Page 146 of North Is the Night
With a snarl, the Witch Queen lunges. Before she can reach either of us, a dark shadow descends. I cry out, nearly stumbling to the floor as Kalma shoves herself between Loviatar and the Witch Queen.
“Move, you dog,” Tuonetar shrieks.
“Kalma, protect your queen,” Tuoni shouts. Wand back in hand, he moves towards us, dragging a struggling Kivutar behind him. The witch writhes and screams, trying to free herself. A dozen dead soldiers march behind him, weapons drawn.
“Don’t listen to him. You aremycreature,” Tuonetar calls out to the death witch. “You know this must be done. There is no other way! Help me, daughter. Set us all free. His dreams of a peaceful Tuonela will only ever be a fantasy.Thisis what we are. This is what the All-Mother made us to be. Embrace your chaos, my sweet nightmare. Embrace your nature and kill the mortal wretch.”
Kalma raises her arms. Loviatar spins to face me, wrapping her arms around me, nestling me into her chest. “Avert your eyes,” is her only warning before Kalma unleashes her fury. The death witch takes a deep, rattling breath. Opening her mouth wide, she releases a torrent of ash from her lips at Tuonetar. It spews forth, filling the air, choking us all. The heat is enough to singe me as I cling to Loviatar.
“No,” Tuonetar shrieks, her voice muffled by the ash. “Kalma—faithless dog—”
“Come,” Loviatar says, pulling me away. “Now.”
I let Loviatar pull me out of the hall as Kalma continues to battle their mother, blinding the Witch Queen in her cloud of noxious ash. The dead guards surround Kiputyttö, who fights ferociously with sword and flail.
Vammatar is nowhere to be seen.
“Come,” Loviatar says again, her voice urgent in my ear.
The door to my tower room slams shut, and Loviatar throws the bolt, locking us inside. I pant, chest heaving, ash dusting my coronation gown. Once I catch my breath, I glance around. Everything looks so peaceful. The covers have been turned down on the bed, a happy fire burns in the hearth, buttery rolls wait on a tray by a carafe of wine.
“This is madness.” Taking my crown off, I toss it on the bed. “Loviatar, what happened down there?”
The witch doesn’t turn from the door. She has her hands out, her eyes closed as she whispers a chant.
“Loviatar,” I say again, crossing the room to her side. “Mielikki’s prophecy. Why did it seem like the Witch Queen had already heard it?”
She doesn’t answer. Her tattooed fingers flex as she mutters low in her throat. Her eyes glow white, brighter than their usual cloudiness, as the sun shines through a fogbank.
“Loviatar!” I grab her wrist, turning her to face me. “As I am your queen, you will answer me.”
She twists free of my hold. “It is not for me to speak of it.”
“Do not keep me in the dark any longer. I cannot bear it. Mielikki’s prophecy spoke of a child, born of life and death. It spoke of Tuoni’s son. Am I his mother? Gods, it’s been but a few days. Is it already too late? Am I already pregnant?”
She stills. “Too late? You do not want to experience the joys of motherhood?”
“How can you think I would ever wish to bring a child into this darkness? If I were thinking with the head my mother gave me, there would be no question in my mind. I would already be taking the tonic.”
“Tonic?”
“As it is, I cannot be sure,” I admit. “But it’s not too late to stop it. And I will—”
Loviatar’s hand flies to my throat. Her nails pierce my skin as she squeezes. “You shall not squander this gift,” she hisses. “To be the mother of an immortal is a blessing. You have been chosen, Aina. Whether in one year or ten, you will bear the son of Tuoni. You will bring forth the Light of Louhi. And your son will save us all.”
Before I can reply, there comes a heavy pounding at the door.
“Let me in, wife.”
I suck in a breath as Loviatar drops her hand away from my throat. She moves to the door, pulling back the latch. While she’s distracted, I look desperately around. Moving over to the table, I tuck a knife up my sleeve.
The door swings open, and Tuoni enters. His clothes are dusted in ash. Blood stains his cheek and hands. His tunic is torn, his crown missing. “Tuonetar is secured in the tower,” he says. “We prepare the chains for your sisters now. I intend to sink them in the bog. Will you help me, Loviatar?”
Loviatar is quiet for a moment. “I will help Kalma prepare.” She steps around Tuoni towards the door. “Be warned, father. Your little mouse has a knife hidden up her sleeve.” With that, she leaves.
Tuoni faces me. “Is Loviatar right? Do you conceal a blade from me? Do you now fear I mean to hurt you?”
“I am not afraid. I’m furious.”
