“It’s only three of us, Brynn. You’ll be able to manage a few days.”
Cenric was leaving them. He was leaving her.
“Why?” she whimpered. “Have I done something? Have I…” She trailed off, realizing how ridiculous she sounded.
“What?” Cenric cast her a confused look.
“Nothing.” Brynn’s voice cracked. She coughed, clearing her throat. “Have you spoken to Edric?”
“I have. He’s on your side, if that makes you feel better.” Cenric stood and walked to his side of the room. He opened one of the cedar chests and pulled out a leather satchel. “He thinks he should go, and I should remain here.”
“So why don’t you?” Brynn shifted on the bed, something oddly like desperation rising in her chest.
“Because I am the alderman of Ombra.” Cenric placed a rolled blanket inside his satchel, followed by what might havebeen a whetstone or a flint. “If I can’t defend these people, I have no right to expect their tribute or their service.” He went to the stand where his armor stood guard over the room.
It made sense. Brynn hated it, but it made sense. “Can you take more men?” she asked. “Are there more thanes you could summon from the countryside?”
“There are,” Cenric conceded. “But I want them to stay here and protect the main estate.”
“I just don’t like you leaving with so few of your own men.” Brynn thought that must be it, but she wasn’t sure. “Hróarr is going to commit his men to a fight for you?”
“He’s asking for silver in exchange, but I can’t expect mercenaries to fight for free.” Cenric shrugged.
“So, he’s taking silver to solve a problem only he knows about?” Brynn tried not to sound condescending, but she probably did, all the same. “What’s to say these raiders aren’t his friends and he’s planning to split your payment with them once he pretends to chase them off?”
“You don’t trust Hróarr,” Cenric sighed. “Rowan never liked him, either.”
Brynn didn’t think her husband had meant to hurt her with that, but the words stung all the same. She couldn’t look at him.
Cenric seemed to realize his mistake a moment later. “I didn’t mean it like that.” He smeared a hand over his face, almost like he was trying to scrub the words away. “I trust Hróarr, and I need you to trust my judgment in this one.”
Brynn couldn’t argue with that, but she still hated everything about this situation.
Cenric pulled something from beside his kit of armor—a spear with the head wrapped in a protective oilcloth. “Edric will see to constructing the scaffolds and final preparations for the animals while I am gone. The work won’t stop, and we should be back before the end of the week.”
“I don’t want you to go.” The words were out before she considered them.
“I will come back as soon as I can.” Cenric set his spear and packed bag against the wall. “But I have to go, Brynn.”
Brynn clenched her fingers tighter together. She had known they might be raided. She had accepted this, but something about Cenric leaving with the Valdari grated her.
“Vana will be staying here.” Cenric seemed to think that would be a comfort.
Brynn did not consider it comforting at all. “You’re going to leave, no matter what I say.”
“That’s hardly fair,” Cenric countered. “I’m not the one planning a raid on Leofton.”
Brynn bit back her response. Everything she wanted to say would only make this situation worse.
She almost asked him to take her along. She could battle as well as any thane and she could heal anyone who might be injured in the fighting.
But no.
It made sense for her to stay here and tend the main estate in her husband’s absence. It all made sense. Painful sense.
Brynn held her tongue and watched as her husband continued packing.
Cenric
