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I watched Lilja put on the cloak then wrap the new shawl around her neck. “You look beautiful in red,” I said. “Mrs. Andersson was dead wrong.” She smiled, and I put an arm around her waist and kissed her.
I found my suitcase in the attic and Lilja and I packed our clothes into it. She had one half, and I had the other. I liked that.
Jonsson arrived with the sleigh pulled by Poppy and a tan mare named Clover. I tied the horses up outside the house, and we set to carrying out everything. With the four of us, it didn’t take long. When the sleigh was packed, we went to my uncle’s house to say goodbye.
He was in the workshop by his bench, bent over a silver locket. In his other hand he had one of his tiny brushes.
“Father,” Alma said. “I want to tell you something before we leave.” She paused and took a deep breath. “Helena and I are… we’re sweethearts.”
My uncle didn’t look up from his work. “I figured you were,” he said. “Considering all the smooching you do behind my back.”
Helena laughed while Alma’s face turned crimson.
“Don’t be embarrassed, dear,” he said, still with his eyes on his work. “You make a good couple, as far as I can tell.”
Alma opened her mouth, then closed it again. “Why didn’t you tell me you knew?” she said finally.
“I figured you’d say something when you were ready.” He raised his head and gazed at her over the rim of his glasses. “And that appears to be now.”
Alma flew around the bench, and when she wrapped her arms around his neck from behind, he patted her hands. “Have fun, dear.” Winking at the rest of us, he added, “You three as well.”
I gave him a hug before we left. A part of me wanted to tell him my own truth. Not now though, because I couldn’t tell him all of it. Once Lilja was free, I would.
It was eleven minutes to noon when I helped Lilja up onto the sleigh’s bench and sat down next to her with the reins in my hands. Alma and Helena got into the back, and Alma handed Lilja a blanket, which she spread over both her and my legs.
“I made something,” she said and stuck her hand into her pocket. On her palm lay three bracelets. Done more hastily, they weren’t as beautiful as mine, just simple wood beads, unpainted except for the symbols. She handed one to Alma and one to Helena. “Put them on. They’ll offer some protection at least.”
I helped Lilja put hers on, while Alma and Helena tied the bracelets around each other’s wrists. We set off down Storgatan, the bells on the horses’ harnesses jingling softly. Every house had lights in the windows. The sight was as pretty as a picture book.
As we drove out of Norstad, Helena distributed slices of dark bread with cheese. Not a feast by any means, but with Lilja by my side and Alma and Helena laughing and chatting behind me, strangely, it was one of the best Christmas meals I had ever had.
Chapter Twenty-Six
It was dark when I woke up. My head was in Lilja’s lap. She ran her finger along my temple and smiled down at me. We were in the back of the sleigh, and I could just make out her face in the light from the lantern that dangled from the bench.
It had been mid-afternoon when we had switched, Alma taking the reins, and I must have fallen asleep soon after. I had been exhausted after a night of no sleep, my eyes swimming and stinging at the end.
Alma looked over her shoulder when I sat up. “We’ll be at the inn soon.”
“Good.” My hands and feet were like ice. “Are you cold?” I asked Lilja.
“A little,” she said. “The cloak helps a lot.”
I put my arm around her and pulled her close. She leaned her head on my shoulder, and we watched the forest glide by. The road was narrow here, and the lantern wasn’t much against the darkness among the trees.
“Why do elves come out at dawn?” I asked. “I know about the sun, but why do they come out at all?”
“They like to see the world, and it’s the only time. Too dark at night, too bright in day.”
I took her gloved hand. “Did you dance at dawn?”
“We all did. All my father’s daughters. It was my favorite time of day, the only time I felt just a little hope.”
“He had many daughters?”
“Yes.”
“And were they all…”
