Page 82 of Oath of the Wolf
Cenric fixed Vana in a hard stare.They had been close once.Close enough that Cenric had fancied himself in love with her.But Vana had chosen Hróarr over him, and that had stung at the time, but it was long past.All the same, Cenric hoped now that there were enough tender feelings left that she would be merciful.If nothing else, he hoped there was still some guilt.“If I ever meant anything to you at all, do this one thing for me.”
He couldn’t tell Vana the whole truth of what he and Brynn had learned.That would put her in danger and the more people who knew, the greater the likelihood it would come out.Even if the secret did come out, Cenric wanted that to happen when he, and more importantly Brynn, were far, far away.
Vana exhaled a long breath.“Fine.”
Cenric canted his head in thanks.“This way.”
Voices shouted and men ran all around them.It seemed that Ovrek was turning Istra inside out.
Cenric didn’t notice any of the ships missing, at least not from what he could tell.The beach was packed.That must mean the men had gone inland, but that seemed odd.The only thing there were trees and rocks and difficult mountain passes.There was a reason Valdari did nearly all their traveling by sea.
Vana walked with Cenric up to the weaving house.The doors were open to let in light and inside, Cenric could see perhaps a hundred women hard at work carding wool, spinning thread, and weaving what would become the great sails.
Cenric stopped well outside the boundary line.He couldn’t see Sifma, but she should be there.
“What is the message you have for the queen?”
Cenric handed Vana the sprig of pennyroyal.“Give her this and tell her I am waiting outside.”
Vana shot Cenric a sharp look.“What does it mean?”
“The less you know, the better.”Cenric was only involving her in this because he had no other way to get the message to Sifma.“But be discreet.I doubt she will want people to know.”
Vana opened her mouth, and he feared she would argue or demand more answers, but then she simply frowned.“Very well.”She marched up the steps, into the weaving house.
Cenric turned away and rounded the corner of the building, out of sight of the main street.This didn’t seem like the sort of thing to be done in daylight.Cenric might be going about this all wrong.
Ovrek would never believe him, but he would believe his dear queen if she confessed—at least, Cenric hoped he would.He didn’t have any better ideas, nor did he imagine there was much time to think of a better idea.
Cenric paced, waiting for the queen.He didn’t have to wait long.
It was barely a few moments before he spotted Sifma’s red dress and glinting temple rings.She appeared with several maids in tow.Vana trailed after her, looking bewildered.Apparently, Sifma’s reaction had been exceptional.
Sifma shooed her servants and Vana back before storming the last few steps to Cenric.“What is the meaning of this?”Sifma demanded, coming to a stop in front of him.She was a small woman in stature, but she glared fearlessly.
Cenric might be a warrior and foreign alderman, but Sifma had known him when he was a stripling youth scarfing down bread at her table.More than that, she was the wife of the most feared man on these islands.Cenric bowed to her.“Queen Sifma.You honor me.”
“What do you want, boy?”The queen glanced over her shoulder to where Vana and her maids waited, but out of earshot.Normally, she would have kept them close, but it seemed she didn’t want additional listeners for this audience.She held up the sprig of pennyroyal in front of her so that only Cenric could see.“What is the meaning of this?”
Cenric remained silent for a long moment, not sure what to say.He was new to blackmail and found he did not enjoy it.“Tell Ovrek the truth—that you killed Gistrid.”
Sifma’s spine stiffened.“You dare to accuse me?”
“If you will not tell Ovrek,” Cenric added, “I will.”
“He would never believe you.”Despite her words, Sifma’s eyes went wide.
This was not going well.Cenric wasn’t happy about the concubine’s death, but he had never even met the girl.Now these people were determined to blame his wife, and he was not going to allow it.
“Tell Ovrek that you did it or I will tell him why.”Cenric spoke the words flatly, before he had even fully considered their implications.
Sifma’s nostrils flared, her spine stiffening even more.“Ovrek would never believe you,” she repeated.“Such an accusation—”
“No,” Cenric agreed.“No, Ovrek wouldn’t believe me.”He folded his arms across his chest, thinking through his next words.This was a risk, but he was backed in a corner.Brynn was backed in a corner.“If I tell Ovrek the truth, he might well kill me and my wife, too.”
Those words didn’t seem to soothe Sifma.She cocked her head, eyes narrowed.
“But he will remember what I said.”Cenric leaned down, fixing the queen in a hard look.“Perhaps nothing will come of it, but you know your son.Tolvir is reckless and lacks all discretion.”
