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Malcolm begins to lose his head

All through the evening Malcolm had been hovering around the clusters of laughing adults.

All through the evening Malcolm had been hovering around the clusters of laughing adults between fits of sulking alone at the edge of the woods. He chafed under a feeling of loneliness that he, who was normally a sociable boy and popular with adults and children alike, could not explain.

Also uncharacteristic of him was his unwillingness to attempt to find an explanation. He felt queerly miserable and shut out of all of this merry-making, and it would be a long three days if it kept up, for the festivities surrounding the wedding had only just begun, with the lighting of the Midsummer Eve bonfires.

Brede learns how insufficient love is

'Here you are, runt.'

“Here you are, runt,” Sigefrith said and rubbed his hands together in satisfaction and delight.

“Good day, Sigefrith,” Brede said, afraid to meet his eyes.

Malcolm wishes he didn't know

Malcolm had tried to get his cousin alone all through the previous day.

Malcolm had tried to get his cousin alone all through the previous day, but—unsurprisingly, he thought—too many people had been too eager to see him.

The only people who had not been were Alred, who had been polite enough, but did not joke—this was an important sign which Malcolm intended to consider further—and his cousin Iylaine. He thought it a shame about Alred, but he was more aggrieved by Iylaine’s attitude. He adored his older cousin and godfather and namesake, and could not admit that someone else whom he liked so could not see the man’s worth.

Sir Sigefrith has a late visitor

Sir Sigefrith brooded on the bench while Hilda smirked at him from her seat on the bed.

Sir Sigefrith brooded on the bench while Hilda smirked at him from her seat on the bed. His unwillingness to speak further was as good as victory to her.

He hated these arguments. They were the arguments that always began with “In my father’s house…” He remembered perfectly well what Hilda’s father’s house had been. He also knew that Hilda’s father was a wealthy and powerful man, while he was a young knight who had not even earned the little he had.

Alfric shows the way to a stranger

Alfric sat scowling at his wife.

Alfric sat scowling at his wife, who continued her darning as little perturbed as if he had been a scowling fly on the wall. It was not to be borne: she expected him to stay home of an evening, but all the entertainment he got out of it was watching her work and listening to the children’s whining. Now that they were abed, he had not even that much.

A man who worked hard all day in the sun had need of an hour or two of relaxation with his friends, and God knew he needed a cup or two of something to wet his dusty throat. But not in this house! In this house one removed all fun at the door, just as one removed one’s cloak.

Alred brings the bad news

'Papa's home!'

“Papa’s home!” Gwynn shrieked.

“Papa’s home!” Margaret repeated, and both girls dropped the small bits of cloth each had been “embroidering” and ran to embrace their father.

Eirik asks a favor of Hilda

'What a life!'

“What a life!” Eirik sighed as he came into Hilda’s bright bedroom. “Lie around in bed all day!”

“Oh, you!” Hilda snapped. “It isn’t as if you have any great responsibilities, bachelor-man. You spend all the day playing. You wouldn’t even like to lie around in bed all day, I think.”

Eirik has a good idea

It was Eirik.

Sigrid gasped and nearly cried aloud, for a hand had shot out of the alcove as she passed and caught her sleeve for an instant. It was Eirik, and he briefly held a warning finger before his lips.

Synne ran on ahead—she hadn’t seen him in the shadows.

Sir Sigefrith makes an ass of himself

Sir Sigefrith sat quietly beside his wife and watched the crowd.

Sir Sigefrith sat quietly beside his wife and watched the crowd. In one respect he was well content—he loved his family, he loved his friends, and he loved it when they all gathered together, especially when there was something in particular to celebrate.

He was also happy that Hilda had kissed the back of his hand and begged him to stay with her when he had offered to go up in place of poor Estrid to make certain that Haakon was eating his meat. It was so rare that his wife was affectionate with him in public unless she wanted something, and tonight it seemed she only wanted his company.

Brede pinches his lip

Ever since she had arrived, Brede had been watching Estrid out of the corner of his eye.

Ever since she had arrived, Brede had been watching Estrid out of the corner of his eye—when he wasn’t simply staring at her—trying to find an opportunity to follow her out of the hall and to someplace where they might be alone together, if only for a moment. He thought he would go mad if he didn’t.

It meant that he couldn’t keep as close an eye on the girls as he would have liked, and he could see that Synne was already trying to catch the attention of Malcolm and his exotic and handsome brother. But his uncle was there, and he did not think the priest would let her make a fool of herself. Indeed, it was all the better for him if she tried to flirt a little—it meant that Father Aelfden would be too busy watching her to give much thought to Brede’s own whereabouts.

Calendar

Latest Chapters

Malcolm begins to lose his head

Chapter

Storyline

Brede learns how insufficient love is

Chapter

Storyline

Malcolm wishes he didn't know

Chapter

Sir Sigefrith has a late visitor

Chapter

Alfric shows the way to a stranger

Chapter

Alred brings the bad news

Chapter

Storyline

Eirik asks a favor of Hilda

Chapter

Storylines

Eirik has a good idea

Chapter

Storyline

Sir Sigefrith makes an ass of himself

Chapter

Brede pinches his lip

Chapter

Storyline

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