Page 31 of Tears of the Wolf
“My hall is inside.” Pride colored his tone. “The finest in the north.”
Several smaller versions of the longhouse dotted the surrounding foothills, probably belonging to his thanes and their families.
“We finished repairs over the summer and it’s as fine as it was on the day it was built.”
Brynn smiled at the excitement in his voice. He seemed genuinely eager for her to see. “I’m sure it’s lovely.”
Cenric kissed her cheek, touching her low back. “You’re lovely.”
Brynn looked down to her hands. “You don’t have to flatter me.” If he was trying to get something from her, she wasn’t sure what. She had no intentions of holding back from him. He didn’t have to keep trying.
“Don’t call me a liar, wife. It’s hardly fair.” Cenric’s hand on her back drifted lower, not quite to indecency, but near enough to it.
His affection wasn’t unpleasant, she just didn’t always know how to respond. She’d seen men be affectionate with their lovers before, but no one had ever been this way with her.
The thanes hauled the ship partially ashore with the help of the villagers on the riverbank. Cenric helped Brynn down from the ship, though it was something she could do herself now.
The rest of the men unloaded, and ropes were attached to the ship so they could haul it the rest of the way ashore.
Brynn stood to the side, waiting. Esa hovered at her side, glancing around them nervously.
A crowd of perhaps fifty people of all ages gathered around them. Brynn noticed many of them stared in her direction, low voices speaking between each other.
She wondered if any of them had ever seen a sorceress before. Few of her sistren chose to come this far north. There were better fortunes and aldermen with more silver in the south.
“They’re staring at you,” Esa said.
“Wouldn’t you?” Brynn asked. “If a strange woman had just come to marry your alderman?”
Esa glanced furtively around her. “I’ve never seen so many strangers.”
Brynn thought that might be an exaggeration, the girl had just spent months in Ungamot, but she didn’t argue. “Hopefully, they are future friends.” Brynn looked away from Esa to the people gathered nearby.
A young woman with a baby in her arms stood watching.Kaflickered around the young woman’s ribs, an unusual amount. It seemed to be concentrated along her ribcage. It might be a new injury or something else, but it looked painful.
Brynn steeled herself. She planned to live with these people so she must make a good first impression.
“Lady?” Esa glanced at her in question.
Brynn approached the young mother, hands clasped before her.
The young woman bowed, only a hint of fear in the way she did. “Lady.”
“I’m Brynn.” She looked over the stranger, lean and tanned from hard work, her hair wrapped under a kerchief. “Sorceress of the Istovari. Newly wed to Alderman Cenric.”
The young woman bowed her head again. Brynn wondered if she imagined the woman’s grimace of irritation.
Several other people bowed nearby. Nervous eyes watched Brynn, uncertain of what to do.
Brynn inhaled. “What is your name, if you don’t mind?”
“Melain, lady.” She adjusted the baby in her arms. “Forgive me.”
“Melain, have you hurt your ribs recently?”
Melain shot her a sharp look that was answer enough. Suspicion edged the young woman’s eyes. “Yes, lady. I slipped while milking and our cow stepped on me. It was a few days ago.”
Brynn nodded. That sounded about right. “May I try to heal you?”
