Page 39 of Tears of the Wolf
Their mother had been furious when she’d found out. So furious that Brynn had wondered if her mother had wanted Aelfwynn to make a claim to the kingship anyway.
All through the war, the sisters had fought for their homeland, starving in forests and freezing in fields, all the while knowing their home at Ungamot would be forfeit even if they won.
Through those hard years, Brynn had ached for stability. She had wanted desperately to go home—never really knowing where that was. She’d hoped to find that in Glasney, but Paega never let her feel at home.
“Here you are.” Gaitha pushed aside a wooden door at the very far end of the longhouse. It slid open on well-oiled hinges. Above it, a ladder led up to a loft overhead. “The younger boys and unmarried thanes sleep there.” Gaitha pointed up. “They know to be quiet, but they sleep and guard in shifts, so you might hear them stomping around at night every so often. The girls have places around the main hearth.”
Brynn stored the information away for later.
“But this is your place in here.” Gaitha stepped inside, pushing the door open the rest of the way. “Cenric had me get it ready for you.”
Brynn stepped after the other woman, not sure what to expect. Inside, her trunks had already been set down at the foot of the bed.
A fireplace sat at one side, one of the few stone features in the longhouse. Brynn realized the chimney went through the loft, providing a source of warmth above. The fireplace was cold for now, but a pyramid of sticks sat ready to be lit. The bed had been covered in animal skin pelts.
At first glance, Brynn thought a man stood in the corner, but it was a full suit of chainmail with greaves, bracers, and a shining helm with the design of a snarling wolf.
“That might be your husband’s most prized possession.” Gaitha nodded to the armor.
Brynn could see why. Mail was rare, much less a full-length tabard of it. That alone was probably worth three good horses or more. It might be as fine as Aelfwynn’s had been and hers had belonged to their father.
“This is Cenric’s room, then?”
“Well, both of yours now.”
Brynn hadn’t shared a room with Paega. He had been wealthy enough that they had separate chambers, but she’d already known Cenric wasn’t as rich.
“I’ve tidied it up.” Gaitha smoothed a hand over the furs on the bed. “I imagine you’ll be wanting to rearrange the furniture. In fact, I suggest you do. It will be a good lesson to teach that husband of yours after leaving you alone on your first night here.”
Brynn frowned at Gaitha. “Isn’t he your lord?”
“Aye, and I’m as loyal to him as much as anyone. But it’s best a wife never let her husband get away with anything, trust me. Next thing you know, the men are walking all over us.”
Brynn exhaled slowly. “I’ve been married before.” And she’d learned from her mother that not all women could be seen as allies.
“Ah.” Gaitha paused, taking in Brynn with a pensive look. “What happened to him?”
“I left him,” Brynn answered. “The king gave me a divorcement.”
Gaitha’s brows rose in surprise. “How long ago?”
Brynn considered it. “I left my first husband three months ago. The king granted a divorcement a few days ago.”
“I’m sorry,” Gaitha said sincerely.
Brynn frowned. “I…why are you sorry?”
“Leaving husbands is a messy business, hardly something a woman does for amusement. I’m sorry.”
Brynn looked down. She expected judgment, not acceptance, and certainly not sympathy. “Thank you. I didn’t want to do it, but…after my son…” She trailed off, not sure how to explain it.
She knew that if she stayed with Paega, her mother would push her to have another baby with him. And she couldn’t do it,wouldn’tdo it—to herself or to her children.
Gaitha fluffed the pillows at the head of the bed. “You have children, then?”
Brynn opened her mouth, then shut it, unable to give voice to the words.
“I see. No need to explain, lady.” Her face softened in understanding before she glanced around the room. “I’ll oversee the evening meal. I’ll send one of the girls to show you and your maid to the bathhouse. Would you like that?”
