“How?”
He continues tending to my naked body. The cold air creates prickles on my skin. But I am so numb, I don’t even care.
“She attacked me. She was in a trance. It was, it was like magic. A curse.” My hands move of their own accord, miming the chaos. “She charged at me with a knife, in front of everyone. She stumbled and fell on her own blade.”
“Folk saw it happen?”
“Yes.”
“They saw her fall on her own blade?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” He releases a long breath, wiping my skin with linen. “What do you mean she was cursed?”
“The bones, they had runes. Like the hammer. Thurisaz. That fucking triple rune. It must have been her from the start… I just…”
I realize I’m babbling. Not making sense. But Ari nods and holds me tight.
“I see.”
“She jumped at me. Screaming. She?—”
“Find your pants and a shirt.”
I don’t argue. I just listen. It feels good to have Ari guide me. Nothing makes sense. I find my clothes and dress myself. Poor Ragnhild. First her father, now her mother. Her life is changed forever. She hates me. My breathing picks up in pace. Tears pour from my eyes. I cover my face in my hands, sobbing uncontrollably. Ari lays an arm around my shoulder.
“Sit, my love,” he whispers.
“I tried to help her,” I mutter. “I swear. She was rocking back and forth. Her eyes. They weren’t hers.”
I look at him, to see what he thinks. If he thinks I’m crazy. Thinks I’m a murderer. But he isn’t smiling. He is listening. Fixing my hair as I speak. I go on.
“It was a witch. Inside her. I know it. She called me a slut. Like the vision. I know it was her. Thyra would never… She couldn’t. Do you… Do you think I’m crazy?”
“I believe you,” he says softly.
Such an absurd thing to hear. He believes me. My story. Most men would laugh, call me a madwoman and vote for my execution. Not Ari. I dry tears from my cheeks.
“And Ragnhild. She saw it all. She hates me. Blames me. She cursed me.”
I can hear Ari’s breathing grow heavy.
“Tragic,” he says simply.
“She is such a good girl,” I wail, letting tears flow.
“She is.”
I turn to him, our eyes meet.
“Will they kill me, Ari? Will they drown or hang me? Burn me?”
He thinks for a second before turning my face away and continuing to tend to my hair. His loving touch sends waves of heat through my shivering body. He breathes out a long stream of air, feeling the tension like I am.
“If there were witnesses, the law will protect you,” he says.
“You think?”
