*Harald*
“It has been so long,” my brother tells me.
“We all thought you were dead,” Anders adds.
My heart sinks. “What of Catherine? Did she think I was dead? Did she take another husband?”
My brother smiles at me and clasps my shoulder. “She is the only one who did not. Come. Let us take you to her.”
I nod and offer Ann my hand, helping her to stand. It took me far too long to get her here, and honestly, she is probably still mad about it. No matter. Surely, she will be happy when she is reunited with her sister.
We walk up the familiar hill, and Anders waves everyone off. They were ready for an attack, but they will not find one today. He leads me to the longhouse, which looks the same as when I left except for a human skull hanging over the door. I point up and raise an
