Page 173 of North Is the Night
She groans, barely able to roll to her side.
He glances over his shoulder, flashing me a knowing look. “You did it.”
It doesn’t feel like a victory. It won’t until I know she can be safer in life than she was in death. “What’s happening?” I say again.
“Lumi is here,” he replies. “She’s trying to burn the damn roof down over our heads. It’s taken all my magic to hold her back. We have to get out.”
I push up to my feet. “I’ve had enough of meddling witches today. Step aside, old man, and I will tear her rotten black heart out.”
“Siiri?” Behind me, Aina sits up, her eyes panicked as she coughs. “Siiri!”
I hurry to her side. She’s weak and disoriented. I awoke in my body, which has been kept safe and warm here in Väinämöinen’s hut. Aina wears what she wore in death—layers of soaking wet clothes and no cloak.
Väinämöinen is busy rushing around the hut. His eyes glow blue-white as he hums low in his throat, speaking words of strength and resilience to the roof. The heat from the walls is so intense, I’m sure one touch would burn my hand to cinders.
Aina looks wildly around, her eyes locking on the shaman. “Is that—”
“Väinämöinen, yes,” I reply.
She coughs in the smoke. “Are we—”
“On fire?” Väinämöinen supplies for her. “Yes. So, it would be a rather good idea for you to get up now.” He tosses me my axe. Then he picks up his massive broadsword. Reaching for the hooks by the door, he grabs his jacket and shoves it at me. “You need to get her ready to move.”
“Where are you going?” I say, tossing the massive coat over to Aina.
“Get the girl, get the drums, and get outside,” he shouts over the roaring fire.
“Väinämöinen,” I call after him. “What are you going to do?”
He crosses the room to me, gripping me by the vest. “You remember what I told you? You remember my curse?Do you?” He shakes me hard, nearly lifting me off the ground.
“Gods—yes,” I grunt, coughing. “You can’t die, you can only be killed. Lumi means to be the one to kill you, so we’ve got to kill her first. This ends tonight.”
“We’ll end it together,” he says. “You’re ready. Now, come on. Grab the drums.” Without another word, he pulls Aina up with one hand, slinging her over his shoulder. With his sword in the other hand, he kicks open his front door. The flames blast out over the snow as we run from the hut.
I fill my lungs with the fresh winter air, but my relief is soon eclipsed by the sight that greets me. The clearing echoes with the howls of wolves. There must be three dozen, maybe more. Behind us, the flames from the cabin’s roof burn high into the night sky. On the far side of the clearing, Lumi waits next to her sled, a ball of white flame glowing at the top of her magical staff. When she catches sight of Väinämöinen, her eyes grow large with excitement.
“Get her out of here,” he grunts, depositing Aina into the snow at my feet.
“I’m not leaving you—”
“Of course not! I need your help, fool girl. But we didn’t go through all of that for you to lose Aina. Make sure she’s good and safe.” Without another word, he charges towards the wolves.
With a muttered curse, I help Aina away from the burning hut. Lumi torched the barn too. The whole roof is ablaze. The doors are shut, trapping the dogs inside. They yip and cry, desperate to be set free.
I leave Aina halfway between the hut and the woodland edge. Racing across the clearing, I wrench open the door of the barn. A massive plume of smoke billows out, choking me. I drop to my knees, covering my face with my arms as I cough. All around me, the dogs leap out the open door, panting and rolling in the snow.
“Help him,” I cry. “Help Väinämöinen.”
The sled dogs all take off, barking in a frenzy at their first sight of the wolves.
“Aina, I need you to get up.” I pull her up with me. “Remember what I said? The fight isn’t over. It’s barely begun. Move, Aina. Run to the trees.”
It’s all she can do to stand on her shaky legs, blinking in the bright lights of the fire.
“Take this,” I say, thrusting a knife into her hand. “And these.” I shove the straps of the shaman drums at her. “Donotlose them.”
“Where are you going?” she cries through chattering teeth. Väinämöinen’s coat hangs on her. It’s comically large on her slender frame.
