Bee Among the Clover (275 page)

Roman glanced toward the large fur-covered bed and met Aron’s open eyes. He could see the impatience in Aron’s clear gaze, his eagerness to leave this place and never look back. There were shadows as well in Aron’s eyes he didn’t understand. Was there a part of him, as well, that would miss this hall and its people?

“Marcus, why don’t you join Aron and I?” Wulfgar’s voice was weary and resigned. Roman froze at the unnatural sound of his real name on Wulfgar’s lips. As far as he could remember, in all of the time he’d been a part of the thane’s household, Wulfgar had never referred to him as Marcus. It made him uncomfortable. Only Aron could call him that. Only Aron had seen the need to give him his own name. It had become a war between Aron and the thane, with Wulfgar insisting on calling him Roman and Aron answering back with his given name. At times, it had almost been amusing. It seemed Aron had won that particular battle.

Roman’s eyes flickered to Aron’s as he made his way to the bed and sat down next to his lover, his fingers groping for Aron’s. The thane watched them, a ghost of a smile passing across his lips. Wulfgar sighed, still holding Aron close against him, and reached out his free hand to touch Roman’s cheek. Roman caught himself before he could lean into the gentle touch, and another slight smile crossed the thane’s lips.

Wulfgar’s eyes lowered to Aron, still naked in his arms. Roman had been with the thane long enough to know Wulfgar was reluctant to let them go, but he also knew he would. He didn’t have to—no one in the hall would think less of him if he broke his word to a slave and a thrall—but Wulfgar would think less of himself. He studied Wulfgar, seeing a side of his former master that rarely came out, a softness and vulnerability the thane hid behind his joviality. It was what often fueled his temper. Roman glanced down at Aron and realized his lover saw none of this. In his eyes, there was only impatience to leave.

The thane sighed, and when he spoke, he tried to make his voice gruff, but he didn’t quite succeed. “You’ve served me well, both of you. I….” He cut off the thought, and Roman wished Wulfgar had let himself finish.

Aron’s brows furrowed in question, but the thane shook his head and gave him a wry smile. Roman held his breath as Wulfgar brought his free hand down to Aron’s throat, fingertips tracing the collar there, and with a resigned frown, he unclasped it, sliding it off and holding it in his hand. The thane stared at it for a long moment. Then his eyes flicked to both of their bare throats and he reluctantly eased his arm from around Aron.

Aron looked at the thane, not sure what to say. He knew Wulfgar was unhappy at their leaving, and he felt very uncertain about how to respond to him. Should he thank him, or…? He hadn’t been a horrible master. His days and nights could’ve been much worse than they were, but his pride rebelled against being held captive at all, and he still resented the hurts that had been laid upon him and Roman. In the end though, Wulfgar cared for them, and without him he never would’ve met Roman, and his darkling would still be the thane’s slave, likely until the end of his days.

Aron’s hand went to his throat without even thinking about it to touch the bare skin in wonder. For the last year, he’d worn that collar. Even those few weeks he’d been on the road, the memory of it had lingered, especially with the knowledge it could snap around his neck again at any time. Even harder had been knowing Roman still wore the collar.

But no more. They were free. His happiness welled with such strength he couldn’t breathe. They were free, and Roman wanted to go with him. His relief had known no bounds when he’d seen his darkling gather both their things and not just Aron’s.

Then a shadow crossed Aron’s thoughts. He wasn’t truly free. He had his promise to fulfill to Cate, and he had to find a way to break the news to Roman. It wouldn’t be so bad. Cate had always been kind to him. There was so much uncertainty along with it, though. He didn’t know how long she’d keep him bound, nor did he know if Roman could stay with him, much less if he’d wait for him.

A smile broke across Roman’s face, and he threw his arms around Aron’s neck, hugging him tight. He was going to take him with him! Joy and relief such as he’d never known rushed through him. He’d been wrong to distrust Aron the way he had. They were going to leave, and Aron was going to free him, and they would find a way to make a life together. “Aye, I’m ready, Aron.”

Roman cast a look in Wulfgar’s direction and bit his lip, uncertain what to say. There was so much between them that couldn’t be easily forgotten, both the good and the bad. There were a few things he longed to say to the thane, but he didn’t want to hurt Aron’s feelings, so he kept quiet and smiled. “Be well, my lord.” He contented himself with that and hoped Wulfgar would be as well. The slight frown between the thane’s brows told him, however, his hope had been in vain.

There was nothing to be done about it, and Roman busied himself with preparations to go. He should have known Wulfgar would not let his weak farewell go. Whilst Aron was in the stables loading the horses with what little belongings they had and the supplies Wulfgar had granted them, the thane was able to catch Roman alone, as he was going through Wulfgar’s chambers to make sure nothing important was forgotten. The thane shut the door behind him and leaned against it, lips quirking when Roman turned to meet his gaze. “You told me that first night I wouldn’t have you forever, Roman. It looks as though you were right after all.”

Roman gathered his thoughts before answering, his mind a tumult of unexpected emotions. He’d been waiting for this day for a very long time, and whereas he was incredibly happy to be leaving with Aron and determined to see it through, a part of him would miss this hall, would miss Wulfgar.

A fleeting ironic smile crossed his lips. “I did say that, though the person I was that night believed it would have happened much sooner than it did and under different circumstances.” As he recalled, he’d vowed to win himself free so he could come back with his father’s soldiers to raze the thane’s home to the ground and crucify all the inhabitants.

He focused on Wulfgar again and noticed how his former owner remained in the same spot against the door. He had the impression it wasn’t so much that Wulfgar was barring the way out, but because the thane was afraid to bridge the physical distance between them. Roman almost laughed at that ludicrous thought. Wulfgar was afraid of nothing.

“Are you heading to Sverri’s croft hall when you leave, or have you convinced our young wolfhound to take you to Londinium?” Wulfgar finally asked, and Roman had the strange impression that it wasn’t what he was originally going to say.

Roman shrugged. “I know not, my lord. That’s Aron’s decision to make. He hasn’t told me where we’re going, though I believe he does have a destination in mind.” It hadn’t occurred to him ask. He’d been so worried about whether or not Aron would free him and bring him along that where they went afterwards was the least of his concerns.

Wulfgar pushed away from the door, approaching him slowly, and Roman was struck with uncertainty. He had things to say, yes, but mayhap they were better left unsaid. There was too much history. The thane stopped in front of him and reached out to brush back a lock of his hair.

Wulfgar cleared his throat and dropped his hand. His voice was gruff. “Well, if nothing else, you got the adventure you were seeking when you followed that tracking party, didn’t you?”

For a moment, Roman was overwhelmed with absolute fury. Adventure? He doubted the thane would say the same if their situations had been reversed. If instead Wulfgar had been captured by the Romans, dragged off to a strange place, and forced to suffer indignity after indignity. “I got much more than I bargained for, my lord,” he said, his voice cold and hard.

He saw a flash of guilt and unhappiness in those familiar gray eyes, which made him pause. Roman took a calming breath and forced his anger away. It would serve no purpose to wound Wulfgar before they parted, and he didn’t want to remember leaving him in anger and bitterness. The truth was they lived in brutal times; nothing had been done to him that wouldn’t have been done to a slave in his old household. Despite his temper, Wulfgar was a good man and more often than not had shown him kindness. In his own way, the thane had tried to make him happy.

“I’m sorry, my lord,” Roman continued before Wulfgar could respond. He looked up at the thane, gnawing on his upper lip. “I didn’t choose this life, and if I had a choice I would’ve been home long ago, but you already know this. I do resent that you never freed me. I would rather you’d done so than Aron winning me.”

He paused, afraid he was too openly criticizing Wulfgar and Aron, but he’d said this much already and wanted to get it all out. “Yet what contentment I’ve found here has been through you, and I thank you, my lord. I won’t forget your generosity, nor the consideration you were able to show me.”

Wulfgar nodded, a strange look of melancholy in his mien. Roman wasn’t surprised when the thane declined to say anything further. Wulfgar was not a man who could speak of what was in his heart. However, when the thane stepped away from him, Roman was taken aback. He had suspected Wulfgar would kiss him one last time, but Wulfgar merely nodded again and smiled.

“Be safe, Roman. And, for what little it may be worth, my advice to you is to have a bit of faith. Failing that, I’d suggest you worry a little more about yourself and less about other people.” The thane’s expression was both fond and rueful. “You’re too soft-hearted, pretty one.”

Leaving it at that, Wulfgar turned and strode from the room. Stunned, Roman stared at the door after Wulfgar was gone. He suddenly felt irrevocably cut off from the one person who had made his time here before Aron bearable. He supposed he’d never see the thane again, and that caused him a pang of loss. He was grateful beyond words he wasn’t going to be parted from Aron, but there was a small part of him that would stay behind here with the thane. Mayhap Aron was right; he had been a slave too long.

Roman wondered where Wulfgar was going, then surmised he wished to speak to Aron in private as well. He sighed and went to the window, looking out so he could give them a few moments. He turned the thane’s words over in his mind, pondering them. He wondered if Wulfgar suspected his doubts toward Aron. Probably. For a barbarian, he could be quite perceptive.

He knew it was wrong of him to doubt the man he loved, the man who loved him in return. Mayhap today would be first step toward something new. Aron was keeping his promise about taking him with him. Roman should’ve known Aron didn’t really mean those words he’d said to him that dark day. His lover had been upset and hurt, and Aron didn’t think about what he was saying when his temper had a hold of his mouth.

A
RON cinched the strap around the horse’s belly tight, checking to make sure the packs were secure. His head lifted at the sound of movement from the doorway of the stables, and he stiffened at the sight of the thane standing there watching him, a disgruntled and annoyed look on his face.

“My lord.” Aron kept his voice respectful, though he couldn’t help the wariness in it. Despite the removal of his collar and Wulfgar’s word that they were truly free, in the back of his mind, he couldn’t help the recurring thoughts of Wulfgar changing his mind. He could keep them there by force or, even worse, keep Roman and send Aron on his way without him.

He wouldn’t let it happen, but by the gods, he didn’t want to have to steal Roman. He didn’t know how his darkling would react to that, and it scared him to death to think Roman might change his mind as well. His darkling was free now. He could choose to stay if he wished.

There were so many unknowns, so many things that could go wrong. Aron wanted to get out of there as fast as they could, before anyone changed their minds and tore his entire world to shreds.

“Oh, cease looking as if I’m going to snatch everything away from you, Aron. I didn’t come here to detain you, nor to keep your Marcus from joining you,” the thane said with exasperation heavy in his voice before continuing on in a drier tone. “Besides, it would be the greatest folly on my part to try to keep you two apart. I’ve witnessed firsthand what you’re capable of when you set your minds together.”

Aron was almost limp with relief. He concentrated on closing the last cinch on the saddlebags and turned to face the thane, his jaw set. “Aye, you’re right, my lord. You wouldn’t have been able to part us.”

Wulfgar arched an eyebrow. “You’ll fight me to the last, eh, boy?” Aron’s jaw tightened further, and he tilted his chin, not quite glaring at the thane. “You expect any less? Have you paid no attention at all the past year?” He came around from behind the horse and looked Wulfgar straight in the eye.
Perhaps it was foolish, but he’d been biting his tongue for the past year, and now he was free, and he wouldn’t do so any longer. “You tricked me into being your whore, you enslaved a man who has the purest soul I’ve ever known, and you expect gratitude and smiles now?” He shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “There’s only one thing I’m grateful to you for, Wulfgar, and that’s for keeping your word and freeing us both. Beyond that….” Aron took a deep breath and shook his head. “Don’t stand there and expect anything more than what you’ve earned.”
Wulfgar’s eyes narrowed, and Aron’s spine steeled even more, prepared for a blow or worse. He wouldn’t cower, not for Wulfgar or for anyone else. He owed this man nothing, least of all his concern or his affection, however small.
The thane stroked his fingers through his beard, studying him, and Aron thought he saw grudging admiration in those gray eyes. “No, boy, I didn’t come here expecting smiles and gratitude, from you least of all. That’s more like Roman. I came to speak to you of him.” Wulfgar held up a placating hand as the fury and fear leapt inside Aron again. “Cease, I say. I told you I’m not going back on my word, which is more than I can say for you, but for the sake of the man you love, lay aside your rancor and listen.”
Aron bristled at that slur on his honor. He didn’t feel guilty about his attempt to run. He’d been tricked into his indenture, and that, as far as he was concerned, negated any dishonor by breaking his word. It had been given under false pretenses to begin with.
As for what the thane had to tell him about Roman, he tensed and shook his head, eyes narrowing, and cut Wulfgar off before he could speak. “No. Don’t.” Aron drew in a breath and chose his words carefully. “I don’t hate you, Wulfgar, and I don’t think you an evil man. I don’t, however, want your advice on Marcus.” He was almost amused by the thane’s attempt. “I mean no offense, but quite honestly, you know him not at all. You only know Roman as your toy, you know nothing of Marcus.”
Wulfgar snorted. “Suit yourself, boy. But mark my words, you’ll find there is far more of Roman in your Marcus than you want to believe.” He smiled, waving a hand at the horses Aron had been tending. “Finish what you were about, Aron. I wish you and your Marcus a safe journey, wherever it is you go.”