She wanted to be alone in the dark with her thoughts, but there was the evening to endure first. Arnor, Magnus and Freya were to stay the night. The short winter day was already darkening and no one wanted to be on the road after nightfall.Finn was gone.To Ian’s fury, Arnor and Freya had let him go.Jess had forced herself to be still, to look calm when he left, though her mind was churning.He was safe. He was leaving. It was Freya who went through to the back door with Finn. Jess heard her voice as she said something to him, but not the words.He was gone. At last, she climbed into bed with a sigh of relief. A few minutes later though, Freya joined her.“Move over,” she said as she finished braiding her hair. “It’s too cold to sleep in the other bed, and I have to talk to you.”“It’s not that cold,” Jess protested, sliding over. “I don’t want to be overheard,” Freya whispered as she climbed in beside her.Jess rolled over to face her.“Why not?”
