Tears of the Wolf (Wrath and Weeping #1)

Chapter 12 Cenric

Cenric

Cenric spent the night on a hard floor that was definitely not his own bed. He had to listen to the whining of the pup in a basket, too. Aegifu’s girls gave her a bowl of milk and she lapped up the goat’s milk greedily but went right back to whining after.

Snapper tried to console the puppy, but she missed her mother. He leaned over the basket and nosed at her, licking the puppy until she finally fell asleep.

The next morning, Aegifu had several errands and chores for “big strong men.”

Cenric’s bruised arm ached, but he tended to the fence and chopped wood with Kalen, enough for a week. It was more than his aunt deserved. The girls chopped their own wood most of the time, after all.

They finished around midday and made to ready their horses. Kalen carried the puppy’s basket on his saddle.

Aegifu came hobbling out of the garden, leaning on her cane. “Leaving so soon?”

“Yes,” Cenric answered. “I have completed your errand and dealt with Nettles.”

“I have holes in the thatch that need to be fixed,” Aegifu said. “You might as well take care of it while you are here.”

Cenric gritted his teeth. “The time to mention that was this morning. Before we spend the whole of it chopping wood.”

“So, you will not do it?” Aegifu asked, a challenge in her voice.

“No.”

“Morgi told me last night that if you leave now, you will meet with a rockslide on the way home.”

Cenric cast the old woman a sardonic smile. “Well, she didn’t tell me.” Nettles’ body wasn’t stinking yet, thanks to the autumn chill, but it wouldn’t be long. They needed to get home, and Cenric needed to get back to his people. Not to mention his wife.

Morgi did also speak to his aunt, but Cenric doubted that the goddess would share something like that with Aegifu and not him. Aegifu could lie, after all.

Cenric and Kalen had to move slowly down the mountain paths. The pup went back to whining, but after the first hour, it finally quieted.

Cenric pulled his mantle closer around his shoulders against the chill autumn breeze. It was getting cold. That was yet another reminder of the coming snows.

They came into sight of the longhouse a few hours after noon. It made Cenric’s teeth grind to think of all the work he’d missed. Not to mention that his new wife had spent most her first day in Ombra without him.

He should have been there to introduce her and show her the village and surrounding farmland. He might still get to do that, but Gaitha and Edric had probably already started.

They reached the longhouse as the midday meal was being served to the household servants. They were just approaching the stables when the dogs began to bark and howl.

Ash, Thorn, and the rest came flocking around their horses, dog bodies wiggling and tails thrashing madly. Their thoughts were a chorus of excitement. Cenric and Kalen dismounted, a few of the stable boys coming to take their horses.

The older female, Ash, came close to the basket with the pup, sniffing with interest. Inside, the pup began whining again. One of the dogs barked and then all the animals were howling and barking in a rancorous chorus.

Cenric scooped up the basket with the pup while Kalen saw to their horses with the other boys.

“Lord!” someone shouted from the longhouse. “Lord, you’re back!”

Edric appeared at the doorway of the longhouse a moment later. “Cenric!” He greeted his lord and old friend with a hearty embrace, though the red-haired man was a full head shorter. “I was going to take a group of men to fetch you right after this meal.”

“There was no need to worry,” Cenric scoffed.

“That’s what I told Brynn, but she was worried.”

Cenric noticed Edric called her Brynn, with no title attached. Maybe he had grown more familiar with the new lady of Ombra. “Where is she?”

As if summoned, Brynn appeared in the doorway. Flour smeared the front of her dress, and her hair was drawn back in a kerchief, but those same stubborn strands of hair flew loose about her neck. From the look of her, she had been hard at work.

Cenric’s face broke into a smile before he thought about it. “Wife!”

Brynn came outside, followed by several of the house girls and Gaitha. “Cenric.” She kept her hands in front of her, neutral. Was that relief in her face? “I’m glad you’re back, lord.”

“Edric says you were concerned for me.”

Brynn glanced to the smaller man. “I was, lord. I’m glad you’re back safely.” She looked at the basket. “What’s in the basket?”

“Let me show you.” Cenric set the basket on the ground. He had to shoo back dogs as they crowded around. He reached inside and picked up the dyrehund pup by the scruff of the neck.

He held it toward Brynn, supporting its back legs. “The pup and its mother were eating goats in my aunt’s barn.”

Brynn’s eyes widened. “What happened to the mother?”

Cenric grimaced. “Nettles never recovered after my brother died.”

Brynn looked to the puppy, sadness creasing her face. “You killed her.” The words weren’t an accusation, just a statement of fact.

Cenric lowered the pup. He felt it had been justified, but felt a little shame, nonetheless. “She went after Snapper.”

“Is he alright?” Brynn looked over to the dyrehund in question.

“Fine, just a little shaken at the time.”

Brynn’s shoulders relaxed a little. “I see.”

Cenric followed her gaze to Snapper, currently gazing fondly up at the puppy. “I can take her back to my aunt.”

Brynn frowned, looking at the small ball of fur in his hands. “I don’t understand.”

“Because you like dogs and I thought…” Cenric’s chest deflated. He’d hoped Brynn would be happy. “I thought having your own dyrehund, might…help.”

“She’s…for me?” Brynn seemed genuinely surprised.

Cenric shrugged, feeling awkward. “A gift.” He wasn’t sure why the word came out sounding like an apology.

Brynn hesitated, looking between him and the puppy. “You brought me a gift?” She licked her lips, almost like she didn’t believe it.

“You don’t have to accept it,” Cenric said. “She’s going to be a handful, and I don’t blame you if you don’t.”

“No,” Brynn said quickly. “No, I want her.” Brynn scooped the puppy from his hands and cradled it against her ribs. Naturally and easily, like she’d missed having living things in her arms. The pup still whined, but it burrowed in the crook of Brynn’s arm, small tail flicking. Brynn shushed the pup, stroking her grey fur. “She’s beautiful, Cenric.” Brynn’s voice cracked with emotion.

Cenric watched as his wife petted and soothed the small animal. Had no one ever given this woman a gift?

Puppy, Snapper snorted with approval.

Cenric allowed himself a sliver of satisfaction. “I need to tend to the docks and check the fields. But I will return.”

Brynn’s mouth pressed into a stern line. “Do what you must.” There was a shortness to her tone. Anger?

Cenric arched one eyebrow. His return wasn’t going the way he had expected. “Has something upset you?”

Brynn broke eye contact, looking away even as she nestled the puppy into the crook of her elbow.

“I did not mean to spend last night away. Believe me, I would have preferred to be here.” Yes, he would have much preferred to sleep with Brynn instead of on the hard floor of his aunt’s cottage.

Brynn looked down at the pup in her arms. The small creature peered up at her, whimpering. Brynn stroked its head and cuddled it against her chest. “I believe you. I’m glad you’re home.”

She didn’t sound glad.

Cenric would sort this out later. He looked to Edric. “Anything I should know before I head to the fields?” For now, he needed to check the progress of his fieldworkers, fishermen, and shepherds. He’d already been gone for too long.