The room was dim, brightened only by the daylight showing at the bottom of the wooden door and through the hole in the roof over the firepit. Lenora swung her feet to the floor and groped about until she located her gown. She had just picked it up when the door flew open, letting in a blaze of sunlight. She blinked and clutched her bedraggled garment against her nakedness. Erik entered, followed by the blond woman who had sat across from them at last night’s banquet. As her eyes adjusted to the sudden bright light, Lenora looked again. Yes, it was the same woman who had gazed so often at Halfdan. Her dark blue eyes regarded Lenora beneath raised brows. The woman carried a bundle of folded clothes in her arms. “So, you are awake at last,” Erik said. “It is past midday. I let you sleep because I knew you were tired.” “Thank you,” Lenora whispered, embarrassed to have Erik and the blond woman watching her so closely when she was undressed. “This is my sister Freydis,” Erik went on.
