Chapter Nine Mist

I t took me all of five minutes to gather my things into a scrap of worn canvas that had once been a bag. There was still one strap and although it was full of holes, they weren’t big enough to let my things escape. Over the years I’d collected a few essentials that Tyr had either left behind or had tossed inside the dome so I wouldn’t need him as much. Most of it was junk, and I was happy to leave it behind. But I did pack my least ratty wool blanket, a small hatchet that had been gathering rust at the point where the handle met metal, and a small leaf-shaped pin that I’d been wearing the moment I woke up in the dome.

The pin was the most precious to me and not because it looked like it might be made of gold. It was the only thing I had left from my old life. It was a simple design of a long stem with five bright green leaves with rounded edges growing from it. At the bottom was a cluster of three white circles that I assumed could be berries. I loved the way they shimmered a rainbow of colors as I tilted the pin in the light. The back was a long straight gold pin that I’d used several times to clip my blanket around my neck like a cloak. It was useful, beautiful, and sentimental all at once, so I couldn’t leave it behind.

The last thing I grabbed was my box of matches. It wasn’t exactly essential, and I knew we’d probably be going somewhere with a fire already going. Still, I didn’t feel right about leaving them behind. They had been my lifeline for so long and the difference between freezing or starving to death that I just couldn’t let them go. Old habits would probably die hard.

Once I had everything gathered up, I shouldered my bag and pushed my way out of the hut leaving the fire burning behind me. If Tyr did come looking for me, the fire would make him think I was still there, wandering around the dome. It might buy us a little bit of time if we were lucky.

Back at the northern edge of the dome I found Baldr standing with his face buried in his mother’s spellbook. I got a better look at the runes on the cover and a strange sort of familiarity stirred in my belly. Something about those symbols brought memories to the edge of my mind. However, as they got close, I felt them grow hazy. It was the same way I always felt when I tried to call up my past before the dome. Had I known how to read runes in a previous life? I wasn’t sure, but that was something we could remedy once I was out. For now, getting free was the most important thing. Reading, magical or otherwise, would come later.

“Find anything?” I asked, trying not to startle him. But he jumped anyway.

“Maybe?” he replied, clearly unsure of himself. “I flipped through the entire book and I don’t see a general dispelling ritual. Maybe that’s something that’s just too basic to put in a book like this. Everything else in here seems really specific.”

“Like what?”

He flipped a few pages. “Ah. Like how to kill a Draugr.”

“What’s a Draugr?”

“According to this, some sort of undead creature created from warriors left to rot in the fields.”

“Well… we probably won’t have to deal with that?”

“I hope not.” He flipped through a few more pages. “However, there is a spell here for opening a door.”

“A door? To where?”

“It’s not specific.” He skimmed down the page, his eyes darting back and forth as he read. “But it seems like it’s all purpose, like it can create a door anywhere.”

“Can it get me out of this dome?” I asked, my voice filled with hope.

“I don’t know. But we can give it a shot.” He looked up at me, placing his hand on the dome. “I’m pretty tapped out for today, but I’m gonna try this anyway. I ate a couple of snacks on the way here and I’m starting to feel better now.”

“Okay,” I nodded, worry twisting inside my chest. “Just don’t overdo it, okay? I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

He gave me a warm smile and I could’ve sworn I felt some affection seep through our telepathic connection. “I’ll do my best.”

I stared at him for a long moment. “So… uh… should I move or?”

“Maybe take a few steps back,” he chuckled nervously. “I’m not sure how this is going to go.”

I did as I was told. As soon as I was a handful of feet away from the dome, Baldr held out one hand, the spellbook clutched in the other, and our telepathic bond ceased. The moment it did, he started to chant on the other side of the dome. Although I could see his lips moving, the barrier blocked the outside world completely from the rest of my senses. Instead, I watched as a golden sparkling light began to coalesce in his hand. It ran up his arm, through his palm, and illuminated his outstretched fingers. With his middle and index finger he reached out to touch the dome and slowly began etching symbols into the side of it.

The air around me began to quake and shiver, like someone was shaking the entire place. It was similar to when Tyr let himself into my domain, but more violent. For a moment I thought everything might come crashing down around me. The thought of being crushed by the dome was one that filled me with fear. But no sooner had the thought crossed my mind than Baldr finished drawing his final rune.

He pulled the backside of his finger down the barrier, an eerie tearing sound echoing through the silent, snow covered world. I watched as a thin line appeared in the dome and then, all at once, it split open, letting the sound of the outside world in at last.

Several things struck me all at once. There was the slight breeze rustling what few dried leaves still clung to their branches, the rattling echoing over the mountain. In the distance I could hear an owl cry in the night only to be answered by another much closer. But what I noticed most was the gasp from Baldr’s lips as he saw me clearly for the first time in his life. And his jaw fell slack.

“You… You’re so handsome,” he said. But the moment the words left his lips, he turned bright red.

My heart leapt at his words, but I forced my feet to stay planted in the snow. I wasn’t entirely convinced all of this was real yet. After years and years of being trapped inside the dome, it felt almost wrong to finally be able to leave it. I knew my space like the back of my hand. Every rock, tree, and spring had its rightful place. But everything outside of the barrier was foreign and strange. Who knew what kind of dangers might be lurking out there to sweep me up and carry me away.

However, none of those worries stopped Baldr from stepping through the barrier, the book still clutched in his hand. The magic split around him like a curtain. As soon as he was inside it folded back together neatly. But my eyes were no longer on that. They were on Baldr.

My best friend in the whole world was close enough to touch for the first time ever.

“Can… Can I hug you?” I asked, my voice shaking as I stared at him.

“Yeah,” he nodded, a grin pulling at his lips.

I dropped my bag in the snow and ran, the thrill of it all taking over me at last. Colliding with Baldr, I threw my arms around his neck and held him tight. The feel of his skin against mine, his chest rising and falling, and the sweet honey-like scent of his skin brought tears to my eyes. I’d never experienced something so wonderful in all my life.

“Is… is this what it feels like?” I asked, holding onto Baldr tightly.

“What do you mean?”

“To hold someone?” I pulled him in tighter, refusing to let go as tears streamed down my cheeks. His warmth seeped through my clothing, filling me with a sensation I’d never felt before. It was like I was floating. “It’s better than I ever imagined.”

He smiled, squeezing me back. “Well, get used to it. Because you’re free now.”

“I can’t believe this is finally happening…”

Baldr leaned back, placing his hands on my cheeks and rubbing his thumbs over my stubbly jaw. “It’s not just a dream anymore.”

My heart sang as he touched me and it took everything I had not to tell him right then and there how much I cared for him. I bit my lower lip to stop myself from speaking out of line. Instead, I just stared back at him, the butterflies in my stomach making me nauseous.

“You ready to get out of here?”

I nodded, still unable to speak.

“Then let’s get going.”

Baldr let me go, turning back toward the barrier. I took a moment to wipe my cheeks on my sleeve and gather up my bag. I felt silly for getting so emotional, but at the same time, it was a big moment for me. Freedom had always seemed like a pipe dream. But now that it was finally coming true, there was nothing I could do to regain control of my emotions. They would just need to run their course.

“Uh-oh,” Baldr said, drawing my attention back to him.

I didn’t like his tone. “What? What’s wrong?”

“The barrier sealed again,” he replied, tapping his hand on the solid magic that was now seamless. “The spell must be only temporary with something like this.”

“Can you do it again?” I asked, knowing that Baldr was already exhausted beyond reason.

He nodded. “I think I can. But after that… I’m gonna be toast.”

“I’ll carry you if I have to.”

A smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. “You might have to.” He pulled the book out once more, turning back to the dome. “Alright, let’s make another door.”

I took a step back, following the instructions from before. Baldr lifted his hand and opened his mouth to begin chanting. But the words never left his lips. Before he could begin, the air around us shivered again, the familiar sensation washing over me. My stomach sank as I realized what was happening.

“Mistilteinn!” a booming, guttural voice cried. “Where the fuck are you?!”

Both Baldr and I looked at one another. We recognized that voice and the anger behind it. Tyr, it seemed, had finally found out the witch was dead, and he was coming to make sure his prize was still where it was supposed to be.

I stared at Baldr as cold fear flooded my system. Judging by his expression, he’d realized the same thing as I did.

He’d never have time to open another door before Tyr found us.

“Come on,” I whispered, gesturing for Baldr to follow me. “Back to my hut!”

“He’ll know I’m here!” Baldr shot back. “My scent is everywhere!”

“It’s too smoky at the hut. It’ll cover it up.”

“I don’t think that’ll–”

“Do you have another option?!”

Baldr glanced around at the snow surrounding us and the impenetrable barrier separating us from the outside world.

“No…”

“Then come on!”

Grabbing his hand, we raced south toward my hut that was stationed near the center of the dome. We made sure to run in single file so the tracks didn’t look like two people, but just a regular path that I took. Thankfully, the hut wasn’t far off and in less than thirty seconds, we were standing at the front of it. I quickly pulled Baldr inside and pushed him into the back corner where my worst blankets were piled. The fire was still burning brightly, and the hut was full of heat.

“Cover yourself up just in case he comes in here,” I said, tossing my bag at him.

“If he finds me, he’ll kill you!”

“Not if you get us out of here first,” I replied, gesturing to the book. “I don’t care where. We can figure it out later. But do something… anything to stop him from finding you, even if you have to leave me behind. I’ve put up with his malice before, I can handle it one more time.”

There was a look of fear in Baldr’s eyes, but he nodded, nonetheless. He opened his mouth to speak once more, but another shout cut us off.

“Mistilteinn!!”

I gave him one last urgent look and a signal to stay quiet before I stepped toward the flap of the hut and let myself back out into the cold air.