a smile.
Nils beams at me. “Can’t wait.”
“There you are,” Tala says, cutting through the crowd. “Come on, Edith. We should offer our sympathy to Maeve.” Tala loops her arm through mine and leads me away.
“Good idea,” Nils says. “I should go check on my mom, too.”
While we walk, I lean over and whisper to Tala, “Where is Isaac?”
She frowns. “He didn’t feel up to coming.”
Nils tags along as we make our way toward Maeve and his mom. Eva pulls Nils aside, talking to him quietly, while Tala gives Maeve a hug.
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Tala says.
Maeve’s voice shakes. “Losing him isn’t just my loss—it’s all of ours.”
Her pain opens old wounds for me. I don’t know what to say. I wish I could do something to help, but I don’t know that there’s anything anyone can do for her. I glance over at Amund at the edge of the gathering. For either of them.
“Maeve, I’m sorry,” I say weakly.
“Thank you, Edith.”
I should be focused on Maeve, but all I can see is Amund standing like a sentry, all alone. There’s a sudden, sharp pang in my chest. Our eyes find each other for a moment, but then I look away quickly.
“Do you regret it?” I blurt out.
Maeve rubs her red-rimmed eyes. “Regret what?”
“Loving Idris,” I say, fighting the urge to look at Amund again.
A fierce glint lights her gaze. “Not for one second.”
“Really? Even though…” I trail off, unable to finish.
Maeve smiles through her tears. “Loving someone opens you up to hurt, but it also opens you up to a greater happiness and sense of connection to another person. Humans need those connections to live fulfilling lives. Even knowing how this would end, I still wouldn’t trade the time I had with Idris for anything. ”