The Ice People 41 - Demon's Mountain. Margit Sandemo

turned to him with a smile. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. We’re expected – all of us. You’ll find that there will be many happy reunions tonight. To begin with, certainly; later on, we’re bound to have something else to focus on.”

      They were all expected! Some other creatures broke loose near the foot of the stairs. They were very beautiful, with elegantly shaped horses’ heads with human features. Each was dark blue, with a silver mane that grew from his forehead and all the way down his spine to his silver tail. Their limbs were human. These immensely beautiful creatures greeted the Ice People gently, beckoning to them to follow them. Each horse-man took care of a guest.

      “I’m dreaming,” said Mari.

      “No, you’re not,” replied one of her sons. “If you were, we’d all be dreaming the same dream, and that’s not possible.”

      “You’re just taking part in my dream.”

      Her brother Jonathan pinched her arm. “Are you also dreaming this?”

      “Ouch! No, I’m not.”

      “You must be a bit more careful, Mari,” Jonathan warned her. “If you can’t make the effort to show a more positive attitude, they might throw you out.”

      Mari sobbed, but pulled herself together.

      Gabriel looked anxiously up at the ledge. Now there was no doubt at all. The four creatures up there could be nothing else but demons. They were horrible to look at, half naked, with big wings of thick skin, and claws instead of fingers and toes. Their facial expressions were appalling, with pointed teeth and eyes that glowed orange and yellow. Horrific! Gabriel hesitated; he was dragging his feet up the stairs as if he was on his way to doomsday.

      Perhaps he was!

      Their steps slowed. All of a sudden, a woman stepped out on the ledge between two of the horrible creatures.

      She was young and charming, with dark blonde curls and a roguish face. Not the most beautiful face Gabriel had ever seen, but with intense eyes and a happy, infectious laugh. She seemed to have boundless charm.

      She greeted them all: “Welcome to the mountain of the demons.”

      Heike stopped abruptly. He was elated: “Tula! It’s you, Tula!”

      The Wanderer repeated, with a gentle smile: “Tula. The lost one! The Ice People’s stricken member that we lost. You’re one of us!”

      “The one who vanished from us without trace,” Villemo said. “We hadn’t expected this!”

      Tula chuckled. She was thrilled at having given them such a surprise.

      Chapter 3

      They heard a hollow roar as the sky flared up deep red and then calmed down to its golden colour once more. The colour that gave them all such a warm, beautiful glow.

      Heike, who had lived in the same era as Tula, gave her a long hug. Both were deeply moved at seeing each other again, and this rubbed off on the others.

      Gabriel was surprised. It’s as if they’re ordinary people – which they probably are, tonight. Or are the rest of us dead?

      No, I think we’re simply equals. That’s all.

      Anyway, they had witnessed a loving reunion, just as Ulvhedin had predicted. Perhaps there would be more of them, and who would they be between? They were all gathered now, both the living and the spirits. Or almost all. Sol and Tengel the Good were missing and so were Shira and Mar.

      Gabriel didn’t know anymore.

      “Where have you been, Tula?” Ingrid wanted to know.

      Tula reluctantly broke loose from Heike’s embrace. “Here,” she said, “and I’ve been having a wonderful time!”

      “Wasn’t it rather lonely?”

      “No, why should it be?” Tula laughed, with a sidelong glance at the four demons who stood motionless on the balcony. One of them had antlers and another had huge, twisted horns like an ox. The third had ears that reached far back, and the fourth had thick, unruly, dark-green hair hanging down over his muscular shoulders. Although the demons never moved their heads, their sharp eyes were following everything that was happening.

      Tula giggled. “Just for today, I made them put on their loincloths. Otherwise they’re a sight. No, this place isn’t boring, but having you pay a visit is wonderful. And I’m looking forward to taking part in the struggle against what’s-his-name.”

      Ingrid lowered her voice. “Are your friends truly opposed to him?”

      “Oh, absolutely! As you know, he wants all evil power under his control. That could easily happen if they don’t watch out. Demons are particularly exposed to attacks by Tengel the Evil, but my four fine friends are incredibly proud. They won’t allow anybody to rule over them.”

      “Not even you?”

      “No, but I’m not their slave either. We’re equals.”

      Gabriel was pondering the enigma that they represented. The enigma to which the Ice People had never found an answer: why had they been at Gråstensholm? Why did they want to be there?

      He was just about to ask Tula, when Mari’s disapproving voice interrupted his train of thought. “They’re so awful!” she whispered, making a face.

      Tula replied: “I don’t think so. To me, they’re handsome, and all four have personality. You could have worse friends than these.”

      Several of the guests lifted their eyes towards the demons gliding around the mountain tops.

      “Those up there are inferior,” Tula said lightly. “You’ll get to meet many more. Villemo! And Dominic!” she cried, thrilled. “I’m delighted to see you both again, my own guardian spirits! I gave you plenty of trouble, but now I suppose you have others to protect?”

      “Yes, we must admit that Mali and Ellen are a lot easier to handle.”

      Mali laughed. “Oh, dear. Now you make us sound boring.”

      Dominic interrupted quickly: “No, you’re most definitely not. However, you won’t enter our evil ancestor’s territory in the way Tula did.”

      “Oh, dear, no, no,” muttered Tula.

      A hand gently touched Gabriel’s arm. It was one of the handsome horse creatures, which signalled to him to step inside.

      Tula, as the hostess, led the way with Heike and Gand, and the horse demons accompanied all the members of the Ice People into a hall where the walls sparkled. The ceiling was made of an unknown mineral. Everything inside was bathed in a golden light, and there was no mountain coldness, just mild and pleasant warmth. Fountains shot glistening cascades of water out of niches in the walls.

      Gabriel saw secret corridors leading to other parts of the mountain. He could discern beautiful rooms with chandeliers hanging from their ceilings. He could swear that they were made from the purest rock crystal.

      Tula struck up a conversation with Tova. Gabriel gleaned that the two of them were getting on splendidly. He heard Tula explain that she had gone through the same, painful “cleansing process” as Tova, because she turned into a good girl, following the straight and narrow path of the Ice People.

      The words seemed to do Tova good. Gabriel thought that it was nice of Tula not to mention Tova’s enormous handicap – her appearance.

      Then they were led along a corridor and into a hall that lay in semi-darkness. Gabriel was startled when he saw that the floor was lower in the centre. Benches were placed around it in the form of an amphitheatre. Stairs on either side that led into the middle of the hall, where there was a dais.

      Where was Gand?

      And the Wanderer? And ... wasn’t somebody else missing as well? Gabriel couldn’t figure out who that was.

      Tula