Darkness carved in bone

Chapter 23

Helen

Helen had been terrified from the moment she spotted the men in the distance. But her mind had been surprisingly clear despite her fears. She had known what she would have to say, what she would have to make these men believe. The worst part about it was that it had been so easy, too easy for her. She realized with a heavy heart that it had been exactly what she had been doing for the last years with Sam. Pretending, playing. But today it had been a strength, today it had played in her favor.

They had slowed their pace as they had talked, but now Shiny quickened his step as if in response to their silence. The path rounded a bend, and a village in the valley beyond suddenly revealed itself, Sigfjorswerf. The light from each small house shimmered in the setting dusk, making the village glow. Their spot on the path offered them a vantage point over the village, and Helen looked up at Ten who assessed the village closely. When he noticed that she was looking at him, he gave her a nervous smile, but stayed quiet. His expression was chillingly tense, making goosebumps spread across her body.

She broke her gaze off and looked at the village too, trying to forget his tense and unease. She saw that there was a town square where a church and what looked like a small hall, perhaps where tonight's feast would be. What had to be small shops stood in a circle around the town square, and houses stood in random patterns that made crocked and twisting streets that spread in every direction from the town square. Helen realized with a slight homesickness to her heart that this village was very much like her own little village. She couldn't help but imagine the people living there, so like her own family and friends. She wondered if there were any girls like her there, who dreamed of a life beyond what this village could offer them.

The trek down to Sigfjordswerf was short, and before Helen could really make any plan or discuss anything with Ten, they were in the town square before the inn. Ten jumped off Shiny in a swift movement. He looked up at her, his face hard as he helped her down.

With a wave of shock, her stomach compressed itself together as she remembered they were missing one very vital piece to the picture they were trying to paint to these people. Before Ten could remove his hands off her from helping her down from the horse, she pulled him close, close enough so that anyone who could see them would think they were having a private moment, a sweet embrace between two lovers. To Helen, this was all to save their lives.

"Don't take off your mittens," Helen beckoned into Ten's ear, panic in her voice. He pulled himself slightly away from her so he could look into her eyes. There was confusion in his eyes as he assessed her, but as he read her expression and saw the insistence and terror in her eyes, he gave her a slight nod, silently agreeing to her demand.

Ten led Shiny towards the entrance of the inn and tethered his reins to a wooden pole next to the inn while Helen took the moment to inhale deeply, taking in the village. Her only company since leaving her own village had been trees, wind, winter, and a crude cabin. Houses, warmth, and people had almost become unfamiliar to her. The cold winter air blew in her exposed face, and gave her freckles made of snow. She inhaled the cold air that didn't contain that freshness she had become so accustomed to in the forest. It smelled of smoke, freshly baked bread, ale, meat, humans and animals. It was almost exotic smells to her now.

The town square was generously lit with torches on every wall and corners. Perhaps in celebration that the longest night of the year would soon be over, which meant that the days would only grow longer and brighter. That during this night, the longest one, the darkest night in the year, they would burn their fires through the entire night. Keeping the enduring darkness at bay.

In the middle of the square a huge bonfire had been built, which surely would be lit tonight during the feast. A shiver came over her, a bonfire this size would give off so much light. She didn't know if her eyes, that had become so accustomed to the darkness now, would appreciate that kind of light any longer. A realization that something had truly changed inside her came over her in that moment as she looked at the bonfire, sending shivers down her spine.