Profaning of the Grandfather Yew seemed to be why Ovrek now faced betrayal.But it might be a mere foretaste of chaos and discord that would follow the tree’s destruction.
Cenric glanced at the two Valdari warriors trailing them.He didn’t know these two or if they spoke Hyldish.He didn’t want to risk it until he had the opportunity to speak with Brynn in private.
“Lady!Lady Brynn!”Esa came running, breathless, with Kalen jogging after her.
“Esa!”Brynn reached for her handmaiden, grabbing the girl in a tight embrace, though she kept her hold on Cenric.
“Lady, I was so worried.We both were.”She looked to Kalen.“Two of Lord Hróarr’s thanes just returned, and we feared the worst, but before Lady Vana could send out a search for Lord Hróarr, we heard he’d come back.”
Esa was confused and using Hyldish terms, but Cenric didn’t bother to correct her.
“Where are Hróarr’s men now?”Cenric asked.
“They were trying to find help, but with the attack on the king, they were having trouble,” Esa panted.“I think Lady Vana went to the queen.”
“Lord, the men told stories.”Kalen’s face was pale as he glanced at Brynn.“Stories of monsters and dead trees.”
A cloying feeling of dread bubbled up in Cenric’s gut.“Let’s keep moving.”He kept his arm around Brynn’s waist.He could feel the impatience from the men following them.
“Yes.”Brynn shivered.
Their odd little band continued toward the camp betweenWolf Starand Hróarr’s ship by the water.
Shouts rose from farther down the beach and Cenric was torn.A part of him ached to join in the hunt.There was violence to be done and something deep in his bones wanted to be a part of it.This was the way of things—insults must be avenged and blood repaid.
The men of Egill’s household were all culpable.Their lord had turned traitor, so they would all pay the price.Their women that were here would be divided amongst Ovrek’s men and those that had stayed at home had best flee before Ovrek’s warriors reached them.
It was just the way of the world.The way of Valdar.
They reached the tent pitched against the side of Cenric’s ship that Brynn and Cenric had shared before that disaster last night.Kalen and Esa had set it aright.
Ugba and Anders were the only men of Cenric’s thanes present at their camp.They said the others had gone to join the hunt for Egill’s men.That was just as well.
Ovrek’s warriors waited at the edge of the camp, posted as guards, but giving them the illusion of privacy.Hopefully, this time these two knew better than to leave their posts because some boy told them to.
Brynn sat outside their tent, leaning against one of the front braces as Kalen stoked the fire.
“Lady.”Esa knelt at Brynn’s feet.“I found this in the queen’s garden.”
Cenric glanced over.
Brynn accepted a sprig of some plant with purple flower bulbs from the girl.“I thought so.Thank you, Esa.”
The girl bowed and set to finding dry clothes for her mistress.
“What is that?”Cenric nodded to the plant.
Brynn surveyed the sprig with a kind of fatalistic acceptance.“Pennyroyal.”
“What you think poisoned Gistrid?”
“Yes.”Brynn let off a sigh that seemed to come from her very bones.“It seems we have much to discuss, my love.Where should we start?”Guin lay in her lap and Snapper curled against her side.
Cenric exhaled, lowering himself to the ground where she sat near the fire.He kept his voice low, careful so as not to let the warriors hear them.“The monsters you saw.What of them?”
Brynn shuddered.“A creature that was wolf, but not a wolf.”She watched the flames as she spoke.“Too big and…wrong.Another creature in the form of a burned girl.”Brynn squeezed Guin tighter against her.
A sinking feeling pooled in the pit of Cenric’s stomach.“A girl, you said?”
