Brynn must have sensed him coming in that sorceress’ way of hers.She straightened, her whole body shifting toward him.“Husband?”
He liked it when she called him that, when she claimed him.“Wife.”Cenric came nearer and Brynn’s brows drew together.He sat beside her, and she shifted, making room for him.
“What’s wrong?”Her voice was quiet, small.
“Nothing is wrong.”
“Are you lying?”
Cenric hesitated.“Yes.”
Brynn clasped her hands in her lap, not taking her eyes off the roughhousing dogs.“Tell me.”
Best to get it out, then.“Ovrek has invited me to the Althing.”
“Ovrek?”Brynn shot him a look.“Althing?”
“It’s a meeting.”Cenric paused, considering for a moment.“Most people of the islands gather once a summer to exchange news, trade, and make laws.”
Brynn’s brow furrowed.“Like the meeting of the Witan?”
“It is similar, yes.”The main difference was that the Witan met to advise a king, and the Althing had been a place for landed men to make decisions together.
“So, he did want something,” Brynn sighed.It was not a question.
“Yes.”Cenric braced himself, not sure how she would take it.
Brynn fell silent again.
He had expected her to argue, expected resistance.Somehow, this was worse.“Brynn?”
“You’re going?”
“I told his messenger I would.”He braced himself a second time, but she remained silent.“Ovrek is my friend.”
“We’ve just returned home.”
“I know.”
“Aelgar will not like this,” Brynn cautioned.
“Probably not, but it isn’t as if he can stop me from meeting with my neighbors.”
Brynn took a slow, deep breath.“People already see you as Valdari.I’m trying to make them see you as Hyldish, too, but this will not help.”
“You think I don’t know that?”Cenric was forever caught between two peoples, two countries, two kings.They jostled him back and forth, like dogs fighting over a bone.“I will try to return quickly.”Cenric followed her gaze to the dyrehunds.“The fields are planted, and I have a promise that there will be no raids while I am gone.”
“The shire should be fine.”Brynn sniffed.
Cenric touched her arm.“Look at me.”
Brynn shifted, facing him though her eyes stayed down.
“Either I accept Ovrek’s invitation and explain to Aelgar, or I decline the invitation and insult the fiercest warrior I know.”
Brynn seemed to consider that, her lips pursed together.Finally, she met his gaze.“When do we leave?”
“We?”
