Royce frowned. He did not say much, this freeman of Devon. “How do I know what you say is true?”
“Why would I lie?”
“Why, indeed,” Royce grunted. “You are a long way from your home. Where do you go that takes you across my land?”
“I search for a lord to serve who will fight the Danes. Have I found him?”
Alden laughed at Royce’s surprise. “’Twas the last thing you expected to hear, eh, Cousin?”
Royce gave him a quelling look, then eyed the Celt narrowly. “There are many lords ’tween here and Devon who will fight the Danes. Why come so far east?”
“There are none who prepare in earnest. I want assurance I will see true fighting.”
“Why?”
“’Tis not enough the Danes have wrested land in the north to settle on, they still raid by sea. I lived in a fishing village on the southern coast. ’Twas destroyed in a Viking raid. I lost my wife, my two sons, my family, and my friends. No one was left alive.”
“Save you. Why is that?”
“I was hunting inland. I returned in time only to see the ship sail away.”
It was a story Gaelan had told again and again in his search. It served him well with these Saxon lords. And these two before him were disturbed more than most. Was his search at last over?
“When was this?” Royce demanded.
“At the start of summer.”
“Why do you say ’twas Danes who attacked your village?”
“Who else has plagued this land for so long?”
A look passed between Royce and Alden, before Royce glanced down at his fist, clenched on the table. The question was not answered.
It was Alden who told Gaelan, “If the Danes cross into Wessex again, we will be there to stop them. You have the will to fight, but can you?”
“I—I will need training.”
“And if my cousin agrees to train you, how do you serve him in return?”
“I offer to serve as personal guard—because of my size.”
“Even if you could fight, look at me,” Royce interjected. “Do I look as if I need protection?”
The gray eyes crinkled as a slight grin formed on Gaelan’s lips. “The other lords I petitioned were not as well set as you, milord. I am willing to serve in any way you request, if you will accept me.”
Alden switched to their own tongue to ask Royce, “Well, Cousin? We can always use another man, and one this size, with the right training, will be a valuable man.”
“I do not like it,” Royce replied.
“You think he will end his quest for revenge when he sees your prisoners?”
“There is that.”
“But you have them so well guarded he could not get near them.”
“Kristen is not so well guarded,” Royce said shortly.
Alden rolled his eyes heavenward. “Of course, now she has the freedom of Wyndhurst, she is not guarded at all. You could always confine her freedom to the hall, and restrict the Celt from it.”
