Page 70 of Goddess of Light
I’m certainly smitten, aren’t I? Certainly doomed, at any rate.
We enter the war room where the others are waiting. Lovia leans against a pillar, arms folded, trying to look calm, but I sense her impatience. Tapio and Tellervo sit close together, the Forest God’s beard threaded with leaves that have losttheir color and grown brittle from stress. Tellervo’s antlers are adorned with a few stubborn flowers, wilted but still clinging to life. Vellamo stands a bit apart, her gaze distant, as though listening to unseen ocean waves. Torben is at one corner, staff propped beside him. Ilmarinen sorts through a crate of small metal components—arrowheads, runes, possible artifacts for the sampo. Rasmus, that redheaded weasel, hovers near Ilmarinen, eager to help, trying to prove himself. The Magician drifts near the back wall, galaxies swirling in his hood, inscrutable as always.
And in the center of it all, standing because there are no chairs sturdy enough to seat them, are the Keskellis.
All five of them.
Onlyfive of them.
They are broad-shouldered, with rough, bluish skin, tusked underbites, and thick fur-trimmed garments. Their eyes gleam with curiosity and a certain gentleness you wouldn’t expect from twenty-foot-tall trolls. We exchange nods as we approach.
One Keskelli raises a hand in greeting, and his voice rumbles like distant thunder. “Greetings, Tuoni,” he says, pronouncing my name with unexpected familiarity. “I am Kaleva, elder of our small clan.” He taps his chest with a weathered hand. “These are my kin: Uljas, Mieli, Sihvo, and Tenko.” He points to each in turn.
Uljas looks stern and silent. Mieli has softer features and kind eyes, Sihvo is scarred and wary, and Tenko sports a bone necklace that rattles softly. Each bows slightly, as space allows.
Hanna’s eyes widen slightly, impressed by their presence.
“Kaleva,” I say with a nod. “We’re glad you’ve come. We feared our message hadn’t reached you.”
He rumbles a low laugh that shakes dust from the rafters. “We received your plea late. We were hidden deep in ice caves within the Frozen Void when the Old Gods rose. It took time tojourney here, but we come as friends. Your fight is ours—this land’s fate affects us all.”
A murmur of approval passes through the room. We can use their strength. If these trolls can help us navigate the forests or hold against another assault, it might make the key difference. Still, there were hundreds of Keskelli at one point, and sheer numbers was what I needed.
“I don’t mean any disrespect,” I say carefully, “but I thought there were a lot more of you.”
“That was true, many moons ago,” Mieli says. “Back when we lived here, around the Star Swamp. Before Louhi slaughtered many of us. Those who remained took off to the frozen north to hide. But ever since the Old Gods rose, more of us have been lost still.”
Silence fills the room. I had no idea Louhi was doing this, but it explains a lot. I have to wonder what other creatures she destroyed in her battle for dominance here. Some God I am; I should have been protecting them.
I clear my throat, stepping toward the table. “We’ve survived one assault,” I begin, my voice echoing in the quiet hall, “but Castle Syntri can’t withstand another. The walls are cracked, our supplies low. The enemy knows our position, and they will return. We must move, and soon.”
“Where?” Kaleva asks.
“The Hiisi Forest awaits,” Tapio speaks up, “though it has been corrupted. We know it once bettered our enemies, but now… We must tread carefully. If we move under cover of darkness, maybe we can avoid direct confrontation. The Old Gods might be regrouping.”
Tellervo’s voice is soft but resolute. “The forest could offer some advantage still. My father and I can coax some of the trees, roots, and vines to our cause. They can regenerate under the worst-case scenarios. They always come back.”
Vellamo crosses her arms, shifting her weight. “Meanwhile, the river and the sea routes are waiting. With Ahto gone, my grip on the waters is diminished, but I can still guide small groups and my mermaids, maybe see if I can conjure the Devouress, Ved-Ava, and Näkki. If we split our forces—some through the forest, some by sea—we might surround any lurking threats or find safer passage.”
Hanna stands quietly beside me, listening. I sense her tension. I know she wants to help, to use her power. I squeeze her hand gently—no one demands she burn her memory away again. We have other tools now.
Lovia pushes off the pillar and steps forward. “We have the sampo being refined by Ilmarinen and Rasmus. If it can uncorrupt the ley lines, we might weaken the Old Gods’ hold. That was our original plan, wasn’t it? To lure them toward the Hiisi Forest and then break their power at its source?”
Torben clears his throat. “The sampo is close to completion. If we deploy it properly, we can restore balance to at least some portion of the land. That might strip Louhi’s minions of their unnatural strength. But to do that, we must be near the ley lines’ convergence in the forest. We cannot do it from here.”
“Then we must move tonight,” I say decisively, letting my voice ring out. “We can’t linger a moment longer. The castle’s walls are too damaged, and we have too many wounded. We have already waited too long. Another assault, and we’ll be trapped inside a ruin. We leave under cover of darkness, scattering our approach so we aren’t a single target.”
Hanna’s hand tightens in mine. I sense her nerves—night travel is risky, but staying is worse. The others consider my words. Tapio nods slowly as Tellervo lets out a breath of relief. Vellamo narrows her eyes thoughtfully then gives a curt nod.
Kaleva of the Keskellis rumbles, “We will follow your lead. We know hidden ways near the forest’s edge—paths lesstrodden. If some of us travel with Vellamo by sea, we can guard her flank. We Keskellis are strong swimmers, even in icy waters.”
That’s good news. I raise my eyebrows in surprise. “You would split your numbers?” I ask, concerned. “There are only five of you.”
Kaleva and his kin share a look. Uljas grunts, “We are five, but each of us can stand against a hundred Bone Stragglers. Dividing our strength still leaves us formidable.”
Mieli’s voice is gentler. “We want to be of use. The Old Gods threaten all life. We cannot hide forever in ice caves if we wish to preserve the future.”
I nod, touched by their resolve. “Very well. Two of you go with Vellamo by the sea route, three remain with us on land. I’ll let you decide who.”