“What about Tullia?”Cenric shifted, suddenly uncomfortable after Ovrek’s jest today.
“I think she knows who did it.Assuming she didn’t do it herself.”
Cenric paused for a moment.“Why?”
“She said she was no friend of Gistrid.Then that she hadn’t expected pennyroyal to be so devastating, but I hadn’t mentioned anything to her about Gistrid’s illness or pennyroyal.”Shaking her head, Brynn gestured helplessly.“Then she offered me friendship, and I accepted, but what else was I supposed to do?”
Cenric cursed.Perhaps Ovrek should sort out his own family before planning an invasion.“I don’t want to be enemies with Tullia, not any more than I’d want to be enemies with Ovrek, but if I have to choose one, I’d prefer the one without an army.”
Brynn’s breath hitched.“An army?”
A stab of guilt pierced Cenric at that.“We will be at war with them.Soon.If nothing changes and I do not swear allegiance to Ovrek.”
Brynn’s eyes widened, but she didn’t look surprised.If anything, there was resignation in her face.Her grip on him tightened.“It is like that?”
“It is.”
“Can we…is there anything we can do to stop it?”Brynn made a soft whimpering sound.“Tullia told me she wishes to stop the invasion of Hylden.”
“Did she say why?”Cenric would have never suspected Tullia of sedition against Ovrek, but he would never have suspected her husband, Sweyn, either.
“She fears Ovrek has angered the ancestors.That his army will be cursed.”
Cenric tried to think how Ovrek could have done that.The Valdari ancestors and Havnar, the deified First of Fathers, were not exactly lax, but they were difficult to offend.Honor the ancestors, respect the ancient landmarks, and do nothing that you would not have known to the world—those were their only true commands.“I am not sure what she means.And while Tullia is a force to be reckoned with, I doubt she could stop the invasion any more than we could.The king is set on it.”
Brynn seemed to wilt before him.He wished he had a more hopeful answer for her.
Cenric exhaled.“Ovrek offered me a place in his circle.Valdari settlers for the empty farms.We could keep everything we have and gain much more.”
“But?”Brynn asked the word softly, sadness weighing her voice.
“But Ovrek will invade Hylden.”
Brynn flinched as if she had been struck.
“I had a foretelling last night,” Cenric confessed.
Brynn cast him a sharp look.“You mentioned it this morning.”
“Yes.”Cenric was used to visions of his death by now, but he didn’t want to upset Brynn.All the same, she needed to know the outcome, if not the details.“Valdari taking Ombra under Ovrek’s banner.I think it is what will happen if I refuse his offer.”
Brynn’s shoulders slumped.“Even if my uncle did send us thanes from other shires to help fight, it would take time.We would be on our own for weeks or even months before then.”
Cenric braced himself, fear tearing at his chest.Fear of how Brynn would react, fear that she might rage against him.Fear that she might leave him.
“You are the alderman of Ombra.”Brynn’s voice went small, so small that he almost didn’t hear it.“You know Ovrek best.”She inhaled a deep breath and lifted her face to him.Tears shone in her eyes, but her voice didn’t tremble.“If you believe that giving him our allegiance is what is best for our people, then…” Her voice cracked.Brynn closed her eyes for a moment, and the tears fell, but she seemed to compose herself.“I will abide by your decision.”
Cenric had come here anticipating an argument, perhaps denial.A part of him had hoped that his wife might have some clever scheme to get out of this.Her mournful acceptance was not what he had predicted at all.“And if I decide it is best to give him my allegiance?”
Brynn didn’t falter.“Then he will have mine also.”
“If he calls for me to take my thanes and march south with his army?”
“Then I will go with you.”Brynn’s brow creased, as if she was fighting more tears.
“You would fight against your own people for him?”
“There are sorceresses in the south.”Brynn sounded grieved, as if she could already see her people in opposing battle lines before her.“You will need protection from them.”
