Scene 2: The Feast at Kalmar
The great hall glows with firelight as servants carry in platters of smoked herring, dark rye bread, and jugs of spiced ale. Long oak tables stretch the length of the chamber, crowded with nobles in heavy cloaks and armor. Swedish lords cluster together in wary knots, Norwegian envoys hover uneasily between groups, and Danish captains sit in rigid lines, their hands never far from their swords.
At the far end of the hall, against the stone wall hung with banners, Erik of Pomerania sits at the head of the table. The young king forces a smile, trying to look regal, but the vast chair swallows his frame. A toast is called, and the cheer that follows is thin—more suspicion than joy. All eyes drift toward you, waiting to see how you will answer the mood.