Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 125422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 627(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 627(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Hanna draws a deep breath, her hand in mine. “We can do this,” she says, voice steadier now. “Right?”
I nod, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. Lovia stands to my other side, gaze sharp, determined.
At last, I give the nod. The last of the torches are extinguished, and we move out in a careful hush, heading across the frozen Star Swamp.
I glance back at the castle over my shoulder
Good riddance, I can’t help but think.
It provided what it could, but I hope I never again return to this damned place.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
HANNA
We travel by moonlight, Tuoni’s moods stable enough for the clouds to part, the way lit by Kuutar, the Moon Goddess. I can feel the moon’s rays burn on my skin as if the sun itself, briefly illuminating the heavenly runes and sigils my powers once embossed on me. They are dormant, but they’re there, just under the skin, and I’ll be damned if I haven’t been wrestling with this dilemma every step of the way.
It has been hours since we left Castle Syntri, passing over the Star Swamp, past frozen plains where the wind bites, past sparse woods of aspen, where sleeping reindeer lay beneath the trees. We’re now within sight of the Hiisi Forest, a dark shadow in the distance beyond these low shrubs laden with berries. I can see it all clearly—I guess being a Goddess also means having night vision, which is a pretty cool perk.
I glance over at Tuoni as we walk beside each other. His focus is straight ahead at the looming forest, brow furrowed in stark determination. The two of us walk at the front, a few generals, Tapio, and my father flanking our sides. To our left, a couple hundred yards away, is another set of troops, led by General Suvari, Tellervo, and Ilmarinen, along with two trolls. To our right, across the same distance, is Lovia, leading Rasmus, the Magician, and the remaining troll with the rest of the troops. Somewhere far beyond them and unseen to us is Vellamo, two trolls, another garrison of soldiers, and hopefully a few sea creatures, all traveling on the waters. We don’t actually know if Vellamo is there, but we have to believe she is, preparing to meet us on the other side of the forest where the river dips in.
I look over my shoulder at the troops as they march behind me, silent and stern, some with rifles at the ready, but more with bows and arrows, since bullets are in short supply. Many carry swords and shields, making it look like a couple of timelines in history have gotten mixed together.
It’s unethical, what Tuoni is doing. I’ve told him that much. To manipulate the minds of innocent soldiers and force them into battle is a little, well…let’s just say that has never panned out well in the annals of history.
But perhaps ethics don’t count for much when it comes to saving the afterlife. This is one part where I think Tuoni wishes I’d squash my morals and think a bit more like the unfeeling Goddess I am. Perhaps he’s right. When I was off doing my Doctor Manhattan thing and viewing the world and the humans in it as something trivial and insignificant, morals definitely didn’t come into play.
I don’t want to go back to that, though. I fear it. In that state of grace where I had no emotional ties to this land or these people, there was something profoundly empty inside, even if I didn’t know it at the time. Yes, being with my real mother, getting to know her as well as I could and stepping into my true birthright gave me a true sense of belonging, one I felt I was missing my whole life, but the power overshadowed the truth: I already belonged. With my husband, with my father, as the queen of this land.
This Hanna, this me, who I really am right now? This is my destiny.
This is the prophecy.
I’m the one to touch Death and unite the land.
As if he can feel what I’m thinking, my husband glances over and gives me a quick, reassuring smile before it fades back into a firm line.
We keep marching forward through the darkness, the only sound the breathing of hundreds of troops and footsteps crunching over snow.
When the forest loom above us, dark and mysterious and deadly, we all come to a stop with a raise of Tuoni’s hand.
He looks to my father. “Do you have wards at the ready?” he asks in a hush.
My father nods, gripping his black staff, magicked nails hammered in the sides.
Then, Death looks at Tapio. “Are you able to communicate with the forest yet?”
Tapio squints at the tree line. “I have. I don’t sense any dangers. The trees tell me it is safe, and I am inclined to believe them.”