[Folwren]

Saeryn had confirmed Ginna’s decision to go try to speak with Harreld again. Together they had gotten up and Saeryn embraced her quickly to give her support and courage, and then the two of them left the privacy of the room – Ginna to run through the kitchen where there would be fewer eyes to see her, and Saeryn to look to see what sort of condition the men in the hall were in and what needed to be done next.

As she looked out into the hall, her mind was still preoccupied with the conversation she had just had. When her eyes fell on Thornden and she saw him looking steadily at her, she remembered the letter Ginna had let her read, and the flame rushed back into her face. She turned and stormed into the kitchen.

“Kara,” she said. “Let me take your place. You’ve been in here all evening. Do you mind serving out there?”

Kara looked up. She had just turned out a lump of raised dough onto a board. “I wouldn’t mind at all, if you don’t mind kneading the bread.”

“Not at all!” Saeryn replied. “Take a pitcher of mead out, I imagine they’ll be thirsty for more of that. Modtryth is out there now; she’ll know better what is needed.” She rolled up her sleeves as she spoke and took Kara’s place at the bread board. She dusted the dough with flour and then took it up in her hands and began to press and push it, over and over against the board. She allowed the frustration and anger caused by the contents of the letter to pass to the bread, and her fists pummeled it fiercely, sending up satisfying clouds of flour occasionally.

How dare he say such things? she said to herself. How dare he even imply those things to his daughter? Eodwine is not dead, and even if he were, what kind of woman does he think I am? She thrust her hand viciously into the spongy mass. I marry Thornden! Indeed! The thought never crossed my mind. How dare he even presume. . .!

“You look as though you wish that dough were somebody’s face.”

Saeryn’s head snapped up and her eyes still contained the fury she felt. Her expression didn’t soften any when she saw it was Thornden. “What are you doing in here?” she asked. “This is no place for a man.”

Thornden laughed dryly. “In which case, it’s not the place for the lady of the hall, either.”

“I can be where I like.”

Thornden shrugged. “I tried to talk to Harreld.” Saeryn’s hands continued to knead the dough and she said nothing. “You were right. He wasn’t ready to talk.” He watched Saeryn continue to work with the bread and when the pause stretched into a long silence, he said, “What did you find out from Ginna?”

Saeryn’s temper flared. “That is none of your business!” she said, looking up at him. “Now, get out of here and quit meddling in this whole affair!”

“I’m not meddling any more than you were! I’m trying to figure out the right thing to do. You would not think that Eodwine were in the wrong-”

“You’re not Eodwine!” Saeryn said. “And you will never take his place!”

“I neither want nor intend to take his place,” Thornden said, bewildered at her answers. “All I’m trying to do-”

“I told you to leave it alone,” Saeryn said, her voice final and icy. “Go back to the hall and don’t talk to Harreld or Ginna about it anymore. It will do more harm than good.”

Thornden looked hard at Saeryn, and made no movement to go. Her barely contained anger and her impatience to see him gone made him stick more stubbornly with his purpose. “What is the matter, Saeryn? What did Ginna say that has made you so angry?”

“I told you it’s not your business!” she cried, her voice rising with anger. “Can’t you see that? I don’t want to talk to you!” She shot him a furious look, and picked up the entire kneading board, bread, and all and turned her back to him. Fordides turned from the fire and came across the floor towards him.

“See here, Thornden,” she said, “the kitchen’s no place for you. Can’t you see Saeryn’s all upset? Go on out now, and don’t trouble her anymore.”

There was no arguing with the kitchen’s ruler when you are just a visitor in the kitchen. Thornden looked once more over Fordides' head at Saeryn’s back and then he nodded and stalked silently out.