Page 78 of Tears of the Wolf
In the back of her mind, she knew she wasn’t being courteous, but her mouth seemed to move of its own accord.
Brynn kept her tone sickly sweet. “If it is not to your liking, I can provide you with a dose of hemlock. Or perhaps you would prefer nightshade?” She planted one hand on the table, leaning toward the Valdari. “Personally, I recommend the nightshade. It will be the most painful.”
“Brynn.” Cenric frowned. “What are you doing?”
Brynn quailed at that simple question. Was it not enough that she worked herself to exhaustion every day? Was it not enough that she had saved his face in front of his men several times now? Was it not enough that she served his former concubine despite her insults? He had to let his friends disrespect her like this?
Tears stung Brynn’s eyes, and she marched away. There was nothing she could say that would explain what she was feeling or that could smooth over what she’d just done.
She had threatened a guest, an honored guest at that. It had been grotesquely inappropriate, and she would owe Cenric, Hróarr, and Vana an apology, as soon as her anger subsided.
The next time she noticed the three at the head of the table needed more mead, she sent Esa. It might be a snub to send her servant instead, but Brynn didn’t trust herself to be near them again.
She saw to serving the next round of baked bread and even instructed the servants to open one of the wine casks giftedby her uncle. They had been saving those for Blydmoth, but hopefully Cenric would take it as a peace offering.
The Valdari crew howled their delight as the household girls began pouring the purple vintage. Grapes couldn’t be grown this far north, at least not well, and wine was a luxury.
Anger and frustration mingled with self-loathing. She was furious with Hróarr for his disrespect, Cenric for allowing it, but most of all she was angry with herself for not being able to ignore it. Why couldn’t she just do what she was supposed to do? She had done it for years with Paega. Why couldn’t she just take it like she had before?
Because you thought this time would be different.
Brynn simmered through the rest of the night. She saw the kitchens cleared and the fires banked. The Valdari began to withdraw down to their camp near the village.
Vana managed to catch Brynn as she was helping clear away bowls and making sure no one had forgotten their eating knives on the table. “Lady Brynn.”
Brynn tensed but faced the woman. She couldn’t make herself smile but managed a neutral expression. “Yes?”
“I wanted to thank you for hosting us tonight. It was quite short notice.”
Brynn inclined her head. “It was an honor.” The words came out by rote.
Vana hesitated, as if Hyldish words came to her with difficulty. “Hróarr can be…abrasive. He means no harm.”
Brynn wasn’t ready to apologize. She was still too hurt, too angry. Too raw.
“But I wanted to apologize on his behalf for any offense he might have caused.” Vana said it mildly, calmly.
Brynn thought she sounded sincere, but she didn’t know the stranger well enough. Standing before this woman with her gold jewelry and poised demeanor, one might have thought she wasthe lady of this shire, not Brynn in her stained apron. “Thank you.”
Vana’s lips arched up in a gentle smile. “Cenric speaks highly of you.”
Brynn swallowed, not sure why shame bubbled up at that.
“I look forward to getting to know you better,” the Valdari woman said.
Did this imply that Vana and, more importantly, the Valdari, would be here often?
“Good night, Lady Brynn.”
Brynn forgot to smile with the effort of keeping a neutral expression. She was sure the bejeweled Valdari woman judged her for her outburst. She certainly judged herself.
The Valdari left. Cenric accompanied them down the hill to their tents, because of course he would. Brynn and Cenric had planned to walk together again tonight, but plans had clearly changed. Other people were more important.
Brynn finished her work. She took Guin outside one last time. Guin licked at Brynn’s hands, straining on her back legs to leave puppy kisses along Brynn’s jaw.
At least Guin’s loyalty still lay with her. Brynn fed her another shallow bowl of milk, stroking her coat as she drank. When Guin was finished, Brynn placed the puppy in her basket on Brynn’s side of the bed. Guin curled up in the straw and blankets of her basket, making snuffling puppy sounds.
Esa started the fire in Cenric’s bedchamber and Brynn dismissed the girl to her own bed by the central hearth. It had been a long day, and they were all tired.
