122 CXXII. The Pond

Dag looked up, not understanding what was happening, then looked behind him, to check on his companions.

They were gone.

Karl and Reidar were no longer by the fire and there were no horses either.

"What the fuck...?" he said when one hand gently touched his arm.

Dag immediately raised that arm, but even the hammer he had in his hand had disappeared.

With his face frightened, he looked at the hooded figure: from the large hood, long red hair sprang out.

As if he were mesmerized, he could not restrain himself and with both hands, he gently removed the hood of the woman in front of him.

The sunlight coming through the ceiling of rocky branches illuminated the scene: the young woman looked up at him.

When his large brown eyes looked at Dag, he felt a pang in his chest and tears came down from his eyes.

The hooded woman was Freydis.

Dag could not say a word, his mouth was dry and paralyzed.