“Nay. I dreamed of the ambush tonight. It brought the day back to me clearly, as well as Durwyn’s part in it. He was the only one there Ididget a good look at that day. I even recall noting that he was dressed finer than a thief ought to be dressed.”
Royce ran an agitated hand through his dark hair. “God’s mercy, do you know what this suggests?”
“Aye. ’Twas not thieves who ambushed an unsuspecting group of travelers that day. ’Twas a planned attack against theking’sparty, to put an end to our mission. What I need to know from you is, do you tell the king of this before or after I kill the man?”
Royce’s lips curled upward despite the seriousness of the subject. “I doubt me you will get the opportunity. Alfred will want to deal with this matter himself. But be assured that if you are right, Durwyn will hang.”
“I nearly died, Royce, and the pain I lived with for weeks will never be forgotten. I want the satisfaction of challenging the man responsible.”
“Aye, and so will your father want it, and your mother,andmy wife. You, my friend, may well have to get in line do you handle it the Viking way. But you reside in Wessex and Alfred does have strict laws, so better to let him see to it. The crimewasagainst him, after all.”
Selig only mumbled to that, not exactly an agreement, but Royce chose to take it as such, and so continued. “Now, I know Alfred’s direction. In fact, he had planned to visit here again on his way back to the royal estate at Chippenham, but I do not think this should wait until then. I will go now to send a messenger to him.”
Selig nodded. The urgency that had brought him here with such haste was relieved, if not put to rest. He was vexed, though, that the matter could have been done with if he had just made the connection with Lord Durwyn the day he saw him at Wyndhurst. But everything about that harrowing time was fading in his memory, except for the pain and Erika’s part in it, and he wishedthatwould fade as well.
Royce stopped at the door to say, “You might as well stay here until this thing is settled. Alfred moves quickly sometimes, and sometimes not. ’Tis not likely, but he could conceivably arrive on the morrow, and he will want to see you immediately.”
“Fine.”
“Then go back to sleep. I intend to, after I send the messenger.”
Erika had sat patiently throughout their talk, even though she had not understood a word of it. She would have been annoyed if she had been excluded deliberately, but that was not the case, since Royce and Selig could communicate only in Celtic. Yet she decided then and there that if Selig was not going to learn Anglo-Saxonto put an end to this difficulty, she would learn Celtic, and likely quicker than he, as new languages came easily to her.
“Do we leave now?” she asked, drawing his attention to her at last.
He seemed momentarily surprised that she was even there. “Nay, we will remain here until the king comes.”
Her brows rose. “You are to become involved in the king’s business?”
He realized then that he had not actually told her why they had come here in the middle of the night. Amazing that she had not harangued him for every detail. His mother and sister would have, and still would, as soon as they heard of it.
He explained briefly, ending with, “We will sleep here for a few days.” And then suddenly he grinned, glancing around at the room they had shared before they wed. “Do you want the floor or the bed?”
Her scowl was immediate. “That is not funny.”
“You will think so if you pick the floor and we end up making love on it.”
Her mouth dropped open, then snapped shut. “I assume you mean on the morrow?”
His grin grew wider. “Actually, now that it has been mentioned—”
She gasped, mostly in surprise. “But you cannot possibly…you have already…twice…” She didn’t try to finish when he started laughing—and walking toward her.
“Verily, Erika”—that sensual smile was fully in place now—“how little you know your husband.”
But she was learning, and, sweet Freya, sometimesmostpleasantly.
Chapter 42
THEWYNDHURST PATROLbrought advance word of the king’s approach late the next afternoon, giving Royce the opportunity to ride out to meet him. He went alone, since a discussion on horseback was easier between two people rather than three or four, and he wanted to gauge Alfred’s mood on this matter before he met with Selig about it. Though the very fact that Alfred had come so quickly and ahead of his entourage, with only a small escort, said a great deal.
“I had hoped our next visit would be without incident,” Alfred began.
Royce winced. “My in-laws do keep things from becoming boring around here.”
Alfred acknowledged the sally with a brief smile, then got to the heart of the matter. “’Tis a grave accusation your brother-in-law makes. Of course, Lord Durwyn will be allowed to face his accuser.”
“He denies it, then?”
