Page 98 of North Is the Night
The bear grunts. Far off in the distance, a pair of wolves howl. Turning, the bear trots off, disappearing into the shadows of the forest.
“Lumi is coming,” I whisper, listening to the wolves. “Väinämöinen, we’re running out of time.”
“I know,” he replies, sheathing his knife at his hip. “Kal was a vessel used by Lumi to keep my soul contained. She preferred to contend with an angry bear over an angry shaman.”
I bristle with anger at hearing her name. “What do you intend to do now?”
“We have little enough time,” he says, jerking open the door of his hut. “Lumi is on her way north. She’s recruiting wolves to fight for her as we speak. When she thinks she has the numbers, she’ll come for me.”
“How do you know?”
“I saw her,” he replies. “As the bear, I heard her plans. She won’t come until she’s sure of her victory. We have only days now.”
I follow him into the warmth of the hut. “But—why does she want to find you so badly? Is this to do with your curse?”
“Yes. Fetch me that drum.”
I grab the painted drum while he settles himself at his low worktable. “What happened to you? What did you take from Tuonetar, and why do so many people now want you dead?”
He sighs, taking up the drum I offer him. “That’s just the thing. I can’t die, Siiri.”
I let myself fall into the pile of furs on the other side of the table. “What?”
“I can’t die,” he repeats. “That’s my wretched curse.”
I search his face. “I don’t understand.”
“I can only be killed,” he continues. “And whoever kills me will claim my magic.”
31
Aina
“Aina?”
“Oh gods, what’s happening?”
I stand on the banks of the black river encircling Tuonela. Behind me, far in the distance, Tuoni’s palace looms, casting light in all directions like a beacon in the darkness. Before me, a boat waits at the dock, its high prow bobbing on still waters. A haggard old woman stands in the back of the boat, clutching a long wooden pole. She is Tuonen tytti, the ferrywoman. She’s short and bent, with white hair sticking out stiffly, like straw, from under her cap. She watches me with dark eyes set in a skull-like face.
To either side of me, the other girls huddle close, trembling. Satu and Helmi clutch at my hands, while Riina stands tall, her gaze darting to where my new husband waits. Kalma and a troop of dead soldiers flank him.
“Aina, what have you done?” Riina whispers.
“Come,” I say, leading the girls down the dock. “We haven’t much time. You must cross.”
“Cross where?” says Helmi. “What’s happening?”
“Did you marry him?” Riina presses.
I nod, glancing over my shoulder. “It was the only way to break the curse and set you all free.”
“Setusfree,” says Satu. “You’re coming with us. Aina, we’re leaving together. All of us.”
I smile and kiss her forehead. “I made a bargain with Tuoni to spare your lives—”
Riina flinches away as Helmi stifles a cry.
“This isn’t a trick,” I say, cupping her cheek. “He has promised to protect me from the witches. I will be safe here.”
