Page 100 of North Is the Night
Satu peers around me, her hands gripping me more tightly. “Please, my lord,” she cries. “Make a bargain with me. My gold for Aina’s life. Take it all, only give me Aina.”
“And mine too,” says Helmi. “Please, my lord. We offer you everything—”
“Enough.” Tuoni reaches out, his hands like iron banding over my shoulders. He pulls me back, breaking Satu and Helmi’s hold on me. “Do not insult me with such an offer again.”
The girls cower and back away.
“You cannot so carelessly return a gift once given,” he intones, his words laced with shadow and fire. “And my wife cannot be bought or traded for mere sacks of gold. She is priceless to me. You dishonor her sacrifice by daring to change the terms of her bargain. Take the blessing of life I offer you and leave my realm in peace.”
Riina steps behind the girls. “Come away,” she says softly. “Girls, come.”
Helmi and Satu let Riina walk them backwards, the dead pressing in as they’re forced to step into the boat. The horses snort as the boat rocks. “Don’t forget us,” Satu cries out at me.
“Never,” I call back. “Do not forget me. And do not break your word.”
“We will not fail you!”
Tuoni holds me fast as we watch the ferrywoman push off with her pole, guiding the boat away from the dock.
“Aina,” Helmi cries, reaching out a helpless hand.
The ferry moves away across the dark water, separating me from the last three living mortal souls left in this realm. I pull away from the death god, running to the end of the dock. The dead to either side cross their pikes, creating a barrier I cannot cross. I lift a hand, waving to the girls in parting, until I lose sight of them to the darkness.
Tuoni steps in behind me, his hand returning to my shoulder. “Come, wife.”
“Tell me this is no trick,” I whisper. “Tell me they’re safe. Tell me they will feel the sun on their faces again.”
With gentle hands, he lifts my cowl, covering my hair against the winter chill. “I gave you my word,” he replies solemnly. “They will step through the veil and ride a dangerous road. They must cross over marsh and mead, through fen and forest, before they pass through the gates of the North, returning to the land of the living.”
“A dangerous road? But you gave them no weapons.”
“They do not go alone,” he replies. “Kalma shall be their guide.”
I glance over his shoulder to where Kalma had been standing moments before. Now, there is nothing but shadow. “All this time she was fighting to free you?”
He nods, tucking a lock of my hair behind my ear.
I bite my lip, holding back the question I know I must ask, fearful of his response. Finally, I say, “Did you ask her to bring the girls into death? Was she acting on your orders?”
His brows lower and his jaw clenches. I’ve seen the same look on the raven. He’s affronted I even asked. “No,” he replies. “In fact, I ordered her to leave me to my fate. Many times, I ordered her to stop.” His tone is shadowed by anger and resentment.
I peer up at him, studying his mismatched eyes. “She was willing to kill as many women as it took to set you free... because she loves you.”
He nods.
“I understand your relief. You would still be bound to that tree if not for her... but if not for her, so many girls would still be alive,” I add, trying to stop my voice from breaking.
“I know you fear Kalma, my love. I saw it as the raven. Now I canfeelit.” He presses a hand to his chest, giving me a somber look. “She has been the source of so many of your nightmares. In your heart, you hate her.”
“It’s complicated,” I admit.
“Her loyalty to me can only be a comfort to you now. Kalma ismine.” He cups my cheek. “As she protects me, she will protect my wife.”
I fight a shiver, whether from the cold or this feeling of dread I cannot shake.
“Come,” Tuoni says, offering me his hand. “The hour is late, and you are tired. Let us return home and get you warm by the fire.”
Home.
