Sky in the Deep(39)

That was the Aska way too. When you broke the law, you paid for it. There were no judges or rule keepers. Only the Talas attempt to keep the peace in a village. When someone wronged you, you dealt with it yourself. If you didn’t, you were a target for others looking to take advantage.

Fiske nodded. “Thank you.”

“Thank you,” Inge echoed quietly.

“However, I would like to advise you, Fiske. You’ve chosen to take on your first dyr. And you didn’t take just any dyr. You took an Aska. May I ask why?”

Fiske jerked his chin, stretching his shoulder. “My mother needed help with the house.”

“What is it?” Inge looked concerned.

The Tala watched Fiske for a long moment. “I had a dream about her. I’m unsure of what it means, but I feel that Thora has her eye on this Aska.”

Iri’s jaw clenched.

“You seem very upset by Thorpe’s treatment of her.”

“I need her to work. If Thorpe had killed her, he would have had to pay me for her, just like he would for killing a sheep or a horse.”

The pit in my stomach grew, widening until it was something I could fall into. Something that could make me disappear.

The Tala looked up to Inge. “I would suggest trading her to another village after the thaw. Somewhere they won’t know what she is. She draws too much attention as an Aska to be useful. And I will also remind you that you’re expected to choose a wife, as Iri has. I hoped it would be this winter, but it looks as if that’s not going to happen.”

Fiske hesitated before shaking his head. “No.”

“Alright. Next winter. Agreed?”

“Yes,” Fiske and Inge answered together.

“I’m very glad to hear that.” She stood, smoothing out her skirt. “Inge, I’d be happy to help find you another dyr. I know you need the help.”

“Thank you.” Inge hugged her, her chin resting on the Tala’s shoulder.

They walked to the door arm in arm and I sank back into the cot, burying myself again.

I closed my eyes and welcomed the dark.





TWENTY-FIVE


I sat beside Inge in the meadow, digging up bulbs of fennel in silence. The sun was high and heatless, reflecting off the frozen ground. I pushed the spade into it, prying the earth up and raking through it with my hands.

The skin around my wrist was raw again, the bruise on my face sore when I moved my mouth.

Inge picked up a bulb and dusted it off with her fingers. “I’m sorry about what happened.”

I sat back on my knees, taking it from her and setting it into the basket beside me. It wasn’t her fault, but I wanted to be angry at her anyway. I’d had my chance to get to the river and now it was gone.

She watched me, setting her hands into her lap. “I think we should talk.” She picked at the dirt beneath her fingernails. “About Iri.” She looked up to meet my eyes. “I know who you are, Eelyn.”

I recoiled, my mind pulling thoughts so quickly I could hardly follow them. I searched the meadow around us instinctively, looking for a threat. But we were alone.

She didn’t move, watching me. “I haven’t told anyone.”

The beat of my heart knocked in my chest. I tried to read her. Tried to decide what she was planning to do about it. How much she knew. “How?”

“When Fiske brought you home, I knew there was more to it than what he told me. When you mentioned your family and your age I had my suspicions. I thought you might be the sister he told us about. But I wasn’t sure.” She pulled in a long breath and let it out.

I stood, walking out a ways until I had a good view of the meadow. If she’d planned to trap me, this would be a good place. I had nowhere to hide. “He told you about me?”

“He did, but he didn’t have to. You look just like him.”

“Did he tell you I was his fighting mate?” My eyes were still on the tree line.

A sad smile lifted on her lips. “No, he didn’t.”

I faced her. She sat with her skirt spread around her in the grass. I swallowed hard. “I lost him in the fight. I turned around and he was just … gone. I was looking for him.” I sucked in a breath. “And I saw him just as he went over the edge. I couldn’t reach him.” I sank back down beside her. “What are you going to do?”

“I thought that if I let you escape, the danger would be gone. But I was wrong. It took years for this village to trust Iri. If the Riki knew that he and Fiske are lying about who you are or that they are trying to help you, they would kill them. I won’t tell the Tala or anyone else. After the thaw, you’ll run away. You’ll go back to the Aska and we won’t come after you.” She went back to digging and the pain surfaced on her face. The fear.

“He’s not leaving. He won’t come back with me,” I said.

“I know.”

“I—” I bit back the strangled sound in my voice.

“What?” She sat up.

“Thank you—for what you did for Iri.”

When I looked at her again, her eyes were filled with tears. “You’re welcome.”

“Mama!”

Halvard ran toward us from across the meadow and Inge stood quickly, taking her skirt into her hands. “Halvard?”