Page 83 of Oath of the Wolf
At the mention of the boy, Sifma’s face showed fear for the first time.Perhaps she had hoped that Cenric didn’t know the whole truth, but he’d just let her know he did.
“Ovrek will remember it and Tolvir will reveal himself at some point.Perhaps not this summer, this winter, or next spring, but eventually, Tolvir will open his mouth and confirm what I say to Ovrek and then…” Cenric let that sentence hang.
Sifma seemed to swell with indignation.“Ovrek found you when you were nothing,” she spat.“Just a starveling without an eating knife to your name.”
Cenric remained steady.If Sifma called his bluff, he wasn’t sure if he would follow through with it or not, but if this was going to work, she needed to believe he would.
“This would destroy Ovrek.”Sifma leaned in, her voice turning sharp.“His life, his legacy.”
“Yes.”Cenric felt no joy at the word.
“You don’t want that,” Sifma whispered.“I can see you don’t want that.”
Cenric looked away.
“Ovrek will not hold this against you.I heard of your bravery today.”Sifma rested a hand on his forearm.“My daughter is newly widowed.”
Cenric did not like where this was going.
Sifma squeezed his arm.“Let this play out.”
Let Brynn take the blame, that was what Sifma was asking him to do.
“Please,” Sifma whispered as her voice turned pleading.“You will be Ovrek’s son, just as you always wanted.”The queen bowed her head with something like shame.“He once told me he wished you were his son instead of Tolvir.”
Cenric felt a stab of guilt tempered with resentment at that.He had adored Ovrek, idolized the man, but after how Ovrek had treated Brynn, it was too little too late.
If he had truly been so dear to Ovrek, why had his old mentor ignored him for years until the day he wanted something?
“She is one Hyldish woman,” Sifma pressed.“What is she next to your family?Your friends?”
“That Hyldish woman is my wife,” Cenric growled back.“And I would sacrifice many things for Ovrek, but she is not one.”
Sifma’s mouth pressed into a hard line at that.“Lovesick children will be the death of me.”She snatched her hand away from him.
“Tell Ovrek,” Cenric repeated.“I doubt your punishment will be too severe.”
Sifma made a vague punching motion with one hand.“Ovrek must be able to trust me.”
“You should have thought of that before you killed his concubine.”
As if hearing the words spelled out had unleashed something, Sifma’s eyes flashed.“I am trying to help him!”She shot a glance to her maids, still watching from paces away “If word of this spreads, no one will ever respect Ovrek again.”
“You’re right,” Cenric agreed.“So, I suggest you tell him half the truth before I tell him the whole truth.”
Sifma exploded.“None of this would have happened if not for your meddling Hyldish bitch!”
Cenric had no response for that.Unlike with Hróarr, he couldn’t punch a queen in the face.
“Without her, the dose would have worked the first time, and I wouldn’t have…” Sifma swayed from side to side, like a trapped animal without the room to pace.“The sorceress deserves to die.”
Cenric forced himself to remain calm, to remain unmoving.
Sifma studied him, searching for a sign her words had any effect.
“Sunrise, Queen Sifma.Tell Ovrek before tomorrow’s sunrise, or I will.”
“You wouldn’t.You don’t want to hurt Ovrek.I know you, boy.”Sifma’s eyes narrowed as if searching for proof her words were true.
