Brynn made her way to the washbasin. The water was icy cold, but she splashed her face and neck. Her reflection in the water squinted back. Her eyes were bloodshot with dark circles beneath them, hair disheveled.
Brynn clutched her head. She channeledkainto her own skull and that alleviated some of the throbbing, but wine sickness wasn’t like cuts or bruises. It mostly needed to heal the slow way.
A knock at the door startled her.
“Enter.” Brynn didn’t look up as the door opened. The outline ofkathat stepped into the room was too small to be a man.
“Lady Brynn,” Esa’s voice called.
Brynn turned around. “Yes?”
“Your husband’s men sent word that we are to make ready to leave.”
Brynn blinked, her lashes still dripping icy water. “What?”
“Lord Cenric is having them load the ship as we speak. He’s asked that you ready yourself to depart at once.”
It struck Brynn as unusual. Ombra was at least two days away by ship, more than a week by land. Normally, someone who had sailed all the way down from Ombra would spend more time in Ungamot. But Cenric must have gotten what he wanted.
Brynn glanced around the small room. Besides her dowry, all she owned had been reduced to a few trunks, the rest given to her servants. She had dismissed all her retainers except Esa, sending them back to their families or finding them new positions in the wealthy households of Glasney. She hadn’t known if her next husband would be able to afford their upkeep.Esa remained because she had no family and refused to leave Brynn.
Brynn cleared her throat. Her new husband wanting to leave this morning was unusual, but she had no reason to stay. Ungamot had nothing for her. “We just need to carry out the chests.” She gestured to a trio of wooden chests reinforced with iron brackets.
Esa clasped her hands behind her back. “I will call some of the boys to help.”
“Good.” Brynn smeared a hand over her face. She sensed thekaof several shapes coming down the hallway.
“One more thing, lady.” Esa stepped aside as another girl came into view, carrying a wooden trencher.
She was one of the kitchen maids, her round face reddened from the heat of the ovens. A teetering trencher balanced in her hands. The kitchen maid inclined her head, setting the trencher on the bed. “Your husband said you hadn’t eaten last night, lady. He told us to bring this to you.”
Brynn frowned. “He…did?”
The kitchen maid nodded. “He and his men stopped by to break their fast not long ago. He put everything on this trencher and told us to take it to you.”
Brynn wasn’t sure how to respond. “He made me a plate…himself?”
“He did, lady,” the kitchen maid confirmed. “I must get back to the kitchens now.”
“Yes.” Brynn rubbed the spot between her eyes, trying to soothe away the headache.
“Will you eat, lady?” Esa shut the door after the kitchen maid, keeping her attention on Brynn.
“Yes.” Brynn responded with a resigned sigh. She examined the trencher her new husband had sent. It was a warrior’s meal—comprised almost entirely of meat. Leftover venison, a chunkof wild boar, and several chunks of beef loin. A single cake of ryebread had been added, almost like an afterthought. Brynn wasn’t going to be able to finish it, but focused on eating while Esa packed her chests and bundled up her belongings.
Cenric had sent her choice cuts, fatty and juicy portions with just a bit of charr on the outside. The bread was free of the grit that sometimes came off millstones during the grinding of flour.
Kapassed outside the door as servants and courtiers began their days. Brynn was aware of them but paid them little mind. Outside the window,kaflitted past as birds flew under the eaves. Below her window, the constant river ofkathat made up the streets of Ungamot flowed by.
The door opened—no knock this time—to admit Eadburh and several of her ladies. “My dear, I have just heard the news.”
Brynn glanced to Esa, but the handmaiden only paused with a half-folded shift in her hands. She looked as surprised as Brynn.
“Cenric is taking you away from us.” Eadburh settled down beside Brynn on the bed, on the opposite side of her plate. “Are you alright?” Eadburh pulled Brynn’s face around and searched her carefully. Was she looking for bruises?
“I am well, lady,” Brynn assured her.
“I can speak to the king and make Cenric stay another few days or weeks.”
