7. The Encounter #2
Pappa shrugged; they’d had this argument too many times. Larissa had made dozens of trips into Barnstokkr Forest and never seen even a trace of the supposed giants. Ignoring the warning in Tucker’s eyes, Larissa abandoned the buckets of berries and followed her feet into the shade of the trees.
The woods surrounded her, blocking out the sun and the sounds of the farm.
Unlike the open fields, spotted with infrequent bird calls and low hummed insects, the forest was thick with the noise of nature reclaiming its own.
Squirrels wriggled up trees, and birds stretched out their blue-colored wings.
Every animal added its own notes to the harmony of the forest.
Following the twisting, turning animal trail, Larissa climbed over fallen tree branches and up rocks.
The hike was refreshing after spending so long bent over in one position.
She reveled in it, taking her time to stretch her legs.
The sound of bubbling water greeted her ears long before Larissa saw the creek.
She followed the path along the ridge that sat high above the water, keeping an eye out for her sister.
Just as she was approaching the spot that Halla loved, Larissa slowed. Over the sound of the bubbling water, she heard an unfamiliar noise. It took a moment to realize what it was.
Singing.
It began as a low chant, intense and strong, nothing at all like Halla’s high-pitched tones.
There was a clear invitation in that voice, but the words were strange to Larissa.
They were heavily accented and wild, like Pappa’s old poetry.
Choosing her footing with care to avoid branches or dry leaves, Larissa moved closer.
The stream lay just over the ridge and down the steep slope.
Larissa hid behind one of the large boulders, but curiosity won out over her anxiety.
Peeking over the rock, she quickly located the source of the singing.
A girl, maybe a few years older than Larissa, lounged on a rock in the middle of the stream.
What could be seen of her skin was deeply tanned, but her neck and most of her ink-black hair were wrapped in a soft white linen.
But it was not the singing girl that caused Larissa’s body to stiffen in shock.
It was Halla, sitting on the bankside and listening with a rapt expression.
Larissa ducked down before either could notice her presence.
When the song ended, Halla clapped with enthusiasm. “That was beautiful!”
Larissa crawled to the edge of the ridge but kept her body flat against the ground.
Her heart thumped painfully into the dirt as she forced herself to remain hidden, even as her mind screamed at her to rush to Halla’s side.
With measured breaths, she counted until her pulse had slowed.
As long as the singing girl didn’t see Larissa, she would have no reason to think that Halla was a second-born.
The girl trailed her brown hand over the top of the water. “It’s been a while since I’ve sung about my people.”
“Your people?”
“Have you heard of the Rubinians?”
“Oh, I know all about them; Pappa tells me stories all the time.”
Larissa ground her molars at Halla’s openness, but the singing girl looked pleased.
“Not many are brave enough to tell the stories of old.”
“Well my Pappa is!” Pride laced Halla’s voice. “He told us all about how the Rubin people betrayed their own rulers and lost their humanity.”
The singer’s hand clenched into a fist at her side, but her voice remained light.
“Not all of them. History records what people want to remember. Rubinians are fluid and aggressive people, true, but also courageous and daring. What the Empress did to them, what they did to themselves, dishonors the Rubinian bloodline.”
“What did the Empress do?” Halla whispered, excitement and horror in her voice.
A growl filled the air, and Larissa was shocked to realize it was coming from the girl. “She murdered their souls. Those who joined the Empress are called draugr now, as they are no longer human.”
“No longer human? Then what are they?”
“Monsters,” the singer hissed. “When they corrupted their galdr , their skin hardened into obsidian scales. Horns sprouted from their heads, and wings erupted from their backs. Their hands and feet turned into claws that can pierce any metal. They have a barbed tail and tongue that can strip the flesh away from their prey. Though they can still shift as before, they can’t hold on to their human forms. Their minds are bent to the will of the Empress. They are more dead than alive.”
Halla’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean, they corrupted their galdr ? Doesn’t that come from the gods?”
The dark-haired girl waved a hand. “Another story for another day.”
Not if I can help it. Larissa’s skin itched at the thought of another encounter with this girl.
She resisted the desire to slide down the slope and snatch Halla away.
As long as Halla wasn’t in immediate danger, her status as second-born had to be concealed.
Larissa dug her nails into the dirt, forcing herself to remain still.
The singer rose to her feet. Fluid, like the creek that passed by her, she leapt across the rocks until she stood by Halla’s side.
Jostled by the movement, her black hair escaped the white linen, swinging freely around her face.
Sunlight bounced off the gold ring in her nose as she tilted her head down at Halla. “You never asked me about my name.”
Halla shrugged. “I figured you’d tell me eventually.”
“I’m Anara.” The girl shifted her weight between her feet, her eyes never leaving Halla’s face. “Does that mean anything to you?”
“Should it?” Confusion colored Halla’s tone. Larissa’s muscles tightened, ready to spring down the slope.
Anara leaned forward so that her face was on the same level as Halla’s. A square-cut ruby pendant fell out from behind her leather jacket, casting a golden shimmer across the stream. “You remind me of someone I’m looking for.”
Anara raised her hands, cupping Halla’s cheeks in her hands.
In swift silence, Larissa rose, still concealing her body behind the rocks.
She tensed, waiting to see what Anara would do next, but nothing happened.
Halla stirred uncomfortably in Anara’s grasp.
Seeming perplexed, the young woman cocked her head to the side and dropped her hands.
Bewilderment flickered across Anara’s face, and she froze. Her eyes narrowed as she straightened up, turning her body away from Halla. She tilted her head up and closed her eyes, then sniffed.
“Loki’s Knot,” Anara cursed, turning away from Halla. “I have to go.”
“When will I see you again?” But Halla might as well have asked the wind. Anara was already gone, having run off in the opposite direction from Larissa.
Larissa waited a minute, then two, watching for the singer’s return. Only when she was certain Anara had truly gone did she rise fully and slide down the slope toward the stream, using the tree roots to slow her descent.
“Lara!” Halla cried. Her voice was joyful even as she cast a quick glance over her shoulder. “What are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here?“ Larissa echoed, throwing her hands in the air. “Halla, what are you doing here? Who was that?”
Halla’s eyes fell to her shuffling feet. “Oh, you saw Anara.”
“Yes, I saw! Halla what were you thinking? You don’t talk to strangers; that’s literally life lesson number one!”
“She talked to me! I was just sitting by the stream when she showed up days ago—”
“Days ago?” Larissa interrupted, her heart stuttering in her chest. “How many times have you met with her?”
Halla’s fingers twisted around the ends of her braids. “Twice. The first time was the day after Produce Day. She likes it when I share Pappa’s stories, and she shares stories with me too.”
Fear and anger surged up so strongly that for a moment Larissa couldn’t even speak. When she did, Larissa’s voice shook. “You don’t even know who this girl is. You should have come straight home when she showed up—”
“You don’t know what it’s like being a second-rate second-born, Lara!”
Larissa’s jaw gaped open. She would have been less surprised if Halla had slapped her across the face.
Even Halla looked shocked at her outburst, but she held her ground regardless.
She swallowed. “She said she was a wanderer, just passing through. She sat with me. Talked to me. She treated me like I was a real person.”
Halla’s words smothered the fire burning in Larissa’s chest, dousing her anger in understanding.
In a way, it wasn’t Halla’s fault. Though she was nearly thirteen, she had so little experience with the outside world.
She didn’t know how to act. Larissa had matured looking after Halla, but Halla’s ability to grow had been curbed by the very restrictions set in place to keep her safe.
Larissa reached out, wrapping her sister in her arms and pressing Halla’s head against her chest. “Let’s go home.”
“Before the Jotnar get us,” Halla offered.
Larissa smirked. "We’d never hear the end of it if Tucker was right."
Before she knew it, they were laughing. They both knew the conversation wasn’t over.
Larissa would have to tell Pappa and Mamma.
The boundaries of Halla’s world would collapse even further with strangers moving through their woods.
Larissa feared that the tighter they reigned in Halla’s protective circle, the more likely it was to shatter.
But for right now, she could simply be Halla’s sister.
They climbed up the steep slope. Halla slipped, but Larissa knew better than to offer her a hand.
It was a matter of pride that Larissa understood all too well.
Halla regained her balance, and they continued.
At the top, Larissa looked for Anara, but there was no trace of the girl.
Larissa could not begrudge Halla’s need for companionship; she could only pray it would not have consequences.
Finding an animal trail that ran parallel to their fields, the sisters started down it.
The path would take them home without risking exposure.
They ambled along in silence, the sound of the rushing stream growing fainter with every footfall.
As the trees thinned, Larissa could see the fields of their farm and, off in the distance, the farmhouse.
Usually, the sight would have filled her with relief, but Larissa’s body went cold instead.
Sitting in the usually empty drive was the armored truck of a sentry.
She stopped so suddenly that Halla bumped into her. Before Halla could speak, Larissa wrapped her hands around Halla’s mouth and hissed, “Inspection.”
The blood drained from Halla’s face, but Larissa was already grabbing her hand, dragging her back through the trees.
She didn’t speak. Her only thought was to get Halla far away from the sentries.
Abandoning the path, Larissa ran through the trees, Halla’s hand still in hers.
They were both panting from exertion by the time they found a large formation of rocks.
Larissa collapsed against one, resting aching legs that throbbed with each pump of her heart.
Halla flopped down onto the smaller boulder beside her.
Only the sounds of the forest accompanied their heavy breathing.
After a moment, Halla pulled herself into an upright position. “What are they doing here? We just had an Inspection.”
Larissa shook her head. A fear prickled the back of her mind, but she didn’t dare speak it into existence. “I don’t know.”
“Did they come for me?”
Of course, Halla shared her fear. Larissa grabbed her sister’s hand, leaning forward until their foreheads touched. “I wouldn’t let them take you, Halla, not ever.” Halla relaxed slightly at her words, making Larissa hate what she had to say next even more. “But I have to go.”
Halla’s grip tightened. Betrayal filled her wide eyes. “You’re leaving me?”
Larissa squeezed back, ignoring the pain Halla’s nails caused as they dug into her skin.
She needed Halla to understand. “It’s an Inspection.
We don’t know how long they’ve been here.
They could be searching for me already. If I don’t show up soon, they’ll search the woods.
You have to stay here, and I have to go.
You’ll be safe here. I’ll come back for you.
” When Halla didn’t respond, Larissa repeated. “I promise; I’ll come back.”
Fear remained in Halla’s eyes, but it was joined by a determination Larissa had never seen before. Halla swallowed and released her grip. Larissa nodded at her, as if to reassure her that it was all going to be okay.
Then a gunshot shattered the silence.