but in some ways they remain the same

[light_of_the_world]

A little more than a month had passed since they had all moved into their house in the countryside, and Hild had been concientious about building it into a home, a household like the one she knew back in Northumbria, a place she could be proud of. She carried her old purse, attached to her belt, more often these days, the similarity between this life and the other growing more each day. There were differences. There were so many differences. But this was the life of a normal young woman in a normal situation in a normal time, and Hild relished it.

There were no trees on the property yet, certainly no fruit trees the sort of which Krem wished to have. But not too far from the house, far enough that Hild could see it still, if only small and white, was a walnut tree. The boughs were all but made for climbing, low and spreading wide over the space, and the nuts themselves were just coming into season. Along with her woven basket, Hild had brought a metal nutcracker with her, tucked into her purse, so she could sit along one of the branches, legs dangling, and help herself to a snack before harvesting.

She saw Thomas coming near, on one of his long runs, and immediately flung a walnut straight at his head.