3.1

May 7
The three of us - Marketa, Hannah, and myself - have set off. The women of the clan gave us rye bread and a map, and instructed us to seek the great tree upon which is carved the key.

I wanted to know what passed between Marketa and Hannah, but they avoided my questions as we went deeper into the forest.

"So you will go into the cave, Marketa?" "Save your breath, Frida." "You will be parted then? You will leave for another world?" "Enough, Frida."

Hannah is gentler. She allowed herself to fall behind Marketa and walked with me. "Sometimes things come to pass that cannot be undone," she said.

"I think you should fight for her," I said.

"We made this decision together," she said.

"But if she passes into the cave, you will be left alone," I said, and I was surprised to hear myself weeping slightly. Hannah put her arm around me.

"I have my own sins I must undo," she said. "If she enters the cave, then so will I."

And I understood that, should we make it to the cave, I will likely depart from it alone.

May 8
We have found the tree. The women of the clan instructed Hannah and Marketa to part here, taking two different paths through the forest. If they each follow the carved directions, they will find each other again. When they rejoin, they will know the direction in which to travel.

They told me to wait here for their return. Each studied the runes, and then went to their respective trees. They looked at one another for a long time. Then, they disappeared into the forest.