‘Karina said Mormor is trapped there, tormented by her regret. I’m the only one who can save her.’ I stand up and reach for my boots. ‘I have to speak to the Norns. They will tell me what to do.’

‘No way! After what just happened?’ Stig snatches my arm and tugs me back down. ‘You’re staying here with me!’

I glare at him. ‘I can’t leave Mormor out there! The creature has gone now. I can take the torch, and Karina protected me once, she can –’

‘No!’

I thump the sofa. ‘You would go, if it were your dad!’

Stig’s eyes flash with anger. ‘That’s not fair.’

‘But it’s the truth! If you thought you could save him, you would try!’

‘How do you know for sure Karina can protect you? Maybe she can only keep you safe if you stay in the cabin. Maybe the draugr is stronger than she realises. Look what it did to Olav and Yrsa!’

He mutters something in Norwegian and I hang my head and sigh. He’s right, I don’t know – and there’s no safe way to find out.

Stig gazes at the candle on the floor. Eventually he speaks without looking up. ‘I really thought we were going to die.’

‘I know. So did I. But we didn’t.’

‘At least wait until the morning. Please.’

I take my phone from my pocket: 6.15 a.m. Another four hours. ‘OK,’ I sigh. ‘I’ll go when it gets light.’

Stig challenges me with a stare. ‘Wait until your mother arrives. Maybe she can help. You said she was meant to water the tree too.’

I look away, promising nothing. I can’t see Mum helping me with this. The old Mum maybe, but since my accident she’s been so overprotective, watching me all the time and worrying. No, if anything, she’ll fall to pieces and try to stop me doing it.

Silence hangs heavy over the room.

I touch Stig’s arm. His jumper is filled with such fear and sadness; I know he wants to cry. ‘I’m sorry for what I said about your dad.’

Stig sniffs and says begrudgingly, ‘No, you’re right. If it was Dad, I would want to help him.’ He lifts the candle from the floor and hovers his fingers over the flame, dangerously close. He whispers like a child at a confessional: innocent and sinner, both at the same time. ‘I would give anything to see him again.’

He glances at me, his eyes as hard as polished gems, and gives a bitter laugh.

‘“Life goes on, Stig.”’ That’s what Mum said. The day of the funeral she told me she was going to make a fresh start with Erik. I could stay with them, but not if I carried on like I was, drinking at night and sleeping all day.’

‘What did you do?’