East

Neddy

THE MOVE TO TRONDHEIM went smoothly. Only Willem stayed behind. Neighbor Torsk had agreed to buy half the farm, and so he and Willem would work the land together.

In Trondheim, Mother and my sisters devoted their time to outfitting and decorating the new house, a handsome dwelling near the center of town. It had all the latest conveniences and Mother was delighted. Father and Soren spent every waking moment on the new printing press, which they fussed over like a pair of doting parents. As for myself, I had become assistant to a Master Eckstrom, the esteemed author of many well-regarded books of scholarship. The king himself, in Danemark, had commissioned Master Eckstrom to write an exhaustive history of the combined kingdoms of Njord and Danemark, and I was one of several assistants hired to help in that massive endeavor. Master Eckstrom was a kindly if very busy man, and he was not often in Trondheim, his duties to the king requiring him to be in Danemark much of the time.

I did my work in what used to be a monastery, which Master Eckstrom had converted to a private library for the use of scholars to pursue religious and historical research. Presiding over the library was a cheerful soul by the name of Havamal, who had previously been a monk. He was the caretaker of Master Eckstrom's valuable collection of books. Havamal was extraordinarily helpful. He knew the location of every volume in his library, and sometimes even the page number of the bit of information I sought. He also became a friend. I felt very fortunate in my new life.

Soren was too busy with his printing press to pay much heed to wedding plans, but Sara, with the enthusiastic help of Sonja and Mother, was beginning to make preparations for a spring ceremony. We all fervently hoped Rose would return to us by then. And Willem had made a solemn promise that if Rose should indeed come home to the farm, he would send word without delay.

Not a day went by that I did not return to our fine new home in town hoping for such a message. And each day I was disappointed.