Their group continued their walk up from the docks, accompanied by Hróarr, Vana, Kalen, Esa, and their Valdari attendants.Guin barked once at the playing children, but Esa shushed her.
Words flew past Brynn, conversations between the Valdari.They washed over her like a constant hum, reminding her she was in a foreign place.
Despite the approaching festival, people were hard at work everywhere.Men worked at the forges and along the beach, repairing boats.
This place was abuzz with industry, far more than she had thought to expect.Why did it feel like there was something more to all this work?Like they were preparing for something.
Their small group walked up toward the main hall, looming over the harbor like a crouching beast.Its roof rose to a high peak, thrusting up like a giant’s spear.It was by far the largest building in sight, sprawling in a collection of additions with varied stages of weathering, indicating that Ovrek had added to it in phases.
The main entrance of the hall sprawled before them, gaping like an empty maw.A ramp of packed earth shaped into steps with pine beams led up to it.Their group began to ascend the steps.
They drew closer to what must be Ovrek’s hall and Brynn could make out collections of shields strung over the main entrance.They were all worn, showing damage, and one had even been split in half.They depicted patterns and shapes, and some had been painted with the likeness of bears, whales, and other animals.
“Shields of the jarls Ovrek defeated,” Cenric explained.He pointed to one with a blue stripe down the center.“The shield of Jarl Umar.I collected that one for him.”Pride colored her husband’s tone at the words.
“Was it a great battle?”Brynn asked.
“It lasted past sundown.”
Brynn took that as ayes.She adjusted her grip on his arm.She didn’t like to think how many times her husband had death’s teeth but a hair’s breadth from his throat.
“That is Ovrek’s battle standard.It means he is home.”Cenric pointed to a triangular piece of white cloth emblazoned with the black shape of a twisting serpent.
“A snake?”Brynn stared up curiously.“Are there snakes in Valdar?”Hylden had snakes in the southern part of the kingdom, but Ombra had only the occasional lizard.
“It’s to honor Havnar, the First of Fathers,” Cenric explained.“These islands were ravaged by a great serpent, a she-troll, and a monstruous wolf.Havnar defeated all three so that his kin could settle these islands.The serpent was the greatest of them all.”
Brynn noted that, committing it to memory.She knew Havnar was the ancestor all Valdari worshipped to some extent.They honored the other gods—Llyr of the sea and Gwydrun of the forge, for instance—but Havnar always seemed first among them.“What is a she-troll?”
“I’ve never had to explain it before,” Cenric admitted, brow furrowing.“She was a monster.Half skeleton, half woman.”
That made no sense to Brynn, but perhaps it had been a metaphor.
Their group passed under the line of broken shields, into the warmth and smoke of the great hall.Men with braided beards ringed them from all sides, some sitting with cups of mead, others standing to speak in small groups.
Brynn searched for a throne or perhaps a gilded chair, but instead there was a high table.A few people sat drinking, but no one occupied the high seat.Brynn searched the room, aware of several stares directed at her and Cenric.
Esa hovered at their backs, Guin still cradled in her arms.The puppy had stopped struggling and gone silent, probably taking in the newness of the place.
Just as Cenric had stood out in Ungamot, he stood out here.His short-cropped beard and hair marked him as Hyldish, even as his arm rings and wolf’s head brooch hinted at Valdari roots.
A man with a white beard arranged in twin braids greeted Hróarr with a massive embrace.He clapped Hróarr on both shoulders, Valdari flowing quickly, almost effusively.
The fork-bearded man briefly greeted Vana.He said something that sounded like a compliment to Hróarr, and the svelte woman bowed.The fork-bearded man clapped Hróarr’s shoulder one last time before his attention slid to Cenric.“Cenric!”He stepped toward her husband, greeting him in the same way.
Cenric bowed, slipping easily into Valdari then spoke her name, gesturing to her.
The fork-bearded man rounded his attention on Brynn.He had a way of placing the entirety of his focus on whoever he was speaking to at the time.Hróarr, Vana, and Cenric had all held his total attention and now it was fastened on her.
Brynn dropped into a bow.
“Lady Brynn, welcome to Istra.”
Brynn flinched, not expecting to be addressed.“Thank you.”
The stranger threw his head back, laughing.He seemed to do that a lot.“Did your husband tell you I was a savage?”
Her mouth went dry and Brynn fought the urge to lick her lips.“Forgive me, lord.I didn’t catch your name.”
