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“When you becoes you” Snorri spoke towards the fire’s glow “You see the world in neays Those who are not changed were not properly in with”

I wondered if he was drunk That’s when I tend to speak profundities to the night Then I remembered that Snorri was a father I couldn’t picture it Wee ones bouncing on his knee Tiny hands tugging at his battle braids Even so, I understood his st the e horrors in the snows The thing that drew hiainst all sense

“Why are you still here?” I asked him

“Why are you?”

“I passed out” Mild exasperation coloured il! In fact, now that I’m awake I’ll find a better place to sleep” Perhaps one withalong s

“Can’t you feel it?” he said as I turned to go

“No” But I could So A sense of brokenness “No, I can’t” Even so, I didn’t step away

With one breath the insects ceased their chorus A deep noise reached h the soles of my feet, still bare “Ah hell” My hands trembled, with the custo new, as if they were full of fractured light

“Hel’s about right” Snorri stood too He had his stolen sword in hand Had he held it all the tione to fetch it while I slept? He pointed the blade towards the baby’s grave The noise had co, the sound of roots pushing blind paths through soil The headstone to the left tilted as the ground sank beneath it The one to the right toppled forwards, co to rest with a dull thud All around the child’s mound the soil cracked and heaved

“We should run,” I said, having not the least idea why I was not already doing so The word quarry repeated over and again behinddown there?” Perhaps a sick fascination kept me there, or the immobility of the rabbit beneath hawk’s claws

“So built,” Snorri said “When the unborn return, they take what they need”