Cenric saw no sign of his men.“Where are Daven and the others now?”
“Still searching for you, lord.”
Istra was burning.Confusion and chaos reigned.It was unlikely that Cenric would be able to find his men in this mess, and he’d probably have to wait for them to return to the ship.
Cenric assessed the dead man on the sand, then Kalen.“Good work, son.”He pulled the silver ring from his right arm and passed it to the boy.He’d given one to Kalen before, but he deserved another for saving Vana and Esa.
“Thank you, lord.”Kalen inclined his head, not taking the ring.“But that was Esa.She used her magic.”
Brynn shifted away from Esa, one hand on the girl’s arm.“Esa?”
The girl nodded.“I did it, lady.”
Cenric passed the arm ring to her, and she took it in a shaking hand, not seeming to understand what was happening.“For your courage.”Cenric tugged an iron ring from his left arm and passed that to Kalen.“For your honesty.”Cenric took in the damage done to the city of Ovrek’s dreams.
“There will be no invasion of Hylden,” Brynn said, stating the obvious.“Not this year.”
“No.”Hróarr kept one arm around Vana.
Too much damage had been done.It would take years to recover from this, at least three, if Cenric had to guess.
Ovrek would build back, that was his way, but it would take time.
Anything could happen in three years.Anything at all.
23
Brynn
BrynndidnotknowOvrek personally.She knew only passing details of his history, but she had no doubt that last night had been the worst night of his life.
His queen, his daughter, and his concubine were all dead.He’d lost hundreds of men and years of work.His hall, the symbol of a lord’s power, had been burned.Not only that, but terrors from legend had ravaged his people.
Worst of all, Ovrek had not killed any of those terrors himself.He had faced the serpent and Wulfwir and even Tullia, but he could not claim the glory for besting any of them.
In a way, Brynn sympathized.He had done what he was supposed to do—lead fearlessly in the face of danger.But the glory would go to others.
Brynn and Cenric had killed Jormanthar.Hróarr had killed Wulfwir.There had been dozens of witnesses to both.No one knew who had killed Tullia or if someone did, they were wisely not taking credit.Though Tullia had been a traitor, it was unlikely Ovrek would reward the man who had slain his daughter.
Daybreak saw Ovrek alone on the hill beneath the smoking remains of his hall.He’d chased off everyone who had tried to speak to him—Cenric, Hróarr, Berdun, and even Tolvir—shouting incoherent threats and curses.
Vana had wanted to try speaking to him, but Hróarr had wanted her nowhere near Ovrek while the king had an axe.Brynn had volunteered because she had the means to protect herself and Ovrek might not see her as a threat.He tended to underestimate women.
Cenric, Hróarr, Vana, Berdun, and a jarl by the name of Ingmar waited a short distance down the hill.Snapper and Guin waited with them, watching to see if Brynn might have better luck.It had been six hours since the battle, and the sun had climbed its way out of the eastern sea.Perhaps Ovrek had the chance to calm down, or perhaps he was simply tired by now.
“King Ovrek,” Brynn called, not sure if he would try chasing her off, too.
The king did not respond.He remained with his head bowed, staring at the corpse laid out before him.
Brynn ventured closer.
Ovrek’s axe lay at his feet.He’d have to reach for it and that should give her ample warning if he did try to strike.
“Lord?”Brynn dared to venture even closer.
“What do you want?”Ovrek growled, not looking up.
“Your people need you.”
