Page 46 of Tears of the Wolf
“Well, that does seem fair.” Aegifu extended one hand. “After you forced me to put up with that crazed dyrehund for days.”
“Not for you.”
Pup?Snapper came nearer, cautiously.
Pup.
Puppy?Snapper’s excitement was almost palpable.Puppy!
Kalen returned carrying a basket that looked deep enough the pup couldn’t crawl out.
Cenric shoved the pup inside. Immediately, the little animal huddled into a corner, crying. Cenric felt a bit guilty at that, but its mother had attacked Snapper, attacked him. What should he have done? “It’s for my wife.”
“Your wife?” Aegifu squinted at him. “Did you marry that Rowan girl? Well, it’s about time, but she can’t speak to the dyrehunds. She has no right.”
Cenric shook his head. He and Rowan had parted ways months before. “Not Rowan. Someone else.”
“Oh? And when was this?”
Cenric thought for a moment. “Three days ago.”
Aegifu snorted. “Short notice, it seems. Did you get a baby in some thane’s daughter?”
“She is Brynn of the Istovari sorceresses, niece to King Aelgar, and lady of Ombra.” Cenric set down the basket.
Snapper leaned over the edge of the basket, seeming to have forgotten the dead dyrehund.Puppy!
“Ah,” Aegifu nodded as if Brynn’s name explained something. “I still have more right to that pup than she does.”
“The puppy is for her,” Cenric repeated. “If she doesn’t want it, I’ll bring it back.”
“It’s like that, is it? Fine. Come inside, alderman. It’s too dark for you to travel home tonight.”
Cenric glared up at the sky, but had to admit Aegifu was right about that last part. He picked up the basket with the puppy, cursed at nothing, and followed his aunt into her small, thatched house.
In the barnyard, Kalen had found a threadbare blanket and was working to wrap Nettles’ body for travel.
Brynn
The bathhouse was delightful, even if Brynn had to walk to the foot of the hill to use it. Built over a hot spring, the wooden structure was constructed of logs with an open roof.
Brynn had heard tales of hot springs, but never seen one herself. Her mother had theorized that the waters must be rich withkaand that was what made them hot. Now Brynn could see that the water held no morekathan usual, maybe even a little less. Perhaps she would never know what made some waters warm all year long.
Brynn washed her hair, then every inch of her skin with Esa’s help. She combed her hair while seated on the steaming rocks, her feet soaking in the warm water.
It wasn’t bath night, so they had the place to themselves. Gaitha told her the women bathed together at the second day of the week, the children the first and men the third. The heat from the stones seemed to melt away Brynn’s tension and chase away the autumn chill.
When they were done, Esa helped Brynn into a clean dress. Brynn daubed her hair dry, and Esa helped her braid it into a neat plait. After, Brynn braided Esa’s hair in turn.
The girl had soft auburn hair, almost red. It was as fine as eiderdown in Brynn’s hands.
Brynn caught herself humming as she worked, an old lullaby Aelfwynn had sung to her, and she had sung to Osbeorn. That surprised Brynn a little. She hadn’t sung in months. If Esa noticed, she said nothing.
When the two of them returned to the longhouse, Gaitha greeted them. The other woman continued her tour of the inside of the longhouse with promises of showing her more tomorrow. Gaitha led the preparation of the evening meal for the residents of the longhouse.
Brynn observed for the most part, chopping onions, radishes, and carrots with the household girls. They poured them into a cauldron that was already boiling with chunks of lamb. The household girls stirred the pot while Gaitha oversaw the closing of all the longhouse doors and windows for the night.
Brynn went with a few of the girls to bring in the geese and stable the goats. Cenric’s flocks and herds appeared healthy, with plenty of young animals. His home was prosperous enough.
