I knocked on Haraldr’s door, or started to anyway. It swung open almost at once, leaving my hand tapping on nothing. I had to look down to make eye contact with Fulla, Haraldr"s assistant and general helper. She was only twelve or thirteen, and was no family relation to Haraldr so far as I knew, but he relied on her for everything.
"He"s expecting you," she told me, then turned to lead the way down the long central corridor, her thick blonde braids swaying ever so slightly behind her as she walked. I left my boots on the mat, very aware of every mud puddle I had tromped through on my walk through the woods, then jogged to catch up.
I caught up with Fulla just as she reached the door to the library. She knocked once, briskly, then opened the door and waved me through.
Haraldr was sitting
