by E. C. Hibbs
As he thought of Lumi, realisation struck him like lightning. Even though he needed to send her home, he truly didn’t want to see her go. He didn’t know if he could bear it. He loved her, like Lilja had loved Kari.
No matter what happens, I’ll be in pain, he said. Mihka is saved when she returns, but she’ll be gone forever.
And so you are faced with the same dilemma as when you led your people into the south, long ago, in your first life here, the Bear replied. When you walked this World then, you were the first mage to ever exist. This is the price you pay. More than the loneliness and the unease you suffer, what is more important? Your happiness, or that of all the others around you?
Sadness overwhelmed him. He couldn’t cry here; there was no way for tears to form without a body. But the weight of it all was almost enough to break him out of the trance.
The Bear seemed to soften, and drew alongside him. Its power seeped through him, like lying on a warm rock in summer.
I will give you my assistance, Red Fox One, it said. I will be by your side.
And then he was falling away, spiralling down. He didn’t fight it. His time with the Spirit was over. He felt Enska and Henrik somewhere close by and joined them in the descent, letting himself become heavier.
Tuomas slipped into his body and opened his eyes.
His breath misted before him: a white cloud in the frozen air. But as he exhaled, it twisted and spun into the shape of the Bear, and hung there for a moment before disappearing.
He blinked hard – had he imagined that? But then he saw Lilja in front of him, a small smile on her face. Elin and Paavo were standing there too, their eyes wide with shock.
“Did you see that?” Paavo whispered. Elin nodded slowly, not looking away from Tuomas.
Lilja was the only one who didn’t seem unnerved.
“It came to you,” she said. “Just like when it came to me.”
Tuomas glanced at Henrik and Enska. They were still returning from their trances. Snow had built up on their heads and shoulders from sitting for so long.
He looked at where the Bear had been, and then down at the drum in his hands.
“Are you alright, Tuomas?” Elin asked.
“I’m fine,” he replied quietly.
“Well, do what you need to do, boy,” said Lilja. “Get him out of me. I don’t know how much longer I can resist.”
She did look worse than when before. Her skin was as pallid as a corpse, and her hair had started to freeze, leaving white streaks weaving through her braids. Her blue eyes were dim, like the life was slowly being sucked out of them. The only thing which still held some colour was her scar, the flesh around it angry and enflamed.
Tuomas waited a few more moments, until Henrik and Enska looked closer to waking up. When they began to stir, he braced himself, called on the power of the Great Bear, and raised the hammer above his drum.
Before he could strike, Lilja shrieked and ran at him.
He propelled himself backwards, dropping the drum. The rope pulled taught and she fell into the snow, but didn’t stay down for long. She reared up on her knees, eyes bulging. Her mouth opened so wide, he was shocked her jaw hadn’t dislocated.
She snarled, drool spilling from her lips. Tuomas trembled. It was like looking into the demon’s eyes again. Behind Lilja’s face, he could almost see Kari, cheeks grey with ash and teeth ready to take a bite out of his heart.
The commotion instantly woke Enska and Henrik. But it had come too quickly. The two of them struggled to focus as their life-souls still hovered above their bodies.
Enska managed to make sense of what was going on though, and made a grab for Lilja. Still disorientated, he only caught her by the belt and yanked her backwards, away from Tuomas. But the thong around her waist broke and sent her drum flying. It landed at Elin’s feet and she quickly snatched it.
Lilja screamed and spun around, turning her attention to Elin. She strained against Kari’s power.
“Help me!” she managed to get out before he overcame her again.
She lunged back at Tuomas, and this time, she pulled so hard on the ropes, the sleigh moved. Tuomas skidded away from her, fear lending him new speed.
Paavo saw the terror on Tuomas’s face and wrenched the drum from Elin’s grasp. Then he strode towards the fire.
“What are you doing?” Elin shrieked, trying to get it back.
“Enough is enough,” snarled Paavo. “If this doesn’t make her stop, I don’t know what will!”
Hearing that, Tuomas looked up from Lilja for long enough to take in the scene. Paavo was heading for the fire, Elin clawing helplessly at his arms.
He knew instantly what his brother meant to do.
“No!” he shouted. “Don’t!”
Paavo didn’t listen and threw the drum into the flames.
The tight skin and dry wood caught instantly, sending a foul-smelling smoke blooming into the sky. The painted symbols bubbled and curled away.
Lilja screamed again, but it wasn’t a sound of mere pain. It was as though a part of her had been ripped away.
And, in a way, something had. Tuomas knew she would have had that drum since she was even younger than him. It was her one prized possession, which had always been with her through her mad nomadic existence.
And now it was destroyed.
Her eyes became dark and hollow; her flesh turned a horrible shade of grey. The scar in her neck tore slightly and began to bleed.
Tuomas’s heart sank. That one stupid act by Paavo had trampled Lilja’s taika, and allowed her brother to swim in and claim her.
The fire spat loudly. Sparks burst out from the smouldering drum. The air took on a heavy, sickly taste… it was saturated with wickedness. It wormed its way into Tuomas’s mouth and he turned over, retching into the snow.
When he looked back, he froze where he lay.
Kari was stepping out of the flames and coming towards him.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Tuomas crawled away frantically. He had heard tales of mages being able to travel through fire, as he’d heard of beating drums letting out shockwaves. But of all the powers, that was one he never thought he would see. The spectacle of Kari standing there, his body covered in red ashes, was like something out of a nightmare.
Kari snatched his coat and threw him back towards the sleigh. The circle broke and disappeared as he fell through it. His head slammed against the wood and black spots flashed before his eyes.
Elin hurried to his side. She paused for long enough to check he was alright, then drew an arrow and aimed at Kari. But before she could release it, Kari grabbed it by the shaft and wrenched it off her bow.
“Not this time, girl,” he snapped, and struck her across the face. She fell to the ground, dazed.
Paavo bolted towards them. But Kari simply looked at Lilja, and as though a command had been spoken, she leapt like an animal and sent Paavo flying onto his back. She jumped on top of him, her knees on his chest, pinning him down.
Kari produced a knife from his belt and cut through the ropes around Lilja’s wrists and ankles. She instantly grabbed Paavo’s throat with one hand.
“No!” Tuomas cried. “Don’t hurt him!”
Kari smiled at him. “That would be sad, wouldn’t it? Now you’re so relieved he’s alive after all.”
Tuomas looked at Paavo and Lilja. There was nothing left of her now, no shred of the fight which she’d shown. All that had gone when Paavo threw her drum on the fire.
Tuomas cursed him for being so rash – how could he have thought that was a smart thing to do? But then he remembered how ignorant Elin had also been on the subject. Paavo wouldn’t have known. And now, because of that, he might have gotten them all killed.
If Kari had looked close to death the last time Tuomas had seen him, now he was practically skeletal. The twisted taika had warped his body into nothing more than wan skin draped over bones. His hollow eyes roved; one red, the other white and blind. The flesh around
them was as dark as a storm cloud. Blood seeped from the wound at his neck and his hair hung long and unkempt, dirt clogging it at the roots. More blood had gathered around a hole in his leg: where Elin had shot him on the mountain.
At that moment, alerted by the noise, the villagers began streaming down towards the shore. Several had knives drawn, ready to face whatever had caused the upset. Sisu and the other leaders were at the front, but when they saw Kari, they drew to a horrified halt.
Henrik and Enska were lucid now, finally staggering upright, their drums in hand. Henrik didn’t stay still for long though, and ran forward, reaching a hand out for Tuomas.
Kari grabbed Tuomas and spun him around so he was facing the mages. Then he held the knife under Tuomas’s chin.
“No!” Paavo screamed.
Tuomas fought not to retch again. This close, the smell of Kari’s corrupted power was overwhelming, as though he was a rotting corpse rather than a man.
“How did you find me?” he choked out. “How are you not dead?”
“Thank Lilja,” Kari hissed in his ear. “She gave me her body to make a new demon and led me straight to you.”
“That’s not going to work this time,” said Tuomas. “You’re lying. I know she’s on our side.”
“Not anymore,” Kari replied. “Because of her, I managed to hang onto life. And once she let me take over her completely, it was a simple matter of bringing myself to you through the flames. I might only be half-alive now, but my power was still strong enough for that. And once I have your taika, Red Fox One, I’ll be whole again!”
He moved the knife until it was over Tuomas’s chest, and pressed firmly.
It wasn’t enough to draw blood, but it was right over the previous wound. Pain leapt through Tuomas’s flesh and he fought back a blaze of panic.
“Don’t!” shouted Henrik. “Don’t hurt him!”
“Let him go!” Paavo yelled, followed by a feral snarl from Lilja.
“No,” Kari smirked. “I wish no harm upon any of you. So, you all surrender, and I will take only him.”
He cocked an eyebrow at Tuomas. “Or is your sister here as well? I haven’t seen any Lights in the sky since I was last with you; I know she hasn’t been sent back. Is she still around here somewhere?”
Tuomas’s heart pounded so hard, he heard it in his ears.
“I take it by the sudden tension that she is here,” Kari said. “Where is she? The two of you together will be perfect.”
“I don’t know where she is,” Tuomas hissed. “And even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you!”
“It doesn’t matter. When I have your heart, and your taika is mine, I’ll find her.”
Enska approached, his hands held out as though trying to calm an animal.
“Kari,” he said softly. “Son, listen to me. Let the boy go.”
Kari looked straight at him. “It’s nice to see you again too, Father.”
“Let him go,” Enska said again. “Just let him come to me, alright?”
“Don’t you understand, Father? He’s just a boy, he has no idea how to use the power he’s been given! He never will! Think of how much better it will be in my hands!”
“That’s not the point of being a mage, and you know it.”
Kari shook his head, anger building in his bloodshot eyes.
“Why doesn’t anyone understand? This is for the greater good!”
“It’s not,” Enska insisted. “Please, think about what you’re doing. You’re better than this.”
“Better, worse, what does it matter?” Kari snapped. “I’ve been after this brat all winter. If I’d been smarter fifteen years ago, I’d have taken him then.”
He snapped an order at Lilja. She withdrew herself from Paavo, but stayed close, like a hungry wolf. Paavo hurried away from her, visibly shaking.
“If you all leave, I’ll tell my sister to stay where she is,” Kari continued. “If any of you take a step closer, I’ll have her kill you all. Starting with your loyal little friend.”
He hissed those last words in Tuomas’s ear, and swept the point of the knife towards Elin, who was still lying in the snow.
His rancid breath turned Tuomas’s stomach.
“Please,” Tuomas said. “Just take me. Don’t hurt anybody else.”
“That’s up to them.” Kari nodded at Enska. “Last chance.”
But still nobody moved.
Tuomas stared at Enska, silently willing him to take charge and get everyone away. If the stalemate continued for much longer, he knew Kari would lose what little patience he had left.
There was a flash of green, and something came at them. Tuomas only manged a glimpse as Lumi clamped her jaws around Kari’s wrist.
Kari howled and let go of Tuomas. He thrashed violently, trying to dislodge Lumi, but she hung on with an incensed fury. She clawed at his face, leaving deep scratches.
Then, with a snarl of anger, Kari spun in a circle and sent her flying.
Tuomas saw her fall as though in slow motion, heading straight for the fire.
She landed in the middle of the smouldering logs. There was a pained yelp, and she tumbled away in a heap and didn’t move.
Something snapped inside him. Barely thinking, he threw himself at Kari and tackled him to the ground.
Kari slapped him across the face and rolled on top of him, forcing his wrists either side of his head. Somehow, he had kept hold of the knife, and positioned it so the tip was pressing into Tuomas’s cheek.
Tuomas hissed in pain. His chest burned from the impact; he felt sticky blood under his tunic. The wound had opened.
“Nice to know where she is,” Kari leered. “I’ll get her heart later, once I’ve had yours!”
“Not likely,” Elin snarled.
Tuomas twisted his head. She was standing just a few feet away, all daze gone from her sharp eyes. A fresh arrow was nocked to her bow.
“Spirits, forgive me,” she muttered, and let fly. It went over Tuomas’s head and straight into Kari’s chest.
The force of it knocked Kari backwards. Tuomas wasted no time; he shoved Kari off him and grabbed his drum. Henrik ran to him and the two of them laid down a circle as fast as they could.
Lilja went to attack, but the energy of the circle repelled her, and she bounced off it like a stone hitting ice. Paavo quickly forced her arms behind her back.
Kari gaped at the arrow, as though unable to believe it was there. Tuomas could tell from its position that Elin had just missed his heart – if she’d hit there, like she had with the demon, it would all be over.
She noticed it as well, because she advanced on him, another arrow aimed and ready.
“No, leave him be,” Tuomas called to her.
She gave him an incredulous look.
“You don’t think I’m going to let him walk away from this, do you?”
Tuomas met her eyes evenly, letting her see his anger. It was a fury beyond him, something greater, more powerful than a mere human body could hold.
He gritted his teeth, channelling it all down his arms and into the drum. Then he struck it.
Kari was yanked to his feet like a puppet on a string. Through the pain, he managed a condescending smirk.
“The Spirit of the Lights didn’t have it in her to take my life,” he said. “What makes you think you can?”
Tuomas threw a glance at Lumi. She still wasn’t moving.
“Neither of you can do it,” Kari sniggered.
“Lumi knew you weren’t worth it, and so do I,” said Tuomas. “I’m not going to kill you. I’m sending you back to where I found you.”
He took a deep breath, letting his taika flow, until it felt as though it might lift him off his feet. In his mind, he sensed the warmth of the long Sun on his shoulders; smelled the berries and the flowers and the call of the birds.
He raised the hammer high and brought it down on the drum, his focus completely on Kari.
A bright light shone from the centre of the Mustafjord,
and a phantom herd of white reindeer spilled out of it. They galloped towards the shore, bearing the Earth Spirits in their wake, leafy hair waving in the wind. The air above them rippled, like heat in summer. And from the flying snow, the unmistakable face of the Great Bear Spirit appeared.
Henrik covered his mouth and fell to his knees in awe.
Kari’s his smug expression transformed into one of fright.
“This is your doing!” he raged at Lilja.
“No,” Tuomas said calmly, and struck the drum again. “It’s yours.”
The reindeer reached the shore. The Earth Spirits reached out and snatched Kari, hauling him onto the frozen fjord. At once, Tuomas became aware of everything around him: the still water, the ice sheet on top of it, the frigid air; the unique intricacy of every falling snowflake. He let it flow through him, feeding his power, and poured out his intent in a chant.
This is the end.
The Great Bear Spirit gazed upon Kari with its fathomless black eyes. Kari fell into a bow so low; he was almost lying down.
“Forgive me, I beg you!” he cried. “Please!”
The Bear didn’t move, didn’t even blink. It only stared at the disgraced mage for a long moment. Then, in one swift movement, it grabbed him in its jaws and dived into the ice.
The ghostly herd streamed back, disappearing the way they had come. And then there was only the snow, drifting down onto the empty Mustafjord.
Tuomas’s vision spun. His knees wobbled and Enska grabbed his shoulders to steady him.
Lilja let out a huge gasp. She wrenched one arm free and clutched at her throat. When she opened her eyes, the hollowness was gone. There was only her own familiar blue.
She shuddered, exhausted, and collapsed back against Paavo. He wasn’t prepared for her weight and the two of them tumbled over.
Lilja didn’t even bother to roll off him. She just lay there, panting as though she had run for miles.
Enska approached, watching her cautiously.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
Lilja managed a small smile.
“Smart boy.”
A relieved grin spread over Enska’s face.
“She’s fine! Kari’s out of her!”