She opened her eyes and stared at the beautiful ceiling. Varnished planks of elm were lined all around the ironwood crossbeams. The bed was now empty-her husband had already woken up and left. Ghost was lying on a bearskin pelt near the hearth, looking lazily at her with his ruby-red eyes. She stretched slowly and rang the bell-only a few moments later, Merya came and quickly helped her get dressed up. Though, for the first time, her handmaid's hands were quite shaky.