The Silken Cord (25 page)

A low chuckle came from Edwin and Wulfgar
was conscious of the man standing just behind him. He felt Edwin’s
hands at his neck and tensed. With two savage jerks, Edwin tore
Wulfgar’s shirt and opened it wide to reveal the bare expanse of
his back.

Stepping to the side where Wulfgar could see
him, Edwin showed a sinister smile as he reached for a whip he had
tucked into the waist of his pants.

“I think I’m going to enjoy this.” Unfurling
the whip, Edwin stepped behind Wulfgar.

Crack!

The lash tore into Wulfgar’s flesh. Edwin’s
laughter filled the room. Wulfgar flinched against the burning
pain, but refused to cry out.

“Scream, Wulfgar. There’s no one but me to
hear you.”

Crack!

Wulfgar jerked and clenched his teeth.

“Before I’m finished, you’ll beg me to
stop,” Edwin mocked.

Thrice more, the lash fell, until Wulfgar’s
back was on fire, his mind numb to anything but hate.

“Stop!” Robert returned and threw open the
door. “King William didn’t give orders to whip the prisoner.”

Wulfgar breathed with relief. Praise God,
the guards were William’s, loyal to him and not Carlinham.

Robert took the whip from Edwin and moved to
the cell door. Wulfgar turned his head to the side and saw Robert’s
harsh face as he waited for Edwin to follow him out.

Edwin peered at Wulfgar, his mouth curved in
a cruel smile. “Too bad. I was so enjoying our little chat. Perhaps
later we can finish this.”

“I’ll kill you one day,” Wulfgar growled
low.

“I think you’ll find that difficult, once
the king lops off your head. But I can promise you this.” Edwin
leaned nearer, so that Wulfgar felt his foul breath hiss past his
ear. “Once Ariana is my wife, I’ll remind her every day of your
death.”

Fury blinded Wulfgar. With a roar of rage,
he jerked upwards against the chains and used the leverage to climb
the wall with his feet. Flipping the link off the hook in the wall,
he freed himself from the wall and whipped the chains about,
striking Edwin across the face.

Blood spurted across the wall as Edwin
groaned and fell back, reaching a hand up to his nose. Wulfgar
jumped on the man, knocking him to the stone floor, pounding his
face with his bound fists.

“Hold!” Robert launched himself at Wulfgar’s
back, trying to pull him off Edwin.

More guards raced into the cell, grabbing
Wulfgar’s arms, trying to pull him back. It took six men to get him
off of Carlinham.

Edwin came to his feet, wiping blood from
his nose, spitting a tooth out. His dark hair fell into his eyes
and he tossed a hateful glance at Wulfgar. “I’ll see you dead for
that.”

“Out,” Robert ordered, leading Edwin to the
door.

Wulfgar showed a jeering smile. “You’ll
never live to wed Ariana, this I vow.”

No response came from Edwin as the guards
hurried him outside and slammed the door closed.

Throwing back his head, Wulfgar laughed long
and hard, the sound hollow as it echoed off the cell walls. When he
finally quieted, his head slumped to his chest and he stared at his
chained hands. Feeling the burn of tears, he turned his mind to
Ariana. Pure and sweet, warm and strong.

How he loved her. His heart swelled and he
could barely contain his emotions. He must not give up hope. Not as
long as she lived. He must trust in God, for all else had failed
him.

Chapter
Seventeen

The bulk of the king’s army secured the
town. Men-at-arms were stationed in the gatehouse, along the
palisade walls and on the battlements. Ariana stared at their cruel
faces. Fierce men of war. This was the army that had harrowed the
north, laying waste to all who opposed King William.

Wulfgar had helped. And yet, she could
remember nothing about him, but his tender embrace as he comforted
her.

As two burly guards escorted her to a locked
chamber above the great hall, she doubted she would ever see her
homeland again.

Inside her room, she opened the shutters and
stared out the window at the activities down below in the bailey. A
group of soldiers came from the stable, leading fresh mounts.
Archers lined the battlements as spearmen practiced against a
target made of straw. William’s men were still dressed in armor,
wearing their individual coat of arms beneath their chain mail.

Would she ever see her brother again? She
prayed Evan was as loyal as Jenkin had been.

Down in the bailey, soldiers loaded bodies
into wagons to take outside the castle for burial. When two guards
carried Jenkin’s body out of the gatehouse, tears burned her eyes
and she coughed, unable to contain a hollow sob.

He should be buried in Welsh soil.

She watched as the horses pulling the wagon
plodded outside the castle and up to a lone hill with a single tree
overlooking the valley. Peasants from the town dug graves and laid
the dead men to rest. A man of God bowed his head and prayed over
the graves.

Clutching the shutters with whitened
knuckles, she ignored the tears running down her face. At least she
knew where Jenkin was. Somehow, it was fitting for him to remain
here, where he might watch over her always. She didn’t think the
king would let her leave Cynan and she believed Jenkin would prefer
to remain close by rather than returning to Wales. He’d given
everything for her. His future, his life.

All gone.

What would King William do with her? Would
she be taken away to the dungeons at Winchester or given in
marriage to Edwin? Both prospects made her shudder, but she was
smart enough to know she was a valuable hostage to keep the Welsh
under control. No doubt William would wed her to one of his men.
But that didn’t mean they would treat her well.

There was a knock on the door and she turned
from the window, wiping her eyes.

“Enter.”

A young woman opened the door and poked her
head in. “Begging your pardon, my lady. My name is Gwyn. My father
was the blacksmith here at Cynan. The king has sent me to wait on
you.”

Gwyn entered, carrying a tray bearing a
savory meat pie, several red apples and chunks of golden cheese. As
she set her burden down, she reached up and swept a wavy lock of
auburn hair back from her face and tucked it beneath a woolen scarf
on her head. Ariana knew from her coarse woolen smock that Gwyn was
a peasant. From her pert nose and the smattering of freckles across
her cheeks, the girl appeared to be about Ariana’s age.

“Your father is dead?” Ariana asked

Gwyn knelt beside the brazier and lit a fire
before answering. “Yes. Lord Carlinham’s horse stumbled and threw
him, so he had my father killed.”

“Why would Carlinham kill your father when
his horse stumbled?”

Adding kindling to the fire, Gwyn shook her
head. “Because my father shoed the horse the day before, Edwin
blamed him. Then Edwin killed the horse and gave me to his men to
use. One day, I’ll see him dead for it.”

Her voice was whisper soft and chilling. The
confession surprised Ariana. Was Gwyn so certain of Ariana’s hatred
for Edwin that the girl would confide in her?

“Come and eat, princess. You must be
starved.”

Ariana’s stomach twisted with tension. How
could she eat? Shaking her head, she turned back to the window.

“You’ll want a bath and rest before supper.
The king will summon you to come down later this evening.”

Summon! The word burned her mind with
outrage.

Gwyn’s father had obviously served under
Wulfgar. Since Edwin had murdered the man, would Gwyn be
sympathetic to Wulfgar’s plight?

“Are you still loyal to Lord Wulfgar?”
Ariana asked.

Gwyn’s gaze slid toward the hallway and she
nudged the door closed with her foot. Her voice lowered. “Of
course. But Lord Carlinham rules here now. The king will sentence
Lord Wulfgar to death.”

Ariana felt a jolt of fear course through
her veins. “Would you help Wulfgar and me escape?”

Ariana’s question was blunt and unexpected,
but she had no time for niceties.

Gwyn’s mouth dropped open and she stared.
“It would be foolhardy, my lady. The castle is overrun by King
William’s guards. They are much more vigilant than Lord Carlinham’s
men. If we were caught…” She shuddered. “We would be killed.
Besides, the king has two guards stationed outside your door. One
accompanies me wherever I go. The king is very cautious.”

Ariana sighed. It’d been worth a try, but
she couldn’t blame the young woman for being wary. “Leave me.”

Gwyn’s mouth quivered. “But my lady, the
king has sent me to prepare you for tonight. You don’t want to make
him angry by appearing before him wearing rags.”

No, she didn’t want to anger William, but
she needed time to brace herself for what was to come. She had no
doubt the king would insist she marry Edwin of Carlinham. If it
would save Wulfgar’s life, she’d gladly comply. Would the king
bargain with her?

Her cooperation for Wulfgar’s life.

Her blood pounded in her veins. “I need time
alone.”

Picking up the damp towels, Gwyn went to the
door. “All right, my lady. I’ll return later, in time to help you
dress.”

Gwyn closed the door quietly and Ariana
breathed with relief. Alone in the privacy of her room, she stared
out the window again, watching as William’s army set up their tents
outside the castle walls. So many men. She was well and truly
trapped. Wulfgar never had a chance.

Unable to bear the sight of their defeat any
longer, she flung herself across the furs on the bed and gave way
to her sorrow. Her ragged sobs filled the room.

Wulfgar. Dafydd. Jenkin.

All lost to her. She was alone. Despair
flowed through her heart. Her soul ached for the love she’d found
with Wulfgar only to lose it before she could even tell him how she
felt.

How could she go on? How could she stand to
live?

She must. For Wulfgar and Dafydd’s sake.
Though she was a prisoner, she must do everything in her power to
try and be a voice for them and for her people.

Later, Gwyn returned and helped Ariana wash
her hair and bathe. Neither of them spoke as Gwyn dressed Ariana in
a soft linen gown of mauve. Gwyn brushed Ariana’s golden hair until
it glimmered like sunbeams down her back.

“Don’t look so sad,” Gwyn told her. “The
king has given orders that you’re to have anything you desire.”

Except Wulfgar and her freedom.

Gwyn dabbed Ariana’s arms and neck with rose
water, speaking in a gentle tone. “I overheard the king talking
about a marriage alliance for you. Lord Carlinham has asked for
your hand, but the king hasn’t agreed, yet. Though he’s handsome as
the devil, Lord Carlinham would never be a kind husband.” Gwyn
wrinkled her nose with repugnance.

Tension coiled in Ariana’s stomach. If she
couldn’t have Wulfgar for her husband, she wanted none. All men
paled when she compared them to him.

Sitting on the bed, Ariana twined her
fingers together and watched Gwyn tidy up the room. A knock sounded
on the door.

“Enter,” Ariana called.

A guard opened the door. “The king seeks
your presence below.”

Ariana’s stomach clenched. She wanted to
refuse William’s summons, but she longed to hear word of Wulfgar.
When would they take him to Winchester for execution?

Standing, she walked through the narrow
passage leading to the stairwell. Two guards were there to escort
her and Gwyn below. Stiffening her spine, Ariana stared straight
ahead as she took hold of the rope railing and walked down the
steps. In the great hall, lighted torches had been set about the
room and a cheery fire burned in the large fire pit. The scent of
tallow and fresh bread filled the room.

She uttered not a word as she was ushered to
the head table where the king sat on a raised dais. Baldwin and
various lieutenants sat on the king’s left. Edwin hovered on the
king’s right, sipping from a goblet of wine. When Edwin saw her,
his brows lowered. What had happened to his face? His eyes were
blackened, his lips swollen, and he had cuts and gashes on his
cheeks and forehead.

She couldn’t suppress a wide smile. She
longed to congratulate whoever had given him the beating.

Looking away, he tilted his cup to his lips
and gingerly took a sip.

The hall was filled with soldiers and
guards, the room stifling as she stood before the king’s high
table. Servants rushed about, filling the men’s goblets with wine
and ale. They had either just finished a meal or would soon partake
of one.

A loud thud sounded behind her and she
turned to see the large oak door thrown open and two guards
accompanied Wulfgar inside. The moment she saw him, her heartbeat
picked up and joy suffused her.

“Wulfgar.” She tried to run to him, but a
guard grabbed her arms and pulled her back.

Wulfgar walked the length of the hall and
stood beside her, his hands bound in front of him. He clenched his
jaw, his eyes sparkling with fire as he surveyed the room. His gaze
stabbed Edwin of Carlinham.

Wulfgar’s shirt had been torn into tatters
and his back glistened with sweat and bloody stripes.

He’d been whipped. Had the king ordered this
torture?

Anger pounded Ariana’s temples. She tossed
an ugly glare at William, but her legs and arms trembled when she
considered what other tortures the king might have planned.

Wulfgar’s gaze met hers. “Are you well?”

Ariana’s stomach turned somersaults. He’d
been whipped, yet he sought after her welfare. Gone was the fury in
his eyes, replaced by warmth. Jutting his chin, he demonstrated the
pride and valor she knew was such a part of him. A comforting smile
curved his mouth. How could he show such courage?

And then she knew. It was for her benefit.
To offer his strength to her.