Page 33 of Tears of the Wolf
Brynn tried to smile politely as Melain continued.
“He’s already trouble enough right now and he can only crawl.”
Brynn had been fine seeing the baby in Melain’s arms, but somehow those words hit her like a slap. Osbeorn had just learned to walk. His steps had been unsteady and wobbly, but he’d beamed with joy as he’d toddled toward Brynn’s outstretched hands.
“Thank you for healing me, lady.” Melain seemed oblivious to Brynn’s distress.
The woman at Melain’s side never once stopped staring at the sorceress. Brynn wondered if she had offended the other woman somehow, but she’d worry about that later.
Brynn inclined her head to the two women. “If you’ll excuse me, it seems my husband has finished unloading our ship. I must go.”
Brynn was exaggerating somewhat, but she needed to go before she started crying. She found several of the village men had stepped in to help.
Esa fell in behind her and followed her back to the ship. All of her trunks already lay on the grass, ready to be carried up to the longhouse.
Cenric saw her approaching. “Making friends?”
“I hope so,” Brynn answered. She focused on breathing, not her empty arms or missing child.
Cenric
Cenric had not been in such a good mood since the summer he and his men had sailed to Ufma for a day of trading and a night of debauching.
He had what he wanted. He had a powerful, beautiful Istovari wife who seemed genuinely interested in Ombra and was already getting along with his people as best he could tell. Thanks to the king, he had enough salt, wine, and spices to get his people through winter. Not only that, but the king would be sending the rest of Brynn’s significant dowry north in wagons come spring.
Cenric looked forward to a night of eating, drinking, and then tumbling into his own bed—with Brynn. She was no longer the cold, mournful woman he had met in Aelgar’s hall. Already, she had warmed to him and no longer stayed rigid as a meat skewer when he touched her. She’d even started teasing him back.
She was awkward at times, almost like she didn’t know how to tease, but he didn’t mind teaching her.
Yes, he had high hopes for this evening.
They climbed the hill to his longhouse. Servants carried the food to the half-underground storehouses at the bottom of the hill.
Brynn walked beside him, carrying a satchel since that was all he had allowed her to carry. She was lady of this house, and he wanted her to meet her new servants without looking like one herself.
Word had spread through the village and the household, and the relief that he was back was almost palpable. He’d been gone for less than a week, but that could have been plenty of time for Valdari raiders.
Barking rose from up the hill. First yips, then howls.
Pack!Snapper’s thoughts cried.Pack!
Cenric looked up to the house as the dyrehunds came bounding down to meet them. The fluffy creatures came running out of the longhouse, running in circles as they greeted him and the men with wagging tails.
Snapper’s thoughts were drowned out as dozens more thoughts rose from the other dogs.
Cenric!
Cenric home!
Mostly the dogs excitedly repeated his name along with impressions of the smells they picked up on him and his companions. They were simple creatures, loyal and affectionate.
Brynn’s maid yelped, shrinking back. “Lady, are those wolves?”
“I don’t think so.” Brynn sounded unsure. “They’re too small.” She glanced to Cenric, a question on her face moments before they were mobbed by the creatures.
“Dyrehunds.” Cenric grinned as the animals gleefully hopped in around them, tongues lolling, tails lashing wildly.
Like Snapper, they were grey and fluffy with triangular ears, an echo of the wolves their ancestors had been, but as Brynn had noticed, they were smaller, stockier.
