“I beg your pardon if I was expected somewhere, my lord,” she offered.
“How do you fare, Brienne?” He walked closer and examined her closely. “Is your strength returned?”
“I am well,” she said. Though she’d awakened badly, now that the stupor of sleep had passed, she felt much better.
“I find that it invigorates me,” he said, not taking his gaze from hers. All pretense was gone between them; she understood that now.
She shrugged. “I have never done that before. Never tried.”
“And always hidden it away? From Gavin and Fia?” He sighed. “I did not know you had inherited the power of our line,” he admitted. “From everything planned, it should have been Adelaide.” He gestured for her to sit. She did so.
“And she did not?” she asked. Strange that her half-sister had been raised with their father believing she would be the one.
“Nay,” he said. “A disappointment in every respect. Never mind, though. Now I have found you.” He smiled, and she was amazed at how his features softened when he did. “Will you stay and let me train you to use it? There is so much to show you.”
The enthusiasm in his voice warmed her heart even though she tried not to let it. This was a strange new world, and she was lost in it. He could guide her to accept and learn about this awesome power they shared. And now that he knew, the fear of him discovering it vanished. She did not have to hide it. She did not want to hide it any longer.
If she accepted his offer, she would not have to.
“Aye, my lord,” she said, nodding.
“Do not misunderstand, Brienne. The power that I have, that you inherited, has been honed and passed down through generation after generation. There is a purpose for it—a great purpose.”
She shivered at those words. She’d heard something like that whispered among those who’d taken her that day.
Bloodlines. Generations. Powers. Destruction.
The young woman Aislinn had spoken only of the gods she worshipped and had not given her much information about those gods in the short time they had spoken. Was that what he meant?
“Ours is a dangerous power that could destroy us instead of our enemies, so you must give me your word that you will follow my guidance and instructions.”
“Aye, my lord. I wish to learn,” she admitted. And it was the truth, for she had wanted for years to understand it—since the first hints of it had appeared.
He smiled again and nodded. “Speak of it to no one and remain within the walls, at least until you have learned to control it more. Then you shall take your place at my side. I will come for you this night after the others have gone to bed and we will begin. Rest this day. You will need your strength.” He walked to the door and then turned back to her. “This pleases me greatly. You please me.”
And then he was gone, as quickly and as quietly as he’d arrived.
Brienne knew somewhere deep inside that she should be suspicious of such a fortuitous change in her life, that this man had done terrible things to people she knew and to others she’d heard about. But bringing her here, accepting her and the power they shared, and inviting her to learn and be at this side—it tore down her resistance. For so much of her life, she’d longed to be claimed, not to be the secret, not to be the one forced to live in darkness.
Now he offered her what she’d wanted.
How could she not grab for it?
Williamand his men rode out in the morning, invited by Lord Hugh to tour his lands. They spent much of the morning riding through the area around the castle, inspecting the moat and the canals that drained it. Lord Hugh was an amiable host, pointing out various improvements he’d made, instructing William in land management and offering suggestions about crops.
Watching for any signs of discontentment or sedition, William found none. At least none spoken of or whispered where he or his men could hear. And though the weapons he’d seen would arm a very large group of soldiers, they saw no more than would be expected to guard a castle of this size.
Neither did Roger, Gautier, and Armand find anything amiss in the barracks where the guards and others who served in the castle lived. No one talked openly, but they heard neither gossip nor tales passed around. If this man was planning a revolt against the king, there were no signs of it here in his principal holding.
Yet they had been in residence for only one day, so Lord Hugh could be hiding something. Someone good at deception could hide something for months, but there was bound to be a slip somewhere and sometime. A prickling under his skin told William that Lord Hugh was very good.
A messenger came for him, calling Lord Hugh back to see to a matter in the keep and he bade them to continue riding with Alain. William engaged the man in a discussion over the size of fields long enough to seem interested and then gave him leave to return to his duties. Circling the castle, he rode through the village, again looking for Brienne.
“You look for the girl, Will?” Roger asked as they rode side by side along the path.
“I have not seen her since that day. I . . .” He did not know what or how to say that he was concerned over what had happened to her.
“I’ve not seen you like this over a woman before,” Roger said. “And I have seen you with many, many women.”
