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Eodwine, Thornden, and Harreld had begun work on the mugs of ale Ginna had brought out, ripping black bread into chunks, consumed with large cuts of cheese. Eodwine was enjoying his repast so much, eyes closed with delight, that he didn't notice someone standing by the table, waiting.
"Uh, Lord Eodwine!" Thornden said.
"Yes?"
Thornden motioned with his eyes. It was Rowenna.
"Lord, I am to freshen the rooms but yours is locked."
"The rooms be hanged, girl!" Eodwine cried, having had quite enough of seeing this girl do nothing but work from sun up to sundown; he was surprised she had not thinned so much as to blow away on the breeze. "Sit with us and eat and drink."
"But Lord-"
"Do as I say and enjoy yourself for a change, Rowenna, and that's an order if you like."
Rowenna's brow rose and she sat herself down opposite Eodwine, next to Harreld, who self-consciously moved his chair away an inch or two, looking over his shoulder at the hallway Ginna was likely to come out of at any moment.
"So tell me-" Eodwine was about to begin when he was interrupted by a loud voice issuing from the door to the Hall.
“I am seeking for lord Eodwine. Is he here?”
"I am he," Eodwine replied, rising and moving to meet him near the firepit. "Welcome to the Eorling Mead Hall. You are just in time for lunch. How are you called?"
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