Page 33 of North Is the Night
My shoulders sag with frustration. “Well, then, it’s hope-
less.”
She lets out a little laugh. “My, how changeable you are. You’re worse than a spring morning. Rain or snow. Rain or snow. You can’t make up your mind.”
I glare at her, and she just smiles.
“Why do you seek the lost shaman, Siiri?”
“I—” My words fall silent. “You know my name?”
“I know many things.”
There’s no point in lying to this goddess. “Kalma took my friend to Tuonela,” I explain. “For what reason, I don’t know. I need Väinämöinen to help me get her back. Once I do, I intend to convince him to return south with us. I want him to fulfill his prophecy to bring back the true religion. It’s time. You said it yourself.”
She gives me a searching look. “You ask for too much. He will say no.”
“Then I’ll ask again.”
“He will deny you again.”
“I’m persistent.”
She smiles. “‘Stubborn’ is the word he would use.”
I sigh, glancing around the clearing. “Look, he can call me whatever he wants, so long as he helps me save Aina. She sacrificed herself for me, and now she’s in Tuonela. Even if there was no life debt between us, I would still go to her.”
“Why?”
I hold her gaze. “Because she’s my oldest and dearest friend. And because she would do the same for me. Only Väinämöinen can help me reach her now. And despite all your questions and riddles, I think you mean to help me find him. Why else would you appear to me twice?”
“I appear where I’m called,” she replies with a shrug. “As I say, you are stubborn, Siiri... and quite loud.”
“Are youIlmatar?”
“The All-Mother would not concern herself with following the aimless wanderings of one lost girl.”
“My wanderings won’t be aimless, if you help me.” She walks away and I follow. “Goddess,please.” I hold out one of Mummi’s bangles. “I have silver—”
“I have no need of silver.”
“Will I find Väinämöinen if I keep walking north?”
“You cannot find someone who wishes to remain lost,” she calls over her shoulder.
“Tellervo just said the same thing. But you know where he is—”
She spins around, glaring at me. “Väinämöinen is the most powerful shaman ever to have lived. To stay lost for all these years, he’s worked his magic on even the gods. Tellervo cannot help you because she doesn’t know where he is. And neither do I.” She ducks through the stone archway between the elms and calls back, “Väinämöinen must be willing to be found.”
I follow, grunting as my bow catches. “But how—gods—ouch—Goddess, how do we do that?”
She walks right up to Halla, procuring a carrot from the air that she offers to the little reindeer. Halla sniffs it before taking a bite, her ears flicking as she chews. The goddess smiles fondly, giving the animal a pat. “I’ve always liked reindeer.”
I search her face. “Do you think he’ll reveal himself to me?”
She nods.
“Why?”
