“But I did find him.” Cenric looked to his bruised knuckles. “We brought him back with us.”
Brynn’s chest coiled with a thousand feelings at once—sickening dread, anger, and the desire to run. At the same time her hands clenched with the impulse to strangle someone. “How do you know it’s him?”
“Come.” Cenric stepped away, toward the end of the longhouse. “It will be easier to show you.”
Cenric
Honorable, generous, and brave? Cenric’s chest might as well have glowed with the swell of pride.
After last night’s foretelling, he’d pushed Hróarr and the mercenaries to rush home to be sure she was safe. His one comfort was that Morgi only sent him foretellings of things he could prevent, which must mean there was still a way to save his wife.
Perhaps the foretelling was a warning of Brynn’s mother.
He didn’t like that Selene was trying to talk her out of their union, but Brynn had warned him of that. He liked it less that Selene had chosen to insult his wife in her own home.
But Brynn had defended him. She’d praised him, even if it had been to slight Selene. Despite everything that happened before he left, some part of her still thought highly of him. She wanted to stay with him, at least.
Cenric led the way, swelled with excitement even though he wasn’t sure how Brynn would respond to his “gift.” Hróarr had cautioned him quite a bit.
“What’s this?” Brynn walked behind him, her puppy tucked under one arm.
Up ahead, Hróarr and several of his Valdari came up the path to meet them. Hróarr swaggered, thumbs in his belt, Vana at his side.
“They are bringing your gift,” Cenric answered.
Snapper trotted happily in a large circle, sniffing at the ground and greeting the other dogs. As usual, he was oblivious to the impending violence.
Hróarr stepped aside and two Valdari marched forward, leading a bloodied and bound figure between them.
Hróarr’s men forced their captive to his knees. Svendi resisted, but like all his efforts over the last day, it was useless.
Esa hovered beside the Valdari warriors, even paler than usual. She looked to Cenric, then back to Brynn.
“Cenric?” There was fear in Brynn’s voice.
Cenric stepped to the side, giving her a clear view. “This is Svendi, formerly a mercenary in the service of Ielda.” He looked to Esa, then back to Brynn. “The raiders attacked Leofton. We killed or repelled most of them, except one.”
Brynn’s eyes snapped to Cenric. Her face was neutral, but there was something intent, something coiled tight and ready to spring. A she-wolf about to pounce. Whether she was about to pounce on him or his captive, he wasn’t sure, but he kept speaking.
“The raider had this ring.” Cenric held out the gold piece to her, still smudged with dirt.
Brynn took it with shaking hands and turned it over, studying the object patiently, deliberately.
Cenric waited. Hróarr and his men waited. Svendi waited. The whole world seemed to be holding its breath.
Then Brynn lowered the ring, clenching it in one hand. “How?” she rasped, her voice trembling.
“The raider told us he’d gotten it from a man who sails with the mercenary Ielda. We found Ielda in Kyrna, where he plans to winter.”
Brynn remained focused on the bloodied mercenary on his knees before them.
Cenric spared another glance for Esa. “Ielda also told us who killed the alderman’s son.”
Svendi let off a string of curses, but a kick from Hróarr’s men silenced him.
Cenric nodded to Esa. “As soon as we docked, your girl confirmed it for us.”
“It’s him, lady,” Esa whispered, grasping Brynn’s arm as she came to stand beside her. “That’s the man who killed your son. I swear it.” Tears welled in the girl’s eyes.
