“Øldenburg blood?” clarifies Signy, brow arched.
“Yes!”
“This could work!” Eydis says.
I want to agree with her but it can’t be that simple. It won’t be.
“But quick, bring us the ring. The witch asked us to retrieve it,” Ola squeals, releasing my arm and half shoving me in the direction of the shore.
“Wait!” Eydis snaps, drawing me back. “The witch had a message as well.”
“Oh, yeah,” Ola says, shrugging. Signy is appalled and frowning at such a blasé reaction, which means this must have been important.
I look to Eydis, and her expression is dire. She’s dreaded sharing this, whatever it is.
“Since you left, your garden... it’s dying. Without your magic, the ríkifjor can’t seem to survive. More than half the crop died right away. Now it’s almost all black and wilted.”
My heart catches in my throat. “And Father...”
“Father is panicked. He blamed Alia’s death and your disappearance on the humans, saying you’ve been maimed in a mine explosion.”
My lips drop open as I process this. I hadn’t thought at all about how Father would explain away my absence or Alia’s—I thought the truth would be enough. Everyone knows the truth of Annemette.... I hadn’t thought this would be any different.
The wind kicks up, and the tide comes with it. Suddenlymy mouth is full of salt water. I gag and cough, spitting it back out as my sisters pat me hard on the back, my lungs choking and gasping in a way I’m totally unused to.
When I can talk again, my voice is fuzzy and weak with another coming cough. “What... why... what’s the point?”
Eydis tugs back a lock of hair matted into my eyes after my hacking fit. “Without the flower, and with the people’s anger and permission, he’s planning to wage war on the humans.”
“But that goes against everything we’ve done for survival. I don’t—”
“Without the ríkifjor, Father needs more power to sustain himself. He already possesses all the power in the ocean. The only thing he doesn’t have a finger on is the remaining magic on land.” Eydis clutches at my wrist. “Runa, he’s telling our people we must attack the humans for revenge, but the sea witch believes he’ll attack the witches and claim whatever magic he can get on land.”
“But... no... we’re trying to stop the war already raging here—there is something much worse than the mines, called U-boats, and we’re seeing them destroyed.”
“It doesn’t matter what you—theyare trying to do here,” Eydis says. “He doesn’t care. He only wants the magic. His anger has spun to madness.”
It can’t be. This can’t happen. Yet, I believe my sisters. I believe the sea witch.
“What if I come back? Then would he hold off? I’ll grow him a thousand flowers. A million. I’ll eat and sleep in the garden, and make them every waking breath. I...” My voice trails off, high and unwieldy. “He can’t attack the witches here. They’re so few... and they’re so weak. They barely know how to spell more than warm soup.”
“Soup? What’s that?” Ola asks.
But I continue, “And they’re doing what they can to halt the great war that’s already arrived here. They’re good people, and they’re trying to make a difference and save lives.”
Eydis spears me with a look. “If you come back, it could make the difference, Ru.”
Yes. This might work. The ring, the knife, the stains on Sofie’s nightgown. I’d have a day to complete the exchange. And a day to finish training the witches for their mission.
It could work.
“I’ll get the ring. Stay here.”
My steps are heavy, but I run back to Katrine’s as fast as I can. I’m much better at running now but still not as fast as I wish to be. Will is waiting for me outside, sitting cross-legged under the shuttered window. I run past him.
“Runa, what is it?” he says, tailing me as I wrench open the door and quickstep across the room to where Sofie sleeps facing the fire, Agnata curled head-to-toe in the opposite direction next to her, Tandsmør between them.
I maneuver around Agnata’s arm, propped out like apillow, and around Sofie’s stocking feet, and touch her shoulder. Her hands are pressed together beneath her cheeks. “Sofie,” I whisper louder than I mean to.
