Summary

Alex and Magnus go to the house he and Annabeth inherited from his Uncle Randolph, who died in Magnus Chase and the Hammer of Thor. The house has been broken into. They enter and find a dead wolf with a rune seared into his head. Magnus cannot discern which rune, because the wolf is too badly burnt. Alex and Magnus agree that the rune was likely a trap set by Randolph, and that wolf must have died recently because the body of the monstrous wolf has not yet disintegrated.

Because Randolph specified in his will that he and Annabeth should pay special attention to his papers, they search the house hoping to find something Randolph has left for Magnus. While searching the house Magnus feels conflicting emotions about his uncle, because Randolph helped Loki escape. After searching the first three floors, Alex and...