The Stepdaughter
Page 25
Everyone had gathered at Graastensholm and Klaus was just as agitated as all the others. He just about lost his ability to speak. Then, at last, he was able to say something.
“I know where she is,” he told the others softly. “She’s in the count’s yard. They throw the worst witches in a hidden cellar where no one can get to them. But I know how to reach it!”
“Now you’re contradicting yourself,” said Tengel, stressed and pale. “How can you do that?”
“Not through the entrance, but there’s a narrow passage between the cellar wall and the rampart which you’ll find at the back. Down there is a small, barred opening and the condemned are held inside that portal.”
“Then I’ll be on my way.”
“No, that won’t work. You and I are too big to enter the passage.”
“But maybe I could?” asked Are.
“And me,” said Meta.
Klaus thought carefully, staring at them both. “Meta, yes – and maybe Are. I don’t know.”
Are was worried. “Is it a good idea to leave the farm now? A storm is blowing up.”
“What damage can the storm do to the crops? After all, it’s the middle of winter,” said Silje.
Tengel found some things he wanted to bring with him and then at dusk he set off on the road to Akershus with Klaus, Are and Meta. Liv and Dag had wanted to join them but Tengel had advised against it. He said that if only a few went, they would attract less attention.
As they journeyed, the storm whipped snow from the ground in huge flurries so that it billowed around them like thick smoke. Tengel had placed Meta in front of him on the horse, pulling his hood tighter.
“Sol’s not afraid of the stake. I’m certain of that,” he said to Are as they rode into the biting wind. “Or the torture. But she doesn’t know what it can do – how the instruments can crush a person’s will, destroy their senses and their self-respect until they’re no more. The stake won’t break her but we must save her from all those terrible instruments.”
“They’re going to torture her tomorrow?”
“Yes, and the pyre will take place the day after.”
“We mustn’t allow it,” said a determined Are.
They arrived at about midnight after a very hard journey. Everything was dark and silent in the count’s courtyard except for the sounds of the storm howling in the trees and around the walls. They dismounted the horses and Klaus led the way from the woods toward the back of the buildings.
The older men stopped at the rampart while Are and Meta received strict instructions and crept into the narrow gap. It was a tight fit for Are, but they made it. Soon enough they reached the small opening and called Sol’s name very quietly.
“Are?” they heard her whisper in astonishment. “And Meta! What are you doing here?”
“We’re here to bring a message from Dad. He and Klaus are nearby. He asks if you’ll accept his help so that you’ll be free of all this?” The young boy could barely hold back his tears as he spoke. “We’ve brought along potions for you.”
After a long silence they heard Sol’s voice speaking softly again from below.
“My dearest little brother. Tell Dad that this punishment is something I desire. I don’t want to escape from it.”
Meta sobbed suddenly and Are hushed her.
“That’s what we thought, Sol,” said Are urgently. ”But Dad wanted us to ask anyway. We’ve brought cakes and wine from Mum. They’re quite harmless.”
No, this wasn’t true. Tengel had anticipated Sol’s answer and treated the cakes and the wine with a deadly poison.
“I’d love to have some cake and wine,” said Sol. “I’ve had neither food nor drink, it would be good to have strength for tomorrow.”
“And Dad sent you this box,” gasped Are, unable to speak clearly through his sobs. “He thought you might need it to help shorten this night.”
“Witch’s ointment!” she grasped it greedily. “Yes, this is bound to be a very long night.”
“And I’m to tell you ... that everybody sends ... their love,” choked Are. “They all adore you, Sol. Silje and Tengel, Dag and Liv. Dag’s so upset that he was unable to save you. They all love you so much.”
“And me, too,” sniffed Meta.
“And Klaus, Aunt Charlotte and Jacob, and me. And all the servants on both the farms.”
“Good heavens!” Sol chuckled hesitantly. “I truly have many friends!”
Are found it impossible to speak for a long time.
“Everybody at Linden Avenue ... and ... Graastensholm will miss you, Sol.”
“They shouldn’t,” replied Sol. “Tell them all that I’m happy now. They must understand that this is what I wish for myself. I don’t fit into your world. But Are ...”
She paused and waited a moment. She seemed surprised, almost overwhelmed by something. “I feel as though ... as if ... at the moment I feel that I’ll return in a different, gentler incarnation. I’m unable to explain it. But Are, it’s a wonderful feeling, please tell everyone! And please do take good care of Sunniva for me!”
“We will,” he assured her. “When Silje and Tengel are no longer able, then Liv and Dag and I will take over. She’ll be safe, Sol.”
“Then all will be well. Tell them all that they’re the only people in the world that I love.”
“We know.”
Are stretched out his hand through the bars and held Sol’s hand in his. It was a long time before he could bring himself to let go, but eventually they left to set off on the quiet journey home.
***
As soon as they’d left, Sol examined the things Tengel had sent her. She eagerly rubbed the ointment of henbane, hemlock and black nightshade into her body. Then without any hesitation she drank the wine and ate the cakes before she lay down on the wooden bunk.
Halfway between dream and being awake, something was revealed to her with unexpected clarity: A crystal-clear memory.
“Now I know why Tengel the Evil One hated me so intensely,” she whispered into the darkness. “Now I know where I’ve seen him ...”
But no one could hear her any more.
She had already fallen into a deep trance and was no longer conscious of her surroundings.
She was flying and she sped swiftly over the undulating countryside and across deep water until she reached “His” mountain. There she turned to face the abyss for a moment and the next moment she sped joyfully down into the depths of its pitch-black darkness before she finally came to rest in a meadow.
The Prince of Darkness came toward her, and this time he was more fascinating than ever before. His face resembled Tengel as a young man, but it wasn’t him. She knew with absolute certainty that this was her very own personal demon. He reached out and embraced her very warmly.
“At last you’re here, my beloved,” he whispered softly in her ear. “Now we’ll be together forever.”
His eyes were warm and filled with love ... the true love which she’d always longed for. Here was the desire, the sincerity and understanding that she’d searched for all her life but had never been able to find. Now her love grew from deep within her – true love for “Him” alone. She could find complete love with a man – she, who’d only known physical love until now and then only on her fruitless rides to Blakulla. The kingdom of love was hers and for the first time ever, Sol was truly happy.
***
Back at Graastensholm at that moment they were all awake, waiting anxiously and trying to control their troubled feelings. Not one of them had been able to sleep. Charlotte sat rigidly on the couch in front of the fire with Jacob Skille next to her. His sorrow was just as great as hers. Liv and Dag sat on the other couch, and she was crying uncontrollably in his arms.
Suddenly they all looked up. Above the sound of the storm they could hear a slow, wrenching crash as i
f something had broken.
“What was that?” asked Charlotte in a shocked whisper.
Dag walked over to the window.
“It came from Linden Avenue,” he told them. “I believe it was a tree.”
“One of the linden trees?”
“Yes.”
“Then it’s all over,” whispered Liv with immense sadness.
***
A restless soul had found peace as she dreamed the most beautiful dream of love.
At Linden Avenue, a distraught Silje was waiting for the others to return when she heard the crash of the falling linden tree. She heard it far more clearly than the others because it was near to the house. She immediately recalled the first time Tengel had seen the plague-sickened Sol. He’d hesitated for a very long time, uncertain whether it was worth saving the child’s life.
Yes, it had been a life worth saving!
In spite of all Sol’s obvious faults, she had taught them a lot about being unselfish – and about love. Thanks to her, all at Graastensholm and Linden Avenue had lived in peace over the years, free from all those who wished them evil.
Silje was sitting with little Sunniva, pressing her close against her shoulder. Outside the falling linden tree bowed slowly as it finally crashed to the ground, having hung suspended for a while entwined in the branches of another tree. Silje’s face stiffened. Despite the warmth in the room, she was shaking with cold, and in her memory, Hanna’s words echoed persistently: “Sol won’t pass on our inheritance. You and Tengel are the ones who will pass on the heritage of the Ice People”
She loathed those words.
“What will become of you, little Sunniva?” she whispered desperately. “What will become of you?”
Next Book
The Ice People 4 - The Successor
Deep in the heart of Norway, many centuries ago, live the race of the Ice People. Some are born with magical powers, but some have evil in their veins. Sunniva, the wilful daughter of Sol the witch, can’t resist her impulses. Her actions bring a new force of evil and fear to the heart of the Ice People once more.
Tengel the Good is ageing, and it’s up to the new generation to protect the legacy of the Ice People. Who will survive? And who will have the power to overcome the evil that lies in wait?
The Legend of the Ice People
The Ice People 1 – Spellbound
The Ice People 2 – Witch Hunt
The Ice People 3 – The Step Daughter
The Ice People 4 – The Successor
The Ice People 5 – Mortal Sin
The Ice People 6 – Friendship
The Ice People 7 – Nemesis
The Ice People 8 – The Executioner’s Daughter
The Ice People 9 – The Lonely One
The Ice People 10 – Winter Storm
The Ice People 11 – Blood Feud
The Ice People 12 – Fever in the Blood
The Ice People 13 – Footprints of Satan
The Ice People 14 – The Last Knight
The Ice People 15 - The Wind from the East
The Ice People 16 – The Mandrake
The Ice People 17 – The Garden of Death
The Ice People 18 – Behind the Facade
The Ice People 19 – Dragon’s Teeth
The Ice People 20 – Wings of the Raven
The Ice People 21 – Devils Canyon
The Ice People 22 – The Demon and the Maiden
The Ice People 23 – Rituals
The Ice People 24 – Deep in the ground
The Ice People 25 – The Angel
The Ice People 26 – The Secret
The Ice People 27 – The Scandal
The Ice People 28 – Ice and Fire
The Ice People 29 – Lucifer’s Love
The Ice People 30 – Brothers
The Ice People 31 – The Ferryman
The Ice People 32 – Hunger
The Ice People 33 – The Demon of the Nights
The Ice People 34 – The Woman on the Beach
The Ice People 35 – The Flute
The Ice People 36 – Magic Moon
The Ice People 37 - A Town in Fear
The Ice People 38 – Hidden Trails
The Ice People 39 – Silent Voices
The Ice People 40 – Imprisoned by time
The Ice People 41 – Demon Mountain
The Ice People 42 – The Calm Before the Storm
The Ice People 43 – A Glimpse of Tenderness
The Ice People 44 – An Evil Day
The Ice People 45 – The Legend
The Ice People 46 – The Black Water
The Ice People 47 – Is There Anybody Out There?
Margit Sandemo
Margit Sandemo was born on April 23 1924 in Norway. She was raised in Sweden but later moved to Norway. She made her début as an author in 1964. The legend about the Ice People, 47 volumes in all, appeared 1982-1989. Love and supernatural powers are the hallmark of her authorship.
Margit Sandemo’s books have sold more than 39 million copies worldwide. Margit Sandemo is thus the author in the Nordic countries with the greatest number of sold books.