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Again, she tried. She pushed her mana into the words and wrote in her mind, clause, Kolfinna can use magic.But once again, nothing happened.

Kolfinna deflated, pinching the bridge of her nose. It wasn’t working.

“What’s wrong?” Truda tapped her feet impatiently. “Why is it not working?”

Kolfinna spread her hands on the wall. “I’m trying.”

“You do realize we’re in a pinch for time, right?” Truda peeked out the window at the afternoon sun. “That lady said she was going to use us to feed her dead-faced sisters. I don’t know about you, but I’m really not looking forward to being feasted on by a bunch of old ladies.”

“If you want to try erasing these runes, be my guest.” Kolfinna’s fingers curled into a fist against the wall. “But unless you know how to do that, I’d like it if you shut up and let me work.”

Truda huffed loudly but then screwed her mouth shut. She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the wall. “Fine, I’ll stay quiet. I trust you to do your job.”

Kolfinna’s ears perked at that word.Trust. It was such a simple word and yet its weight could sink in an ocean. It felt so strange to have a human, especially someone like Truda, who seemingly hated her, trust her in anything.

As if sensing her surprise, Truda inspected her nails and continued, “It’s not like we have a choice, you know. It’s either trust you or die. I’d rather not die. I hate dying, actually. It’s, like, the worst outcome.”

“Itcouldbe worse,” Blár said. “I’d rather die than be tortured.”

“Okay, but what kind of torture are we talking about?”

Blár’s eyebrow rose. “Is there a type of torture you like? I’d say all torture is worse than death.”

Kolfinna stared at the runes, trying to block out their conversation. She breathed out deeply. In and out, in and out, in and out—

“But I think there’s a level of torture that’s maybe bearable,” Truda said. “Like anything with fire is hands down terrible, we can all agree, I’m sure. But if I had to get my head dunked in water over and over, I think I can handle it.”

Kolfinna’s gaze flitted over to Blár, who was looking at Truda like she was crazy.

“I don’t want to find out what I can or can’t handle,” he said. “I don’t think I’d be a fan of getting eaten alive by a dozen thousand-year-old hags.”

“Guys.” Kolfinna sighed and turned to them sharply. “I’m trying to focus.”

“Sorry, sorry.” Blár raised his hands. “Continue with your magic writing.”

She turned her attention back to the wall and spread her mana into it, trying with all her might to swirl it into coherent words.Clause, Kolfinna can use magic. No matter how much mana she poured into it, or how much she focused, nothing made those words glow on the wall.

A frustrated growl escaped her lips and she pounded her fist on the wall. Pain pulsated in her hand, but she ignored it, the runes mocking her.

“What’s wrong?” Magni came to stand beside her.

She waved at the runes. “It’s not … it’s not working.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t think I’m strong enough to add to it,” Kolfinna said. She paced the room, making sure to avoid Eyfura’s body. “I mean, it makes sense, doesn’t it? Revna has years and years of experience with runes, and I have, like, what, four days of experience? I don’t think the runes of these ruins are that strong compared to Revna’s. I think the ruins make it easier because it’s supposed to teach fae warriors how to use runes … But Revna isn’t that forgiving. So, basically, it’s not working.”

“You’ve got to think of something,” Magni said. “We can’t just—”

“I know, I know.” Kolfinna pressed her forehead against the rough, cool stone walls. “We can’t just die here.”

Writing new runes wasn’t working, so what else could she do?

Then it hit her—why not try to break the runes like she had done at Revna’s house in the desert?

“Maybe …” She turned to peer at the glowing runes. “Maybe I can do something.” She glanced at everyone in the room. “I’m going to need some help getting up there, though.”

Blár exchanged glances with Magni. “You want his shoulders or mine?”