Godwin looked pleased by that answer, which told me I would hear it repeated later.
Darcy folded her arms. “So I’m not being bound?”
“Not yet.”
“How reassuring.”
“You will remain guarded. You will answer what is asked.”
“I’ve been doing that.”
“You answer much that is not asked.”
She stared at me, and around us, my men suddenly found the walls fascinating.
At last she said, “I’m going to assume that was a compliment.”
“It was not.”
“Shame.”
Godwin covered his mouth. I suspected the old traitor was smiling.
“Take her to the meeting house chamber,” I said.
Darcy looked around. “We’re in the meeting house.”
“The small chamber.”
“Of course there’s a smaller one. I was worried this century had too much room.”
I did not understand half the things she said. The worst of it was that I was beginning to enjoy that.
“Wystan,” I said.
The boy straightened.
“You will guard her.”
His face fell.
Darcy looked at the spear. “Can he point that somewhere else?”
“I was not trembling,” Wystan muttered.
As they moved toward the rear chamber, Leofric caught my arm.
“Wulfric.”
His use of my name stopped me. He had buried three kin that month. His hardness had not been born from nothing.
“You risk much.”
“I know.”
“She may be our ruin.”
I looked toward the doorway where Darcy had disappeared.
