“Then we will have much more to discuss, won’t we?”
If Ovrek wanted to use Brynn and Cenric to gain a foothold in Hylden, they would use him to protect their future.The aldermen and sorceresses of Hylden were dangerous, but so was the Valdari king.Last year, Brynn had wanted to disappear into obscurity for the rest of her life.She still hoped that would happen but doubted more and more that it would.
Ovrek gave a noncommittal grunt.He joined her in staring out across Istra, leaning to rest his elbows on his knees.“You are like Tullia.”
Brynn wasn’t sure how to take that.She resisted the urge to glance down at the corpse by their feet.“How so?”
“Clever.”
Brynn stayed quiet, sensing that they were venturing back to the topic of Ovrek’s betrayal and loss of his daughter.
“She was everything I’ve always wanted my son to be.”Something about those words sounded almost like confession, almost.“Yet every day I lose hope the boy ever will be.”
“She fought you.”Brynn reminded him, trying to be gentle.
Ovrek shook his head.“It’s natural for a boy to fight with his father.It’s part of becoming a man.”Ovrek gestured in the direction of Hróarr and Cenric.“Those two are better sons than my own flesh and blood.”
Hróarr and Cenric were here, Tolvir was not.Brynn didn’t know where the young atheling might be, though she had seen him alive this morning.
“Everyone seems to be a better son than Tolvir,” Ovrek complained.“Not just Cenric and Hróarr.I trained an entire army of sons yet can’t seem to train one.”The king seemed to be sinking into self-pity once again.“Sifma didn’t want to foster him, and so I allowed her to raise him herself.She spoiled the boy.”
Brynn wasn’t sure that was fair to the dead queen, but didn’t argue.She glanced down to the foot of the hill and an idea came to her.Hróarr probably wouldn’t like it, but if Brynn could provide wise council to Ovrek, it might help strengthen their new alliance.“Now that Hróarr will not be needed for your invasion for some time, I expect he will return to being a mercenary.”
“Likely.”Ovrek sounded uninterested.
“He will need men for his ship,” Brynn pointed out.“I know he lost a few last night.”
Ovrek cast Brynn a hard look.“What are you saying?”
“Perhaps there are some things we can’t learn from our parents,” Brynn explained.“Perhaps Hróarr could teach your son what you taught him.”
The king stroked his beard, looking down the hill.“It might do the boy good.”
Brynn inclined her head.The thought of Hróarr having to deal with the spoiled atheling brought her a smug sense of satisfaction.Maybe shehadbeen holding a grudge over the thrall pit.
Ovrek inhaled a deep breath, looking over his burned town.“My people need me, you said?”
“Yes, lord.”
Ovrek slapped his thighs.“Let’s go, then.”
A little surprised, Brynn stood with the king.
The two of them walked down the hill side by side in silence.They were a strange set of companions, the Valdari king and a foreign sorceress.Brynn was grateful that Ovrek left his axe behind.
They reached the foot of the hill, met by Cenric, Hróarr, Vana, Berdun, Ingmar, and a small gathering of other warriors who had waited out of sight.
Cenric caught Brynn’s hand.“Impressive,” he whispered in her ear.“None of us could even get close enough to talk to him.”Cenric kissed her cheek, tugging her closer to his side.
Berdun and Ingmar greeted Ovrek in Valdari, inclining their heads.The other warriors bowed.No matter what happened last night or with the Grandfather Yew, they were still loyal.
Ovrek seemed to transform, back straight and chin up.He was grief-worn and had to be exhausted, but in that moment, it was easy to see why the Valdari had allowed him to become king.It was hard to look at him and see anything else.The king spoke softly, looking to Vana.
The Valdari woman bowed at his words, and rushed up the hill, Hróarr following close behind.
“Your wife is a wise woman, Cenric,” Ovrek said.
“She is, lord.”Cenric fitted her hand more snugly in his.
