“Set the boy down, Brenna.”
His voice sounded strange. Was he bitter again? Brenna put Selig back in his little play area in the corner.
“You can stay here with him if you like,” Brenna said, feeling very awkward. “Leala will not return until eventide, and I will still go to your house, to say farewell to Erin and the others. So you can be alone with Selig for a while.”
He did not answer her, and for the first time she noticed the many weapons hanging from his belt, more than she had ever seen him wear at one time, and a rope he held in his hand.
“Why did you come here, Garrick. You look prepared for battle.” She felt a coldness seep into her bones. “Will you use those weapons on me? If you love him so that you will kill me to keep him, then do it, for I cannot live without him.”
He shook his head at the ridiculous conclusion she had come to. “No matter how much I love him and want him, Brenna, I could not kill his mother.”
“Then why—”
“I could keep you here by force. I have thought of it many times. Last year when I sailed east, wanting to get far away from you, I realized that was not what I wanted at all. I wanted you with me, by my side for the rest of our lives. ’Twas late summer and I assumed my father had long since taken you back to your people. Since he had given you your freedom, he had the right to know I was going to take that freedom away again, so I came here to tell him that I was going to bring you back and keep you here whether you agreed or not.”
“Is—is that what you intend now?”
Garrick shook his head. “You value your freedom too much—I know this. There is one other solution.”
“I wish there was, but I cannot see it.”
“The truth—the end of all doubt, that is the only solution, Brenna. I pray with all my heart that I was wrong to mistrust you. If you did lie, I will know it now. And then I can only hope that you will never feel the need to lie again.”
“I do not understand, Garrick. You did not accept my word before, and I have no proof to offer you.”
“I will believe in you, Brenna, from this day forward, because I must—I love you!” Garrick said earnestly. “But I still must know the truth.”
He pulled on the rope he held in his hand, and even in her confusion, Brenna was appalled that he would bring his horse into her house. But what followed the rope was not his mighty steed, but Cedric Borgsen, bound at the wrists, with blood oozing from a gash on his head. Brenna turned stark white as if she were seeing the living dead. Cedric also paled, but quickly got his surprise under control.
“Why did you bring me here, Haardrad?” Cedric demanded in a contemptuous manner. “You must know this outrage cannot go unanswered.”
“Yea, but which outrage, Cedric?”
“You waited this long to settle an old score?” Cedric laughed, then all his humor disappeared and hate dripped from his words. “The past has been dead these many years. Your brother killed mine and that was enough for our fathers. Now you want more blood!”
“The past has naught to do with your being here. You have a more recent crime to answer for.”
“Truly?”
Garrick came closer and pointed to Brenna. “You know this woman?”
Cedric looked at Brenna as if for the first time. His whole being relaxed and he grinned. “A pretty wench, but none that I have ever seen before.”
Brenna felt her stomach turn. She looked at Garrick, who was watching them both, and his disappointment was clear to see. This could not be happening.
“He lies, Garrick!” Brenna spoke Norwegian for Cedric’s benefit. There was pain and disbelief in her voice. “I swear to you he lies!”
“It does not matter, Brenna.”
“But it does—it does!” She turned to Cedric frantically. “Tell him the truth. Tell him how you stole me away!”
Cedric shrugged, feigning bewilderment. “The wench is mad. I know not what she is raving about.”
“Liar!” Brenna stormed, and blinding fury made her tremble. “I thought my blade had killed you, but I should have made certain.” She drew the dagger that was always on her hip. “This time Iwillbe sure!”
Garrick knocked the dagger from her hand before she took even one step. “He is bound and helpless, Brenna. We do not kill unarmed men.”
Her frustration was so great that she screamed. It was her word against Cedric’s, but her story, the trials she endured, were unbelievable. She knew it and could do nothing. Then she saw the answer, and hope finally entered her eyes.
