Page 67 of North Is the Night
“Take my life,” Lilja pleads, crawling forward on her knees.
I close my eyes, imagining Siiri in the same position, pleading for my life, fighting to the bitter end.
“Please, show Salla mercy,” Lilja begs. “Kill me—”
“Lilja, no,” Salla cries.
“Lilja, no,” Tuonetar echoes in a mocking tone. She turns to Salla. “It appears she wants you to kill her.” She flicks her wand, and a sword appears at Salla’s feet. “Go on then, do it.”
Salla shakes her head, not looking at the blade. “Beat us. Use the lash again, turn the stone, lock us in our rooms and throw away the key, only let us both live. Please, goddess. I want to live.”
Her words tear at my heart. Have I not said almost the same words to Jaako night after night? Am I not thinking them now, plotting with Loviatar to end this wretched curse?
Tuonetar puts a thoughtful hand to her chin. “One of you wants to live, and one wants to die? Easy enough. I grant your wish.” She turns to Kiputyttö as she stands. “Torture them a while longer, daughter. Then kill the earless one.”
“No,” Salla sobs.
“No?” Tuonetar sneers. “Very well, then,youcan be the one to die. I’m afraid I can’t keep you both. Who knows how you’ll plot and scheme together, and we simply can’t have that. Be done with it, daughter,” she says with a wave of her hand.
Kiputyttö steps forward, her open palm outstretched.
Lilja and Salla scramble across the floor clinging to each other.
“The rest of you are here to witness,” Tuonetar calls to the room. “This is an important lesson that must be learned. I am a benevolent hostess. All I ask is that you treat me with the respect I am due as your Queen.”
I don’t dare look away as Kiputyttö begins turning her stone, for Tuonetar doesn’t watch the girls writhing and screaming on the floor. She watches us. She watches me most of all. I feel her eyes on me, boring into me with concentrated hate. I will myself to make my eyes unfocus. I look through the floor, not at what writhes atop it.
But nothing can block out the screams.
Tuonetar holds up a hand, and her daughter stops turning her stone. The Witch Queen sweeps forward, dropping to her knees, her pristine robes billowing around her. She lowers her face to meet Salla’s eyes, stroking her wet hair with a bony, gentle hand. Salla whimpers and flinches at her touch. “You know I never had any intention of letting either of you live,” she says, her voice soft. “It’s important to me that you understand my nature. You were both dead the moment you crossed my river.”
Salla’s frail body shakes uncontrollably as she gives the faintest of nods. Then she closes her eyes, ready to succumb. Next to her, Lilja lies still, her breathing ragged.
“Thank you, worms,” the Witch Queen coos. “Thank you for seeing me as I am.” She stands and places a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Finish them, daughter. When you’re done, feed them to Kalma. She’ll find use for their corpses.”
With that, the Witch Queen sweeps from the great hall. Vammatar follows her out, leaving us alone with Kiputyttö. The door slams shut behind them.
I clench my jaw, bracing myself for the horror to come. There can be no escape from Tuonela. Many before have tried and failed. Kiputyttö begins her torture again. Each turn of her little stone hardens my resolve. There is only one immortal in this realm with the power to save us, and he’s just as trapped as we are.
I have to find him. I have to find Tuoni.
22
Siiri
I flee Lumi andthe Sámi village, praying Kal will follow. Using the north star as my guide, I run until my lungs burn with fire, until my legs are numb and sweat slicks my tunic to my back. Only when I feel faint do I stop running.
I drop the pack and rolled furs at my feet. I hunch over in the snow, hands on my knees, heaving, but there’s nothing in my stomach. Black spots dance at the corners of my vision. The snowy ground around me begins to spin.
How did everything fall so perfectly apart? What am I going to do now? I have no supplies, no guide. How will I find my way to Väinämöinen on my own? He doesn’t want to be found. The goddess had said Kal was the key. Without the bear, I have no hope.
Even if Kal finds me, and together we find the shaman, what assurance do I have that he’ll help me save Aina? Two goddesses and a witch have now warned me that Väinämöinen will refuse. And why should he help me? Who am I to demand this favor?
I groan, heart racing in my chest. I have nothing left. There is nothing. Even if I somehow reach Aina, how can I bring her home in the dead of winter with no supplies? I would save her from one cruel fate just to deliver her into another. Either way, she ends up in Tuonela.
“No,” I pant, clutching my chest. I can’t breathe. The cold air feels like knives piercing me. Oh gods, I’m losing her all over again. I’m failing her. I’ve failed so many times. My mummi was wrong; Milja was wrong. I was never strong enough for this task. I fear the next failure will end with my death.
“Gods, help me,” I whisper into the dark.
