“Gemma assured me you no longer cared about her,” Cenydd’s words interrupted his thoughts. “She believes you’re more interested in gold than in her. I’m sure it is the only reason she agreed to marry me.”
All the air seemed to leave Arne’s lungs. He shook off Merfyn’s hand and took a step forward, gripping the hilt of his sword. “What?”
Gemma swallowed but said nothing, although her eyes flickered towards him.
Arne looked at Cenydd, suddenly wondering if he had misjudged the man and he was no friend of theirs. Although Cenydd was not being unreasonable. Arne had turned his back on Gemma, made it clear he wanted nothing more to do with her. He knew itwas likely she would remarry eventually. He just hadn’t expected… this.
“You are going to marry Lord Cenydd? That is why you’ve left your brother? But—”
Gemma was staring at Cenydd, but not like a woman in love. Arne took another step towards them and was about to push Cenydd aside when he spoke.
“Well, Gemma, you must make a decision. A little sooner than I expected. I had planned to take you back to Car Cadell and give you time to think, but perhaps it’s unnecessary. My future is here, ensuring the safety of Lyffnach, given that I’ve just spirited the king’s nephew away from him without his permission. And I think perhaps yours lies elsewhere.”
“Think about what?” Arne demanded, watching closely as the two Britons regarded each other. Then Gemma nodded and Cenydd sighed before turning to face him.
“I have the king’s permission to marry Gemma, but he was adamant she was to be separated from her son.”
Arne looked to where Anwyl had dismounted and was now lifting Caelin down from the horse.
“As you can see, we rescued both of them – ourselves, this time – but it will not be long before King Rhun sends soldiers in search of her once more,” Cenydd said.
“Why are you doing this? Is your plan to put Caelin on the throne?” Arne asked. Cenydd seemed to be willing to let him and Gemma be together, but there were no guarantees he would let Caelin go.
Cenydd shook his head. “Nothing so ambitious. For now at least. But what I have sworn to do is to protect my lands, the lands of Lyffnach. Neither Marcant nor the king will ever think these lands are theirs for the taking again. Nor any other invaders, for that matter.”
“And what of the lands where Kirkjaster sits?” Arne asked. Before Cenydd had inherited Cadell’s lands, the peninsula on which Kirkjaster sat had belonged to him and was still in many ways a part of Lyffnach even if it wasn’t under Cenydd’s rule directly. Had Cenydd had enough of a taste of power now he was willing to challenge the Norsemen for those lands? Was this it? The end of the settlement here? Their alliance had held for only a few years, but the one constant was that Lyffnach had accepted their ownership of the small peninsula.
Cenydd and Anwyl exchanged a look, clearly deciding whether to share any more of their plans with Arne. Anwyl nodded abruptly and Cenydd returned the gesture after a further moment’s consideration.
“The holy men have asked to return to the church at Nevyth. You do not use the church lands except for farming.”
“You know I don’t have the authority to—”
Cenydd waved away his argument. “Jarl Tormod will agree if you tell him to, I’m sure. It has long been a sacred spot and it would be a show of good faith both to the church and to myself.”
“A bribe?”
“A reassurance,” said Anwyl quietly. Arne looked between the two men, their stances strong, their expressions serious but, Arne thought, sincere.
“Very well, I will make this request,” Arne agreed. But no one moved. “Gemma? Do you wish to come with me or do you prefer to stay with Lord Cenydd?”
“At least Cenydd is honest with me.”
“What do you mean?”
“He wants to marry me because I can provide him with the heirs he requires. He’s promised to protect me. He has taken a risk by getting me out of Perthawc safely, and bringing Caelin also against the king’s orders. He may yet have to pay a high price for that.” She looked at Cenydd, who nodded curtly in agreement.
“Caelin’s presence in Car Cadell is not only a risk, Princess Maithgemm,” said Anwyl. “His presence also indicates our own status.”
Cenydd laid a hand on Anwyl’s arm and shook his head. “She is no longer a princess.”
Arne frowned in confusion. “But—”
“King Rhun has disowned her. After the news the riders brought this morning, Rhun will have you killed if he finds you. And maybe now he will kill Gemma, too.”
“Riders?”
“A Norseman and a Dal Riatan,” Gemma said. “They said… they said they had seen us together… out on the moors.” She looked down at the ground, but he put a finger on her chin and tipped it so she had no choice but to look at him.
