Page 57 of Tears of the Wolf
“But lady, there was nothing you could have done,” Esa protested, her voice small. “They were hundreds of armed thanes, and you weren’t strong enough.”
“Yes,” Brynn agreed. At the time, she had been too inexperienced and lacked the power to do anything. Ever since, she had practiced using her magic daily as a kind of penance, but it still wouldn’t bring her sister back. “So can you forgive me for Aelfwynn?”
“Of course,” Esa said, almost whimpering.
“Then I forgive you for Osbeorn.”
Esa burst into tears again, burying her face once more into Brynn’s shoulder.
The puppy squirmed uncomfortably in her arms, whining, but Brynn held onto her and Esa while the girl wept.
She could only hope Esa would be able to let go of the guilt. Out of everyone Brynn had ever tried to forgive, forgiving herself had always been the most difficult.
Cenric
Cenric ate with his people while Brynn bustled around the longhouse. She never stayed still for long, speaking with the house girls and Gaitha.
According to Edric, Cenric hadn’t missed much in his absence. There were still fields to be harvested and the young aurochs to be rounded up for the autumn slaughter. There was a reason the eleventh month was called Blydmoth—Blood Month.
No word yet of any raiding ships. Some people thought they might not come this year. Cenric doubted it, especially if the raid that killed Brynn’s son had been Valdari, as he suspected.
They were a pragmatic people—you had to be to live in the harsh wilds of Valdar. They wouldn’t care that Cenric had once served Ovrek Fork-Beard, the first and current king of Valdar. All they would care about was that Cenric’s land had fat sheep, silver, and good grain.
Unless the Valdari had found somewhere else to raid, they would come to Hylden. Being the farthest northern shire, Cenric was sure his people would be attacked first.
He would need to check the defenses of the other villages in his lands. All had been either repairing or building palisades, but not all were finished.
There were just a few precious weeks before the weather turned, and the treacherous winter seas would make sailing too dangerous. Until then, they needed to be vigilant.
As Cenric sat with his people, Brynn stopped briefly to eat then went back outside, saying she needed to take care of the puppy and help the girls with the cows and goats.
The meal was finished and Cenric’s people returned to their homes. It would be an early morning tomorrow and a long day’s work. The barley was close to being harvested and they needed to finish soon.
Cenric walked with Edric to the cottage he shared with Gaitha, speaking of the harvest, their defenses, and the coming Blydmoth preparations. And Brynn.
“She’s been here a day and already healed the whole village as far as I can tell,” Edric said. “Always on the move.”
Cenric nodded. “I’ve noticed.”
“Fair warning, lord.” Just like that, Edric’s usual humor was gone from his tone.
“Warning?”
“Gaitha tells me your wife went to visit Rowan’s house. Spent over an hour there.”
Cenric had the sudden feeling of…what was this? Embarrassment? Why should he be embarrassed? He hadn’t done anything wrong, had he?
“Gaitha said everything seemed civil, but…” Edric shrugged. “Thought you might want to know.”
Suddenly, Brynn’s apprehension at seeing him again made sense. “Thank you, Edric.”
“Good luck.” Edric sounded sincere. “Maybe she’s not the jealous sort?”
Cenric doubted he would be so fortunate. He walked with Edric to the house the thane shared with Gaitha before returning to the longhouse to find it dark, most of the household girls and boys ensconced in their pallets. Snapper greeted him, tail wagging as he trailed beside his master.
“Good lad.” Cenric petted the dog’s ears, earning several slobbery licks of appreciation.
Cenric headed to his bedchamber, unable to deny the shiver of excitement at the prospect of Brynn waiting for him. They had known each other for less than a week, but he had seen nothing to indicate she was anything other than what she appeared—the kind of woman he was lucky to have.
