Chapter 15 Brynn
Brynn
In the lair of the monsters, Brynn had been terrified. Somehow, sitting outside the tent she shared with Cenric, she did not feel much better. The two guards Ovrek had assigned to her loomed not far away.
Esa had found her dry clothes and a bread cake with sheep’s cheese. Guin hopped around the ground, flipping a scrap of rag into the air and pouncing on it as it came down.
Kalen tended to the fire, quiet and solemn as he did. The boy kept glancing up the beach, probably watching for Cenric.
Ugba and Anders checked the same parts of the ship again. They paced back and forth, trying not to be obvious about staring at Ovrek’s two Valdari. The other thanes were still helping hunt down Egill’s men.
Cenric was going to have to make hard choices. He wouldn’t want to make them, but he would have to. Brynn had been accused of murder by the most powerful woman in these islands. It was the word of a foreigner against the word of a beloved queen.
It was rational, and some would say wise, for Cenric to let Brynn take the blame. They’d probably kill her, but Cenric might be able to spare his own standing with the Valdari. It was the best option to save him and his people.
Brynn tried not to cry. Hróarr had turned on her, despite her saving his life. Vana thought she was guilty and so did all the other people who might have been her friends.
Brynn was sinking into this web of mistrust, suspicion, and blame. What a fool she had been. What a wretched fool.
It was late and even the summer sun began to dip toward the horizon. So much and so little had changed in the past day. Brynn wrapped her shawl tighter around her. Why did everything always have to go wrong?
Then there were the monsters in the forest. They would be free soon, but she didn’t know how soon.
More than an hour after Cenric left, Brynn sensed a man approaching their fire with a dog-sized shape at his side.
Snapper leapt into the middle of their campsite first, pouncing on Guin. He grabbed one end of the rag she’d been playing with and the two of them wrestled for it. Guin growled, digging in her little paws and fighting to take it back.
Cenric stepped into view a few moments later, striding past the Valdari guards without a word. He settled down beside her, facing the fire. One hand rested on her lower back, but he still didn’t speak.
Brynn watched him, clenching her hands into her shawl. It was going to be bad news, she was sure of it.
“Ovrek wants you to join us in the hall tonight.”
That was not the news Brynn had been expecting. “The men Ovrek sent to the Grandfather Yew?”
Cenric shook his head. “I asked around on my way back. They have not returned, but everyone is more concerned with Egill. Ovrek wants to search for them in the morning.”
Brynn bit her lip, feeling sick. She suspected what had happened and from the look on his face, Cenric did, too. “Ovrek is doing nothing?”
“I don’t know what he can do,” Cenric admitted. “The Grandfather Yew was planted to protect Valdar from evil. It’s older than living memory. We can’t simply replace it.”
Brynn forced herself to remain calm. “He needs to do something. The monsters are breaking free.”
“He’s distracted by the murder attempt. Egill and his son were caught, but at least thirty of their men are missing.” Cenric exhaled a long breath, looking to Kalen.
“All is quiet, lord,” the boy said.
Cenric smeared a hand over his face, shoulders slumping on a slow exhale. “I have done what I could for the other situation. At least what I could think of.”
Brynn reached for his hand. He lifted her hand to his mouth, kissing the backs of her knuckles. Warmth radiated up her arm from everywhere his mouth touched.
He folded her hand in both of his and laid it in his lap. They sat like that, silent with Kalen tending the fire and Esa quietly moving about the tent and the campsite. There was so much to say and yet nothing seemed quite adequate.
After a time, Cenric stroked his thumb across the backs of her knuckles. “You’re worth it, Brynn.”
“What do you mean?”
“Whatever happens next. Whatever this costs…” Cenric turned her hand over, fingers tracing the lines of her palm. “I won’t trade you.” He met her eyes. “Not for all the silver rings in Kelethi.”
A lump formed in Brynn’s throat. He was saying he’d fight a losing battle with his old mentor rather than turn her over. “Your people.”
“You are first among my people,” Cenric grated. “Don’t try to talk me out of this, Brynn.”
Brynn inhaled a shuddering breath.
Cenric leaned over, brushing his lips against hers. It was a soft kiss, gentle. A promise.
Brynn closed her eyes as he rested his forehead against hers. She tried to soak in the comfort of his presence.
She had this moment. She had these past few months. No matter what came next, what monsters broke free of the forest, or what Ovrek and his people tried to do, at least she had been with a man she loved. No one could take that away from her.
Cenric wrapped an arm around her and pulled her against his chest. Brynn curled against his side, her heart aching.
Why did war always have to come? Why couldn’t she just be happy for once?
Snapper flopped onto his side, wrestling with Guin over the rag. Growling with her tail stiff, Guin jumped on him, giving her best fight.
Brynn wondered if she would ever see Ombra again.
Would she ever return to that wild land with its mountains, ancient trees, and surging rivers?
Or would she die here on this strange island?
Would Ovrek at least let Cenric bury her in Ombra?
She would want that, she thought. She’d want to be buried near Cenric.
Cenric brushed back her hair, tucking the loose strands behind her ear. Her husband might be a fierce warrior, but he was a tender lover. His gentleness made her heart melt every time he touched her. She’d never known a man could be this loving.
They stayed like that, Kalen and Esa remaining silent and out of the way. The poor youngsters probably didn’t know what to do any more than she and Cenric did.
Brynn desperately tried to feel as much of Cenric as she could. There was nothing she wanted more than to bathe in the warmth of his arms forever.
Someone approached. Valdari voices chattered near the edge of camp.
“Is that Hróarr?” Brynn asked, lifting her head.
“No.” Cenric rose as a figure clad in red swaggered into the fire’s glow.
Tullia looked magnificent, as she always did. She had a new set of temple rings, and the pelt of a red fox draped over her shoulders as a stole. Her eunuchs flanked her, as did several maids, including Lena.
Lena trembled in the back, head down and shaking.
“Lady Tullia.” Cenric inclined his head. “I was not expecting you.”
“We have some things to discuss.” Tullia glanced around the campsite. “Lady Brynn! So glad you have returned to us. Did you find your exploration of our island to be pleasant?”
Brynn was not sure if that was meant as a joke.
“Come. Walk with me, both of you.”
Cenric cast a look to Brynn, almost as if he was asking permission.
Brynn didn’t know any more than he did. Rising, Brynn took his hand. They weren’t about to defy Ovrek’s daughter. “Wait here,” she instructed Esa and Kalen.
Cenric repeated the order to his thanes, not taking his eyes off Tullia. However Cenric felt about the Valdari king’s daughter, he did not trust her right now.
The two Valdari guards assigned to Brynn trailed after them, but Tullia continued speaking in Hyldish. It seemed Tullia was not concerned about Lena overhearing, but then she didn’t seem to be threatened by thralls in general.
Tullia strode a short distance down the beach, Brynn and Cenric following. It was just close enough to the water that the murmur of the waves would muffle their voices.
Snapper and Guin trotted along after them, sniffing at the ground, running ahead and racing back. The dogs seemed perfectly happy.
Turning on her heel, Tullia faced them both. “Quite a mess, isn’t it?”
Brynn thought that was a masterpiece of understatement.
“My father realized he is not as popular as he thinks, and my mother is being blackmailed. My brother caused trouble then made it worse, as usual.” Tullia laughed, shaking her head. “What a day it has been.”
Cenric shifted closer to Brynn.
“You upset my mother, Cenric,” Tullia tsked. “She’s most distraught at the moment.”
Brynn stole a glance to her husband. Was that where he had gone? To see the queen?
Cenric’s entire bearing had gone hard. His jaw locked as he squared his stance, ready for a fight.
“Nothing quite upsets her like threats to her darling boy.” Tullia exhaled a long breath. “I should have known better than to tell her about his latest folly.”
Brynn held onto Cenric. There had to be a point to this.
“I’m curious.” Tullia cocked her head to the side. “Why didn’t you accuse me of poisoning the bitch?”
Brynn felt as if the wrong answer might be fatal, but she dared speak. “Whoever poisoned Gistrid seemed to be guessing. They underestimated the plant both times.”
“And?”
“You would have gotten it right the first time.” It had been a gamble, but it seemed Brynn had been right.
Tullia took in those words for a moment and then she smiled. “I like you, sorceress.”
“What is the point of this?” Cenric demanded.
“I’m here to offer you both a bargain.” Tullia adjusted her sleeves as if bored. “One that gives all three of us what we want.”
Brynn did not like the sound of that. From the way Cenric’s arm pulled her closer against him, neither did he.
“Kill my father.” Tullia’s smile never wavered. “I don’t care how. I don’t care which of you does it but stop the old man’s heart before he brings out the wine at the feast tonight.”
Brynn didn’t believe what she had heard for a moment. “What?”
“You don’t mean that.” Cenric shook his head. “You love your father.”