Page 44 of Goddess of Light
I exit the hall through a side door and descend a short corridor to a small chamber, where Rasmus has been kept under watch. Ilmarinen is not here—he’s in the armory, forging the sampo—but Rasmus sits on a stool, guarded by two soldiers who straighten when I enter.
“Leave us,” I tell them quietly. They hesitate only a second before obeying. The door closes, and Rasmus raises his chin defiantly.
“Lord Death,” he says, voice dripping with sarcasm. “What can I do for you today?”
I ignore the mockery. I take my time, crossing my arms and regarding him. He’s still bruised, clothes rumpled. He knows he’s alive by my mercy—or rather, the Magician’s mercy. I loathe how that makes him feel more important than he is.
“You know Louhi better than anyone here,” I say evenly. “Or, at least you know this current version of her. You know how she thinks, how she strategizes. You were kept in this very castle by her side. Tell me what plans she might have. I want to know what leverage she counts on.”
He narrows his eyes. “What makes you think I’ll tell you? Your daughter already tried to interrogate me.”
I tilt my head, letting silence and my steady gaze unnerve him. Rasmus may be stubborn, but he’s not fearless.
“Because Lovia has told me your fears,” I eventually say. “I know you will favor only yourself, but you also know your own mother doesn’t care if you live or die. Unfortunately for me, the Magiciandoescare. So, while you’re here, no harm will come to you.”
He continues to glare. “Until my purpose is served.”
I take a wider stance. “If your purpose is to help us win, then I personally won’t lay a hand on you. And I mean that literally.”
He tilts his head, mulling that over. “You’re not the only one here who wants me dead.”
“No one would dare. They want Louhi dead more,” I assure him, though it bothers me that I even have to. “Now, tell me what I need to know to defeat her. I know you know something.”
“Or what? You’ll try the same Jean Grey shit you’ve done with the Finnish troops?”
“I don’t know who Jean Grey is, but yes.”
He sighs, licking his lips as he looks around the room. “You know, this was my room before. I was under lock and key just as I am now. You really think she let me in on her plans? She kept me prisoner.”
“You still did her dirty work.”
“I didn’t have a choice. It was work for her or die. I’m sorry, but all I want is to save my own ass.”
I step forward until I’m looming over him. “You know something. Help us help you. Give me something we can use. Anything. What about Rangaista?”
“I never saw Rangaista. Louhi’s plan was to raise him in the crypt, some section that runs over a ley line…”
My brows raise. “The Sect of the Undead?”
“That’s it. She said she needed some more ingredients before she could call him forth. She said it would also release the saints from their prison.”
I picture the macabre statues lined up along the crypt and shudder. To think, that’s where Hanna and I got married. “Do you know what she meant by ingredients?”
He swallows audibly, running his tongue over his teeth. “Something about horns…”
Like a sword to the gut, I immediately know what she had in mind.
Either Tuonen’s horns or Sarvi’s.
Or both.
“Tuonen,” I whisper, quiet horror in my voice. “He was last seen by Tapio at Shadow’s End.”
Rasmus doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t have to. He knows.
“This won’t just be an attack,” I say. “It might have to be a rescue mission.”
Unless Tuonen escaped, but I can’t count on that, or on Sarvi, for that matter. They would be here already otherwise.