“I’m sorry,” Brynn whispered softly.
“It was a long time ago.” Cenric felt that the time for condolences over his loss was long past. “My cousin and I survived because we were late bringing in the sheep that night. We returned home to find it aflame.”
“I see.” A vacant look flickered over Brynn’s face and for a moment he wondered what memory had just been resurrected for her.
But he would hunt for her secrets another time. Right now, she had asked for his.
“We ran for days to find Ovrek’s camp.”
“Ovrek?” Brynn frowned, then seemed to recognize the name. “The king of Valdar?”
“He wasn’t king then,” Cenric qualified. “Just a warlord with ambition fresh back from the Kelethi Empire.”
“What was he doing there?” Brynn sounded confused.
“Mercenary work. The Kelethi always have use for violent men.” Cenric had once considered sailing south to seek work there himself, but the desire to reclaim Ombra had been too great. “Ovrek returned with a band of veterans and more gold than any of us had ever seen in one place.”
Brynn glanced at the rings on Cenric’s forearms. Ovrek had given him a pair of gold arm rings, but these were silver, sturdier and commissioned by Cenric himself after becoming alderman.
“He promised my cousin and I revenge and a place in his warband. We took it.” What followed had been years of hard rations, sweat, bloody knuckles, and constant yelling as they were drilled by the veterans of Kelethi. It had been brutal and many of their friends had not survived.
Brynn shook her head. “How old were you?”
“Thirteen.” Cenric had been younger than Kalen was now. Sometimes he wondered how he had ever been that young. “My cousin is also named Hróarr. He docks in Ombra from time to time. You will meet him eventually.”
Brynn seemed resigned. “Unless he attacks us, I have no quarrel with him.”
That was fair enough. Honestly, much fairer than he had expected.
“I tell you this to say that while I count some Valdari as my friends, my brothers, even, that does not apply to all of them.” Cenric had mortal enemies among the Valdari still. Though Ovrek had ruled for years now, not everyone had accepted his yoke happily. “I have no problem killing those who cross me. Regardless of who they are.”
Brynn did not seem frightened or even impressed by those words. He was beginning to realize she wasn’t easily impressed, but he enjoyed a challenge.
Cenric shrugged. “From what you have told me, your mother is still going to hate me.”
Brynn’s voice was hoarse, but firm when she said, “I hope so.”
Cenric allowed himself a smile at that. He was already growing fond of his wife.
Brynn
They anchored their ship at the mouth of a small river and camped for the night. Cenric said they were making good time, but it would probably be another day before they reached Ombra.
The men gathered wood and Brynn had Esa practice starting a fire. A sorceress’s power was always welcome.
Several of the younger boys with Cenric’s crew distributed smoked fish and bread that had probably been fresh that morning.
Snapper bounded in circles around the people as they worked, sometimes disappearing off into the trees.
They had no tents but roped lean-to shelters of oiled canvas between the trees. They spread cloaks and blankets on the soft soil of the riverbank.
Dinner was a quiet, if good-natured affair. Esa stayed close by Brynn’s side as she had for most of the journey.
Throughout the day, the men had taken turns at the oars. Cenric had spent every one of his off shifts at her side. It had been strange, but…not unpleasant.
After that first conversation, they’d talked about nothing and everything. He asked her questions about spells and magic, what she could do. She asked him about Ombra. She didn’t think she wanted to know anything more about his past just yet. And she wasn’t ready to discuss more of hers.
He seemed genuinely interested in what a sorceress might be able to do. He asked specific questions—could a sorceress work with metal? What were the limits of their healing? What success had she had using the blood of animals to fuel spells?
