Page 37 of Oath of the Wolf
“I see,” Tullia muttered, all traces of her former humor gone.“My father taught me.I helped teach the boys in my father’s army.Before Tolvir was born, he took me everywhere.Called me his little shadow.”
“My husband holds you in high regard,” Brynn added hurriedly.She didn’t want Tullia angry with Cenric.“I’d never heard of Berdun, either.”
In truth, they hadn’t discussed war overmuch in the past seven months of their marriage.Their life had been filled with the slow season of winter, then the hurried preparations through the lean spring months.It had been easy to forget for a time who they were, and that politics would always find them.For a few months, Brynn enjoyed peace.
“You’re quite fond of him,” Tullia noted, changing the subject.She seemed to do that frequently, ploughing hard into one topic and then equally hard into another the next moment.
“I am,” Brynn conceded.
“You chose to marry him?”
Brynn inclined her head.“I did.I am very happy with him.”
Tullia made an interested sound at that.“Is he a good husband?”
“Very good.”Brynn allowed herself to smile.
Tullia snorted.“Though I suppose you haven’t known anything different.”
Brynn almost corrected Tullia, but she didn’t want to argue.
They had reached the large field set with tents and wagons.Most of the attendants of the Althing had arrived by ship, but some had come over land.
Valdari voices chattered in all directions as men and women bartered.The peak of the Valdari trading season was happening before their eyes.Woodsmoke filled the air along with the scent of cooking meat.A short, stocky horse was led past, pulling a cart piled with furs and a gaggle of children riding on top.
People bowed to Tullia, clearly recognizing her.She acknowledged only a few, but even if she had wanted to acknowledge all of them, it would have been impossible.
Tullia seemed prepared to drop the subject of Cenric, but Brynn felt the need to defend him, if indeed he was being attacked.
“Cenric is a good man.”Brynn hoped that would make her point without directly contradicting the other woman.
“He’s young,” Tullia replied.“Especially for an alderman.”
Brynn demurred.“We are of an age.”
Tullia seemed to consider that for a long moment, as if she’d never seen a man’s youth as a good thing.“Wouldn’t you prefer a more accomplished man?”
Brynn was no longer sure about the point of this conversation.“I am sure Cenric will accomplish much yet.”
“I suppose so.I wouldn’t have married him myself, but I’m sure you had your reasons.”Tullia sounded as if she couldn’t imagine what those reasons might have been.
Brynn didn’t want to defend her choice of husband, nor did she want to try to convince Tullia of Cenric’s virtues, so she remained silent.
“Gistrid was betrothed to my brother last autumn.Did you know that?”Tullia cast Brynn a pointed look.She must know Brynn had been to see Gistrid and who had been with her.“They were inseparable for a time, should have been married by now, but come spring, Gistrid and her kinsmen had grown more ambitious.”
“I did not know that.”Brynn knew next to nothing about these people, though she did now recall Vana had said something about Tolvir’s wedding and that it had been called off.
“Little whore wanted to marry my father instead.”Tullia scoffed at that.“But even though she refuses to look at him now, the fool boy is still besotted.”
That might explain why Tolvir had been the one to ask for Brynn’s help.
“Not that I blame her entirely,” Tullia admitted.“My brother is a waste of good air.He wouldn’t last a week without my mother to protect him.”
Brynn chose not to comment.She could think of several practical reasons why Gistrid might want to marry a current king over a potential future king, especially when Ovrek was the first and the Valdari had still not decided on their manner of succession.
“My father wouldn’t let Gistrid have the title of wife.”Tullia smiled humorlessly.“Out of respect for my mother, you see.”She kept her gaze ahead.“But he offered Gistrid concubinage instead and the little bitch accepted.Hopes to get a son so she’ll secure her position after my father’s death.As if the man won’t outlive us all for spite.”Tullia tossed back her head with a bitter laugh.“She just wants to use my father.And both my parents let her.She’s like a seagull fighting for scraps of my father’s legacy.”
That was not so different from what someone had once said about Brynn.
