Page 13 of Oath of the Wolf
Vana followed him not far behind.As always, she was a vision with her graceful bearing and raven hair mostly covered by a bright yellow veil.Though she was Hróarr’s concubine and had been for some years, Vana had been Cenric’s first love as a youth.It seemed his life had been abundantly blessed with dark-haired beauties before Brynn.Vana, Cenric, and even Hróarr seemed unbothered by that past infatuation, but it made Brynn’s chest twist with discomfort no matter how she tried to stifle the feeling.
Cenric turned around, seeming to remember her.“Brynn.”He headed back to the ship, reaching up for her hand.
Brynn passed Guin down first.
Cenric passed the puppy to Vana and Brynn tried to quash her spike of jealousy at that.Why should she care if the stunning woman held her dog?
Cenric turned back to Brynn and caught her around her waist, twirling her around in a circle.
“Cenric!”Brynn yelped, laughing despite herself.
Cenric set her down on the ground, planting a hard kiss on her cheek before reaching up to help Esa down.He set Esa on her feet without twirling her around.
Vana made kissing sounds at the puppy.Guin wiggled, tail wagging as she licked Vana’s cheek.“Such a good little baby,” Vana crooned.“What adventures you’re having in this far away land.”
Brynn held out her arms and Vana handed Guin back to her without complaint.“It’s good to see you.”Brynn forced a smile.
“And you.”Vana’s returning smile seemed far more genuine.
“I thought you returned to Kelethi in the spring.”Brynn hoped those words didn’t sound disappointed.
“We wintered in Istra and the king wanted us to stay for his son’s wedding,” Vana explained.“The wedding did not happen, but I think this is the longest we’ve ever stayed in one place.”There was something wistful in Vana’s tone, something Brynn couldn’t quite parse.
“Would you rather be back in Kelethi?”Brynn asked.
Hróarr spent most his time as a mercenary.As his concubine, Vana went with him.The Kelethi always had a use for violent men and the large Valdari and his company of warriors were no exceptions.They spent their summers shedding Kelethi blood in exchange for Kelethi silver and their winters safely back in Valdar before returning to Kelethi every spring.
It was an exciting life that had made Hróarr and all his men wealthy almost overnight, but it was not the sort of life that could be lived for long.The twice-yearly sea crossings and constant movement were a lifestyle that favored the young.
Vana hesitated in answering.“To live on a longship is to make all the world your home, but when all the world is your home, somehow none of it is.”She shook her head.“I have enjoyed tending the same hearth these past months, that is all.”
Brynn had assumed Vana to be enjoying a life of endless possibilities, but perhaps endless possibilities, like endless journeys, grew tiresome.
“Shall I start unloading, lady?”Esa directed the question at Brynn.
“Wait,” Brynn said.“Cenric will tell us where to go.”
Kalen called out to several of the Valdari boys, and they scrambled up into the ship to help with the trunks.As they spoke, Kalen gave another string of directions, slipping into the language easily as far as Brynn could tell.
Brynn felt a little relief at that—it was good to have another person who could translate for her if needed.
“It’s not the cities of the south,” Vana admitted with a sigh.“But Ovrek has done well for himself.”
Brynn made no comment.Ovrek appeared to be doingquitewell for himself, better than she would have thought.Aelgar’s cities were larger, the walls more impressive, but that was building on generations of Hyldish kings.Ovrek was the first of his kind, growing a kingdom from the roots up.
That he had accomplished all this in the space of a decade was so impressive it was terrifying.
Guin flailed left and right, mesmerized by the riot of new sights, smells, and sounds, oblivious to the danger that they might be facing.
Cenric returned to stand beside Brynn, offering her a smile.“Welcome to Istra, my love.”
Brynn tried not to let her nervousness show, but perhaps some was acceptable.No one would expect her to be completely at ease in a strange land, would they?
“Ovrek wasn’t planning for me to bring a wife, so there are some additional preparations being made for us.”Cenric sounded at ease, at least.“I’ll have the men take the ship down the beach near Hróarr’s and set up our tents.”
“I see.”Brynn surveyed the town around her.
Kalen and the Valdari boys readied the trunks as the ship pushed off rowed by Cenric’s thanes, following a waving man who jogged down the beach ahead of them.Presumably, that was one of Hróarr’s men who would show them where they could drag the vessel ashore.
