“They most certainly do.” If they had jumped on the opportunity to capture two Norse people who had done nothing to provoke them, there was no telling what they were capable of. Such hate-filled people were not above making up stories to justify their despicable actions.
“This is why I need you. I need someone to identify them for me, and I could not ask Torsten to come with me.”
No, he could not, because he was confined to his bed. Her chest squeezed.
“You look scared,” Wolf observed, frowning when she didn’t respond. “There’s nothing to fear. I hope you don’t think I would ever allow the Normans to?—”
“I’m not scared, not of those men, at least,” she whispered, deciding it was time to be honest. She would only spend the day worrying if she didn’t speak out now. She hadn’t had the courage to go see Wolf and his wife during the week, but since he was here, she would do what she should have done days ago, beg for his forgiveness. “I’m scared of you.”
“Me?” He recoiled as if having a woman fear him was the worst thing that could have happened to him.
“Well, not of you, precisely, but of what you must think of m-me,” she stammered. “Because of me, your son was almost killed that day by the Normans and I never?—”
“Aife.” Wolf’s firm but paternal tone was the same her own father would have used with her. “You’re not responsible for the violence of bad men. Torsten explained what happened that day in the clearing, it is clear neither of you did anything wrong. Thatthe Normans decided to attack you and hand you over to this Ranulf was not your doing.”
Perhaps not, but she was responsible for taking Torsten to the beach and then too close to the cliff. That was definitely her doing. “Because of me, he might never walk again.”
Or know pleasure.
“Torsten will walk again,” was Wolf’s tranquil answer. “Just give him time, it’s only been a few days.”
There seemed to be no question in his mind that his son would recover. Aife swallowed. It didn’t even sound as if he were trying to reassure her. He simply was convinced all would be well.
“Yes,” she said, unaccountably comforted by his certainty. “He will.”
And she took her first real breath in what felt like months.
“Now, back to the topic at hand. I am confident the two men who’ve been arrested are amongst the ones who attacked you in the meadow. Girard and Enguerrand. They match my son’s description exactly, but the reeve wants conclusive proof of wrongdoing. The problem is, the Normans pretend they can’t speak his language, so he’s been unable to interrogate them.” He let out a groan of frustration. Evidently, he was not used to being thwarted. “I understand the Norman tongue reasonably well and even speak a little, but ’tis not enough to conduct a proper interrogation. Besides, it looks as if I am only translating what suits me.”
“Surely if the men refuse to speak English, an interpreter can be found?” Unlike the reeve, she didn’t for a moment think that Wolf had arrested the wrong men, innocent Normans who genuinely didn’t understand what they were asked and had no idea why they had been apprehended.
A sigh. “Of course, but the reeve happens to be married to this Ranulf’s niece. I got the impression that he doesn’tparticularly like the man but is wary of upsetting his wife’s family and making a powerful enemy by accusing him of wrongdoing. If, however, he sees that you identify the men, he will have no choice but to pursue the matter further, at least find an interpreter as you say, and establish the truth.”
Aife nodded her head pensively. She could see Wolf’s thinking, but there was a flaw in the plan, in her opinion.
“Even if I recognize the men, it will achieve little. It will still not force them to speak to the interpreter, or confirm what happened. For all the reeve and Ranulf know, I could be in league with you, or I could simply be mistaken. No. We need to trick Girard and Enguerrand into revealing that they are in fact pretending not to be able to converse with the reeve, and that they were amongst the men involved in my and Torsten’s abduction.”
“What do you suggest?”
“Have the reeve free them, on the pretence that their guilt has not been successfully established.” When Wolf raised his head in protest, she hurriedly added, “Having been freed, they will think themselves safe and relax their guard. But it will be far from over. As they exit the gaol, I will place myself in their path. You and the reeve will follow discretely, so you can overhear our conversation. When they recognize me for the woman who’s caused them so many problems, they will be sure to come speak to me, and their complicity in the abduction will become clear, as will their knowledge of the English tongue. The reeve is reluctant to investigate against his uncle by marriage at the moment, but he will have no scruples in arresting men whose guilt has been proven.”
“Mm. It might be dangerous for you to be on your own with them,” Wolf said slowly. He didn’t seem to think it was a bad idea, but appeared worried all the same.
“I think it will be fine,” she assured him, with more confidence than she felt. “We’ll be in town, surrounded by people, not in the middle of nowhere. And you and the reeve will be there, ready to intervene if need be. No harm will come to me.”
There was a silence, then Wolf gave a low admirative whistle. “You really are your father’s daughter,” he said slowly. “That Dane is nothing if not resourceful.”
The compliment went straight to Aife’s heart. No one had called her resourceful before, even if her family had always commented on her practical nature. Even more gratifying was the fact that Wolf did not try to dissuade her or doubt that she could achieve what she’d set off to achieve. He trusted her, he understood that she wanted revenge for what she and Torsten had endured, and he was willing to give her the opportunity to get it.
“Yes, well,” she said with a smile, grateful for his understanding. “We women have no choice but to resort to cunning, considering we cannot rely on brute strength.”
“Believe me, I do know that, being married to Merewen.” His smile was proof that his love for his wife was stronger than ever. “Very well, you just do your part. Then as soon as brute strength is required, I’ll take over.”
“Thank you.”
“No. Thankyoufor allowing me to avenge my son.”
Aife sobered, remembering all Torsten had endured these last weeks through her fault. “You can thank me when it is done. Besides, I am grateful you are allowing me to avenge myself also.”
