The light of the long, late afternoon filled the hall. House-folk were busy laying the fires and otherwise readying for eventide. Some of the guests were there. They talked with Hadding’s men, trying to learn more about his aim but getting short answers. The rest were elsewhere, riding, hunting, boating, wenching, playing ball games, or egging two stallions on to fight.

Ragnhild bore his second beaker to Hadding. She had put on a shift of Southland silk under embroidered apron panels held by silver brooches set with gems. Her coppery hair flowed free from beneath a headband of gold. An amber necklace draped over her bosom. “I too make you welcome, king,” she said slowly.

They looked one another in the eyes. Red and white fled through her face, but she held herself and her voice steady. “Thank you,” he said with a smile “It’s twice a welcome from so fair a maiden.”

“You have come a long way. I hope the voyage has been worth your while.”

“Yes, I’ve gotten a thing or two done.”

“Have you more in mind?”

“We’ll see. Today I’m taking my ease and getting to know folk. May they become my friends.”

“I think you will always have friends here.”

Hadding laughed. “For a beginning, would you like to sit with me?”

She hung back for a heartbeat or two, then nodded and joinded him in the seat. Like most such, it was big enough for two. They could talk together beneath the hubbub, softly if they wished. Though both might be men, a woman did a guest honor if she gave him this kind of fellowship.

Wooers glared. Hadding heeded them not at all. Benched among them, his battle-hardened warriors were enough to keep anyone from saying anything untoward. Haakon and his wife were clearly pleased, while striving to show everybody due respect.

Hadding and Ragnhild sat eagerly talking. He spoke less About himself than he asked about her, but she learned how witchy a life his had been. Hitherto only snatches of the tale had reached this far north. He saw that it did not frighten her, and found that her doings with the jotun had given her few nightmares afterward. When she tried to find out what he had been about in Norway, he said again that it had been a thing or two, then shifted to another ground. She could not well ask him outright. More than once he saw her fleetingly frown and bite her lip. Yet she was glad of his nearness, and often they laughed at something funny.

The sun lowered. More and more men arrived, cleansed and well clad for the evening. Ragnhild told Hadding she must go help her stepmother. But it was her father to whom she went and spoke low.