16

Siiri

Paavo sits on the far side of the fire, still leaning against my pack. He has the whetstone in hand, sharpening the blade of his axe. The sound of metal on stone echoes across the clearing. A soft wind blows through the trees, rustling the leaves. The scene is peaceful, almost idyllic, with the babbling stream and the grazing reindeer.

But an agent of death stalks these woods, and her name is Siiri. I watch from the edge of the clearing, my bloody hands pressed against the trunk of a tree. I can’t take him by surprise. The distance is too far, and he’s facing me with his back to the stream. Maybe if I ran forward a few feet, I could throw my knife and strike true, but a man’s chest is protected by thick bones. It’s easy to miss his heart. I got lucky with Kalma, and it didn’t even hurt her. The witch hardly blinked.

There’s only one option. I step out of the trees.

“Kyosti?” Paavo takes in my frightening new appearance, soaked in his friend’s blood.

“Kyosti is dead,” I call. Raising the dead man’s axe, I point it at Paavo. “You’re next.”

A wicked smile spreads across his face as he sets his whetstone aside. He rises slowly, his own axe balanced in his practiced hand. “You’re brave for a dead girl.”

I hold his gaze, stalking closer. “I’ve met Kalma already. She gave me this,” I reply, gesturing to the faint bruise over my brow. “She doesn’t scare me. I bet she scares you to death.”

He smirks. Then he lunges forward, closing the space between us. I dip left and bob, dancing with him, hoping to tire him out as he takes massive swings, blade singing through the air.

“Godsdamn it,” he barks. “Fight me!”

I raise my axe and step forward, deflecting his blow. Our wooden axe handles clack and slide until the blades scrape together. He grins with yellow teeth as he presses down with his axe. Reaching behind me, I jerk the dead trapper’s knife free and stab Paavo in the gut.

He stumbles away with a grunt, his free hand pressed over the bleeding wound. “You foul, stinking bitch.”

“My bite is far worse than my bark,” I say in challenge, flashing him both blades. “With these metal teeth, I will shred you limb from worthless limb.”

With a grunt, he swings high with his axe. I duck it easily, darting to the side. But in a feat of strength and skill, he corrects the blade mid-swing. The shaft cracks the side of my skull, dropping me to the ground. I lose control of my axe as I fall, the forest spinning around me...

Get to your feet.

I scramble away, blinking through the pain in my temple. I search for my axe. Paavo grabs me by my loose hair. I’m on my knees in the long grass, fingers inches from the axe shaft.

Goddess, please—just a little closer—

I cry out in pain as Paavo jerks my head back. He stands behind me, his body pressed against mine, as I feel the sharp chill of his axe blade against my throat.

He pants through the pain in his side. “You’re a brave little thing, I’ll give you that. You look like death’s own mistress all covered in Kyosti’s blood.”

I try to wriggle free, desperately reaching for my axe.

“Don’t fight now,” he grunts, jerking my hair again as he presses into my throat with his blade. “You’ll cut your own neck if you fight, and I’m not ready to kill you yet. Turn over.”

No. Please, gods—

“I said turn over.” Grappling with me, he forces me down, flipping me on my back until he’s straddling my hips, the sharp weight of his blade still pressing into my neck. I can feel it cutting into my flesh, breaking me open the same way I just killed Kyosti. A tear slips down my cheek as I gaze up at the storm clouds swirling overhead. Goddess, protect me , I pray to the heavens. I can’t do this on my own. I surrender to you.

Paavo laughs. “Did Kyosti at least get a taste before you killed him— argh —”

A roar splits the air. I feel the ground tremble beneath me, and then a massive form barrels over us, knocking Paavo aside. I pant, my body prone in the grass, bleeding from my neck and brow. Above me is nothing but grey sky.

Another roar. I roll onto my side and can’t quite believe what I’m seeing. A large brown bear has pinned Paavo to the ground. The trapper screams in terror, uselessly punching the giant’s face as it claws at him.

Then, the bear lowers its hulking snout, teeth bared, and rips the scream from Paavo’s throat, silencing him forever.

I lie there, winded. My head pounds; my limbs shake. Paavo had me pinned. I was facing the moment of my death. I had failed. Again. Now Paavo’s dead, and the bear’s soulful dark eyes take me in. With a low grunt, he steps over the dead trapper, blood dripping from his open mouth.

I scramble backwards, trying to stand, but I only manage to get to my knees, swaying. I cover my throat with one hand, feeling the severity of the cut. It won’t be fatal, thank the gods. I reach out with my free hand, desperate for my axe, but pause, hand pressed to the cold grass.

The goddess’s words echo in my mind: Follow the bear.

“Oh gods...” The golden-brown fur on his muzzle and around his eyes glows brightest at the tips of his fuzzy ears. “It’s you.” Ignoring my axe, I crawl forward. “You followed me all this way?”

The bear grunts again, closing the distance between us until I can feel and smell his hot breath. In an act of pure faith, I raise a hand towards his face. “They made me a killer,” I whisper, voice trembling. “They forced my hand. Otso, hear me, I’ll not harm your servant. May you strike me down if I ever raise a hand to you in anything but friendship.”

The bear steps into my hand, letting me stroke his face.

“I saved you from that pit,” I say, brushing my fingers over his thick fur. “And now you’ve saved me. A life for a life. The gods have linked us together, friend.” I swallow a startled scream as the bear licks my face from chin to hairline. He does it again, his stinking breath hot on my skin.

He follows me back over to where Paavo lies dead in the grass. He’s sprawled out, a gaping hole in his neck, eyes fixed. Inches from his lifeless hand, the handle of his axe waits. The sting of it still burns at my throat.

I’m a hunter and a killer.

So much senseless violence. So much needless death. This is my Finland now, a cold land where Finn turns on Finn. Where is our spirit? Where is our community? Out here, I can only trust the animals of the forest and the gods others presume are dead.

Dropping to one knee, I take Paavo’s axe. The memory of his fist twisted tight in my hair makes me sick. I shiver as I remember the feeling of Kyosti pinning me down, my long hair tangled, trapping me. In a fit of madness, I take his axe by the blade and slice through my hair with a sharp jerk, cutting it all until it hangs just above my shoulders. Holding back a sob, I drop my severed locks and the axe onto the dead man’s body. My blonde tresses cover him like a shroud.

“Keep it,” I say, spitting on his corpse. No man will ever use my hair as a weapon against me again.

From across the small clearing, the bear watches me.

“You found me for a reason,” I say to him. “I believe we’re meant to help each other.” The bear grunts his assent, and I smile. “You should know I travel north in search of V?in?moinen.”

The bear goes still, closing his mouth and narrowing those soft eyes.

“I’m told you know the way,” I continue. “I’m also told the shaman doesn’t wish to be found. But he’s my only hope. Without him, I will lose the person who means more to me than my own life. You see now what I’m willing to risk.” I point down at the dead trapper. “Only death will stop me. Will you go north with me? Will you help me find the shaman?”

The bear considers for a moment, studying me with his knowing eyes. Slowly, he nods.

“Very well, then. Let’s go, friend. Northward.”