We passed a long night together in that lodge. The wind never ceased to howl. The drumbeat of horse hooves would fade but then return, stronger than ever. Sometimes there was even the sound of metal weapons striking the sides of the hunting lodge, as if the hunters were striking the logs of the walls around us, trying to scare us even more.
It worked. Oh, how it worked.
But the sounds started to fade away even as the first gray light of morning started peeping in from around the shutters, which were closed over the few windows.
I helped Gunna, Nilda and Kara make porridge enough for everyone and passed the bowls around. By the time it was safe to lift the bar and open the doors, we all at least had a belly full of warm food to ground us.
I for one felt like I was going to need it.
And
