shutters into the courtyard leading onto Stairon. And at that moment, both his hearts did a synchronised somersault.
From the direction of the settlement, Gest was making his way towards the house at a slow pace, staggering slightly. The man was huge, even by the standards of a native Ytren. He was at least a head taller than Einar’s father and almost twice as broad across the shoulders. The boy swallowed and decided that the time for pleasantries was over; he rushed towards the pair of closed doors. He chose at random, but got it right. Gudrun’s bedroom, on the right, was small. It held a bed, a wardrobe, two trunks for clothes and a chest of drawers. On top of that, it also held Einar’s two brothers and the blacksmith’s daughter.
‘Get up, you idiots!’ Einar grabbed the twins’ scattered clothes as he ran, trying not to pay too much attention to the three entwined bodies on the bed. ‘Move!’ He kicked his brother lying on the edge of the bed, and from the groan he realised it must have been Kari.
‘Einar?’ Leif sat up, pushing the girl’s hand away. ‘How did you find us here?’
‘It wasn’t hard!’ he snapped, glancing fearfully over his shoulder. ‘Now get a move on, and make it quick!’
‘Where’s the rush?’ Kari ran his hand passionately over the girl’s waist, and she purred with pleasure.
‘Such a lovely morning.’ Leif mimicked his brother’s gesture until the girl shivered.
‘Yes, and it’ll be even lovelier when Gest finds you lot here!’ Einar had managed to gather up all his brothers’ clothes and returned to the door. ‘He’s not far away now!’ he added with a hint of terror.
The brothers, however, seemed to have something else on their minds besides frolicking, for they extricated themselves from the bed and Gudrun with surprising agility and, on slightly wobbly legs, ran after Einar. The lad grabbed Kari by the arm and pushed him towards the window through which he’d entered. The twins didn’t resist their brother at all and soon found themselves at the
