Page 64 of Tears of the Wolf
“You see, lady?” the youth panted. “That’s Olfirth right there!”
Grabbing Gannon’s arm, she dragged him back toward the longhouse. “You’re sure it’s Olfirth?” she demanded.
“Absolutely,” Gannon blurted. “He’s a terrible, awful man. Heart as black as a cythraul demon, that one.”
Brynn knew she couldn’t trust Gannon entirely, but Olfirth and her husband were not friends. She dragged the boy around to face her, gripping his shoulders. “Gannon, this is very important. I need you to find out if there are any more of them, then tell Gaitha. Do you understand?”
“Someone needs to tell Lord Cenric!”
“I will see to that. I need your help dealing with those men in the meantime. Can I trust you with this?”
“How are you going to do that?” Gannon’s eyes were wide, staring up at her.
There wasn’t time to explain to this boy along with everything else she needed to do to prepare. “Can I trust you?”
Gannon bobbed his head hastily.
“Good lad. Stay out of sight and don’t let them see you. Come back and find Gaitha and report to her. Now go.” Brynn shoved the boy toward the village where he would be able to circle around unseen from the main road.
Not wasting time, Brynn headed straight back to the longhouse. Several women and girls hung around the entrance, partially dismembered vegetables, knives, and cooking implements in their hands.
“Continue as you were,” Brynn ordered. She grabbed Gaitha’s arm, pulling the other woman aside. “Gannon should come looking for you shortly. Find a way to relay whatever he tells you to me.”
“What’s happening?”
“Olfirth is going to learn a lesson.”
Gaitha nodded once, though her usual humor was gone.
Brynn found her handmaiden where she worked to grind flour with a mortar and pestle. “Esa.”
Esa’s flushed cheeks and wide eyes made her look much younger as she looked up to Brynn. “Yes, lady?”
Brynn pulled the girl outside the door, wanting to impress urgency on her without causing panic in the others. She lowered her voice, squeezing the girl’s hand in both of her own. “Run as fast as you can to the barley fields. Tell Lord Cenric there are twenty armed men here. Likely from Olfirth. Can you do that?”
“Yes.” Esa’s voice trembled just a little as she said it.
Brynn smiled in what she hoped was a reassuring way. “Go child. Hurry.”
Esa took off across the garden. Brynn waited just long enough to see her climb the stone fence and disappear into the trees before marching back into the longhouse.
The meal preparations were still well underway, though with a new edge of anxiety. Brynn was a little surprised none of the girls had tried to run. It seemed they trusted her enough to at least let her attempt to save them.
“All of you go about your business.” Brynn did her best to project confidence and control. “Follow my lead. And have another lamb prepared.”
“What about the men?” one of the women demanded.
“Leave them to me.” Brynn marched past their frightened stares. “If it goes wrong, get away from this place. All of you.” Brynn paused for just a moment, singling out Seva, the youngest of the house girls. She scooped Guin out of her basket, stirring the small pup awake. “If you need to run, just make sure she gets out of the house.”
If Olfirth decided to attack, he would likely try to burn the longhouse down. Brynn didn’t want the puppy to be trapped inside if that happened.
Seva took the puppy, cradling Guin in her arms even as the pup whined. “Yes, lady.”
“Brynn.” Gaitha shook her head. “You’re the lady of this shire. We can’t let you face them alone.”
“I am thesorceressof this shire,” Brynn corrected, reaching the door facing the stable yard, where the horsemen would most likely approach. “You will all do as I have told you.”
No one spoke another word in argument.
