Page 76 of Tears of the Wolf
Cenric loved his cousin, he truly did, but the man could be dense as a rock. “Valdari killed her son.”
“Oh.” Vana made a soft sound of understanding, as if that explained everything. “She knows you fraternize with us?”
“I told her, but…” Cenric watched as Brynn disappeared into the longhouse.
When his uncle had been killed, Cenric had been angry. He’d wanted to slaughter every last man who’d had anything to do with it. And he had. Beside Hróarr, they had avenged his father twofold. The lucky ones had received a quick beheading or a stab to the chest. The less lucky ones had met drawn-out, gruesome ends.
Brynn’s grief looked different most of the time, but he saw the anger there. It had shown on their wedding night when they had first discussed her son.
The difference was that Brynn had no way to avenge her son. She didn’t even know who had killed him. Instead of being used to fuel the fire of vengeance, her grief was drowning her. Cenric could see she kept her head above it most of the time, but all too often the waves dragged her under.
Maybe she just needed time, but Cenric wished he could do more. Things always seemed simpler on their nightly walks, but they couldn’t spend their whole lives walking in darkness among the cairns.
“What?” The big man shared a look with his concubine. “I didn’t know.”
Vana shook her head. “You really should leave some things to me, my love.”
“I didn’t know. Cenric didn’t bother to tell me.”
“It’s fine,” Cenric interrupted. “I will talk to Brynn.”
“You should apologize to her,” Vana said.
“Me?” Hróarr blinked down at Vana. “Apologize to a Hyldish witch?”
Vana smiled sweetly up at him. “No, you should apologize toyour cousin’s wife.”
Hróarr let a long breath out his nose. He let off a string of curses, but all three of them knew he would do it. Eventually.
They continued walking toward the longhouse, much slower now. It was best to give Brynn time to prepare. They kept their conversation in Valdari. It felt good to speak the language freely again after so many months.
“Brynn helped me make peace with Olfirth, the great thane to the east.”
“That one called the old man?” Hróarr scratched at his beard.
“That one. I didn’t think anything could make us friends, but Brynn has made the opportunity.”
“You are sure you can trust her?” Vana asked mildly. “I am surprised Aelgar gave you a sorceress. You’re sure she isn’t a spy?”
“Yes,” Cenric answered confidently. “She asked for me.”
That surprised Vana. “Oh? You two had met?”
“No,” Cenric had to admit. “She wanted to get away from Ungamot.”
“I see.” Vana didn’t sound convinced. “Forgive me, Cenric, dear, but you are not always the best judge of people, much less women.”
Cenric’s hand clenched before he thought about it. What Vana said was true, but he desperately wanted Brynn. Not just in his bed, but in his life, in his future. She made things easy that had once been difficult. She brought solutions where he had only seen problems. She made him feel…important.
He hadn’t wanted anything this much since he had set out to reclaim Ombra as his inheritance.
“I believe her,” Cenric said.
Vana dropped the matter.
“So much change these days,” Hróarr sighed. “At least I haven’t taken up farming yet.”
Most Valdari raiders were farmers looking to make a bit of extra wealth. They might steal a few sheep, take a couple slaves, and carry off whatever silver they could find, but they weren’t particularly ambitious. They would sail home at the end of the season, and many would never raid again.
