56

Siiri

I open my eyes, orienting myself as quickly as possible to my new surroundings. Well, they’re not new surroundings. In fact, I know them as well as I know the tattoos on the backs of my hands. I’m home again, lying on the shores of Lake P?ij?nne. My body is safe in the north, guarded under Aina’s watchful eye.

After many long discussions over our evening fire, I finally convinced her to let me send my itse out again. It’s time to speak to our families and tell them of Aina’s safe return. It’s time to tell them of our plans.

It was never a question of Aina wanting her family to know we’re alive and safe; she’s simply new to soul magic. When I tell her that souls can become untethered, she panics, terrified she’ll lose me to the long dying. “You are the strongest tether I’ll ever need,” I assured her. “I will always find my way back to you.”

In the end, this was enough to mollify her. She watched over me as I drummed into the darkness.

And now I’m back where it all began.

It’s a mild spring morning, and the snow lies thin on the ground. All around me, the drip drip of melting ice. I walk down the well-worn path, weaving between the birch trees along the south side of my family’s homestead. It’s late enough in the morning that the men should be away. That was one of Aina’s other stipulations. I’m not to repeat the chaos that was my own brother trying to burn me at the stake.

I smile to see my little sister in the yard feeding the chickens. She looks taller after all these months apart. “Hello, Liisa,” I call out softly.

She drops the basket of chicken feed with a gasp. “Siiri? You look different... your hair.”

I laugh, raising a hand to smooth it down. I got Aina to fix it so now it hangs evenly above my shoulders. Liisa’s never seen me with anything but a long braid. “You look different too. You look strong. Is Mummi finally making you do chores?”

Liisa surveys me with sharp eyes. “Are you really here, or is this like before?”

“I’m here in the only way I’m able,” I reply. “I’ve come to see Mummi.”

“She’s in the house.” She hurries away towards the open door. “Mummi,” she calls. “Siiri is here.”

I follow Liisa inside the house. Mummi sits at our large family table sorting the laundry. Her hands hold up a pair of breeches. “Siiri? Oh, thank the All-Mother.” She hurries around the table, wrapping me in her arms. The scent of home envelops me—fresh-baked bread and cardamom. “Oh, my brave girl. My sweet Siiri. You’re here.”

“She’s doing that disappearing trick again,” Liisa says from her stool. Her cat hops up on her lap.

“I’ve come to see Milja,” I say against Mummi’s shoulder. “And you,” I add, giving her another squeeze.

She lets me go. “Yes, of course. We’ll go there now.” She wipes hurriedly at her eyes. “The men are all out. Your father will be sorry to have missed you. The last time was...”

“I’m sorry for that too,” I say. “Did you suffer after I left?”

Mummi pats my cheek. “It does no good to dwell on the past.”

I stiffen. “What did the priests do, Mummi?”

“It doesn’t matter—”

“They ransacked the house and barn looking for you,” Liisa says.

“Liisa, that’s enough,” Mummi orders.

“Then they accused Mummi of being a witch,” she goes on. “Father had to pay a fine to the Church, so they wouldn’t send her south for a trial. We lost half our cattle. When the priests learned Milja and Taavi were giving us extra food, they fined them too.”

My gut twists. “Mummi, I’m so sorry.”

“I said it doesn’t matter,” she replies, glaring at Liisa. “All that matters is that you’re safe. You are safe... right?”

I nod. “I’m safe, Mummi.”

Liisa still watches me. “Why have you not come back to us? Is it Aina? Is she dead?”

Mummi rounds on her. “Liisa, did you finish feeding the chickens?”

“Now that you’re here, you should meet Aksel’s new bride,” she says over Mummi.

I glance between them. “Aksel is married?”

Mummi slips her blue cap on and grabs her favorite wool shawl off the peg by the door. “Not yet. It’s all been a bit sudden, but love always rings true in the end.”

“Who is he marrying?”

Mummi smiles, holding out her hand. “Liisa’s right. You should meet her.”

We take the long path through the trees to get to Milja’s house, to avoid being spotted by the other villagers. “What does Milja know?” I say to Mummi.

“Oh, goodness. Everything. More than even you, I suspect.”

I pause my steps. “How—”

“Hurry up,” she calls out. “All will be revealed soon.”

We step into the yard to find Milja on the back step peeling vegetables with a young woman with long, blonde braids. Both women look up as we approach.

“Good morning,” Mummi calls.

Milja’s eyes fill with tears. “Siiri? Oh, blessed mother, be praised.” She hurries over to wrap me in a tight embrace.

The young woman behind Milja looks at me with joy in her eyes. “This is Siiri?”

Milja inspects me, her fingers brushing over the scar on my neck. “Is Aina alive?”

I smile, taking hold of her hand. “Let’s go inside.”

We all settle at Milja’s table. She fusses over my thinness and my cut hair as the young woman pours us all cups of tea.

“My Aina?” Milja says again.

“I have her,” I say with a smile. “She’s free of Tuonela. She’s with me in the north.”

Next to me, Mummi squeezes my shoulder, while Milja and the young woman fall to pieces, crying and hugging each other. My own smile dims as I watch the stranger cry. “Who are you? Why do you act as though you know Aina?”

The girl laughs, wiping away her tears. “Oh—forgive me. I never said. My name is Helmi.”

I go still, heart racing. I know this name well. She was all Aina talked of during the first days of our reunion. I’ve committed all the girls’ names to memory: Lilja and Salla, Riina and Helmi, Inari and Satu. Most nights, Aina has nightmares. She wakes up screaming, her body drenched in sweat. I hold her and ask the same question: “Who was it this time?”

Someone is always dying in Aina’s dreams. Someone is always fleeing. Someone is tortured with a little round stone. Aina has dreamt of Helmi’s death many times.

“You’ve heard of me,” she says gently. “Aina told you?”

I give a curt nod. “How did you get here?”

“Aina freed us. She made a deal with the death god and—”

“I know what happened down there,” I say over her. “I’m asking how you got here .”

She holds my gaze. “We made her a promise, Riina, Satu, and I. We promised we would find her family and tell them what happened. She wanted you to know how much she loved you, Siiri... and that she didn’t blame you for what happened.”

“I blame myself enough for the both of us,” I reply.

Milja places a hand on my arm. “It was the will of the gods, Siiri. No one is to blame. The girls arrived at the break of winter,” she goes on. “They were such a gift to us, a balm after those dark times.”

“And Riina?” I press, desperate to give Aina any good news. “Satu?”

“She returned home,” Helmi replies. “As did Satu. But my parents are dead. I was living with an aunt who never cared much for me. She thought I was a burden. I came here and met Aina’s people and felt so at home. You’ve all been so kind to me,” she adds, glancing around.

“You’re a good girl,” says Mummi. “You’ve found your place here.”

Helmi smiles, blushing as she takes a sip of her tea.

I lean back in my chair. “Ahh, you’re my brother’s intended?”

She nods.

“When do you marry?”

“In a fortnight,” Mummi says for her. “And we’ll all be made very happy by it. Helmi has been living here with Milja. But when they marry, she’ll come live with us.”

I reach for my cup of tea, and all the women look at my tattoos. “You don’t need to be afraid of these,” I say with a smile. “They’re not the marks of Kalma or a witch. They’re the marks of a shaman. To rescue Aina from Tuonela, I went north to find V?in?moinen. He taught me how to cross over the realms. He gave me the marks.”

“How did you break her free?” Helmi whispers.

“In the end, Tuoni let her go,” I reply. “He realized she was safer in life than in death.”

“Gods be praised,” Milja says, eyes closed.

“There’s something you should all know,” I add.

They all look to me, expressions wary.

Aina gave me her blessing to do this. It has to be done. They have to understand. “Aina is pregnant with Tuoni’s child.”

Gasps go up around the table.

“That is why we haven’t returned to you sooner,” I explain. “We’ve decided to wait until after the child is born. Aina needs comfort and rest and safety. We have that where we are now.”

“And where is that?” Milja presses.

I give her a weak smile. “North... that’s all I’ll say for now. But we will return,” I add before she can protest. Reaching out, I take her hand. “Aina and I are returning south. The gods have given us a sacred mission.”

“A sacred mission?” Liisa echoes from her spot at the end of the table, her fair brows arched high.

I nod. “We’re going to free our people from the Swedes and their god. We’re going to unite the Finns. We’re going to fight... and we’re going to win.”

Silence meets my pronouncement. Four sets of eyes gaze at me in fear and confusion.

Mummi breaks the silence first. “Siiri...”

“I’m not Siiri anymore,” I say, letting the last hammer fall. “Well, not only Siiri.”

“Who are you?” Milja whispers.

Pulling on the ancient wells of magic pooled deep inside me, I raise my hands and begin to hum, singing a song of spring—fresh rains and budding flowers and new blades of grass. I let my music pour out of me, filling the air. The women cry out as they see the light of my magic in my eyes. I wave my hand around the room, quickening my spring song. Garlands of flowers snake around the rafters and up the walls—great blooms of fireweed and purple harebells, daisies and yellow irises. Water lilies bloom from our teacups.

I let the song fade and stand, placing my hands flat on the table. The women look all around in shock. The inside of Milja’s house now looks like an enchanted garden. Bees and butterflies flutter amongst the blooms. I smile, reciting the last few lines of my farewell song. “Watch for me at dawn of morning, that I may bring back the Sampo, bring anew the harp of joyance, bring again the golden moonlight, bring again the silver sunshine, peace and plenty to the Northland.”

Mummi nods with tears of pride in her eyes.

“I am the new V?in?moinen,” I say. “His magic is mine now. And I am here to tell you faithful few: I am coming. Look for me journeying down from the north. A queen will walk at my side. Tell everyone: V?in?moinen returns.”