“We’vebeenmakingspearheadswith ash mixed into the iron,” Ovrek explained.He stood over rows and rows of the weapons, proudly displaying the wares to Cenric.
Cenric took in the sheer scale of their work.There had to be hundreds if not thousands of spearheads packed in wood shavings, stacked in pine crates inside the storehouse.Cenric had never seen so many in one place.
Ovrek handed one of the spearheads to Cenric.“See?”
Cenric took the weapon, testing its weight.It was nothing particularly remarkable, but it was sturdy enough to kill.The metal was smooth and sharp.
As if reading his thoughts, Ovrek gestured back toward the forges.“I have a craftsman from the southern continent who has been teaching our smiths to work metal in the way of the great smiths in the south.”
Cenric wondered where all this ore had come from.Had they traded for all the iron ingots or had they found a mine somewhere on the islands?“These would be used to arm your men?”
“Those of my household and those of some of the jarls, yes.”
Cenric made no comment.A part of him, the boy who had carried a shield for Ovrek, was excited.
The thought of welcoming his old friends, his old liege lord, into his homeland was in some ways thrilling.These were as much his people as the folk of Ombra.
When Ovrek spoke, it was easy to imagine a future with him claiming kingship over Hylden.When Cenric might once again be surrounded by people he understood and who understood him.He loved his homeland, but he had felt more welcomed with the dyrehunds than the people of Ombra for the past years.Not until Brynn had he felt so at ease, perhaps because she was an outsider, too.
But in the back of his mind, he pictured Brynn’s reaction if she saw all this.
If they pledged fealty to Ovrek, that would mean a war.Aelgar would not let the northlands go without a fight.Last year, that would not have bothered Cenric nearly as much as it did now.
He had given oaths of allegiance to Aelgar, but he’d sworn loyalty to Ovrek’s warband long before.Some would hate him for it, but mostly people in Hylden and mostly those who already hated him for being part Valdari.
Ovrek must have noticed his hesitation.“Have you lost your taste for blood, my boy?”
Cenric didn’t rise to the bait.“I am just wondering if I am being threatened.”
“Threatened?No.I don’t threaten my friends.”Ovrek clapped Cenric on the shoulder easily.“I would much rather us stay friends.”
So, this was a threat.Ovrek was showing Cenric that he would be taking Hylden one way or another.Cenric liked to think it would pain Ovrek to fight him, but Ovrek didn’t seem hesitant.
“If I’d known you were looking for a wife, I could have given you Tullia.”
Ovrek couldn’t be serious.
“Your daughter is married.”Cenric clearly recalled her wedding.
“Newly widowed, as it happens.”Ovrek let off a sigh that might have been regretful.“My son-in-law was dear to me, but Sweyn was not appreciative of what he had been given.”
That surprised Cenric.Sweyn had been one of Ovrek’s fellow veterans who had accompanied him from Kelethi.He’d never been particularly cunning, but he had been fierce.“Sweyn turned against you?”
“Foolish, I know.”Ovrek looked toward the entrance of the storehouse, out toward the sea.The king did that often, as if the unconquered lands of Hylden called him.“He joined several others in speaking against me.I had to deal with them.”Ovrek sighed.“My daughter hasn’t spoken to me since, but she will come around.”
Perhaps Brynn was wearing off on him, but Cenric again felt he was being threatened.Ovrek had disposed of one unruly son-in-law.What was to say he wouldn’t do away with another?
“You’re an alderman,” Ovrek added, sounding contemplative.“You can afford two wives, yes?”
Hadn’t they agreed last night about only having one wife?Everything about this felt wrong.Cenric glanced over his shoulder.He had the sudden urge to check on Brynn.“One wife is plenty, lord.”
Ovrek laughed at that, breaking the tension.
Cenric smiled tightly.This conversation was a jest.It had to be.Valdari men of means did sometimes take multiple wives, and it wasn’t unheard of in Hylden, but Cenric had no illusions about ever doing better than Brynn.
They fit together.They worked well together.She was competent as keeper of the household and likeable, even to people who didn’t like Cenric.Her lineage would bring prestige to his bloodline for generations to come.She was even wealthy.Cenric knew full well how lucky he was.
Even if Cenric had been of equal status with Tullia, even if he could become rich enough to support two kings’ daughters, and even if his patron goddess hadn’t made it clear she disapproved of multiple wives, Cenric knew better than to get greedy.
