The Silken Cord (6 page)

Having quenched her thirst, she felt much
better. She offered the water to Wulfgar and watched as he took the
container, tilting the brim to his lips.

“Why did you betray your king?” The question
came from her mouth so fast that she couldn’t stop it. Whatever had
made her ask such a thing?

His eyes clouded over. “I never betrayed
William.”

“But everyone knows you were convicted of
treason.”

“I did not betray my king.”

He turned away and she let her questions
die. Surely his king would not have sentenced him so harshly
without ample proof.

She tamped down her feelings of friendship,
trying to remember not to trust this man. Wulfgar was a traitor,
his Norman people the lowest scum on earth.

“Tell me why you bought me,” he said.

Ah, he’d turned the tide on her. If he knew
what she wanted, he might refuse. She wasn’t yet ready for him to
know the truth. Not until her men were here to lend her aid should
he refuse.

“Who are your people? Which clan are you
from?” he persisted.

Like him, she didn’t respond. She blinked,
feeling some semblance of control returning to her trembling limbs.
Wulfgar might guess who her father was if she told him who her
people were.

The sounds of wind and sea beat all around.
The warmth of the sun glimmered on the sandy beach, the brightness
intense enough to make her blink.

Returning to the hut, the tantalizing aroma
of cooking fish filled the air. Callum crouched before a large rock
where he sliced long filets for Gara to skewer with sticks and
place before a fire they’d built outside. To distract herself,
Ariana tried to comb her tangled hair with her fingers. The sun
rose higher and covered the island. Indeed, it was a pleasant day
and Ariana almost forgot she was stranded with a man who was her
enemy.

She watched as Wulfgar stepped into the sea
and washed his face and other injuries. Perhaps she should offer to
tend his wounds, but she had no bandages or ointments to use and
didn’t think Gara’s meager possessions consisted of such luxuries.
No doubt the salt water would help heal his injuries.

“Your man watches over you well,” Gara
said.

Ariana jerked, surprised to find Gara
standing close by holding a bronze plate of cooked fish. Indeed,
between scanning the sea for their two ships and washing, Wulfgar
rarely took his gaze off her.

“He’s not my man. He’s my slave,” she spoke
rather harshly.

Gara glanced at Wulfgar and smiled. “Perhaps
he doesn’t know that.”

Gara handed the plate to Ariana, then moved
away to serve Callum. Ariana fumed silently. No, Wulfgar would
never be anyone’s slave. They could chain him, starve and even beat
him, but his spirit belonged to himself.

When he returned, water dripped from his
bearded face. Ariana’s cloak lay nearby on a rock and she inclined
her chin toward it. “Use it to dry off.”

He smiled his thanks before wiping his face
and arms. She couldn’t help laughing at the sight of this large man
all but wearing her woman’s cloak.

He chuckled and waggled his eyebrows at her.
“What? You don’t think me stylish in this pretty piece of
clothing?”

Shaking her long hair back from her
shoulders, she wrinkled her nose. “I think you look like a court
jester.”

He narrowed his eyes in a shaming frown and
drew one hand dramatically to his chest. “I am injured,
demoiselle
. I sought only to please you and here you make
fun at my expense.”

Ariana smiled as she slid a large piece of
fish onto a bronze plate and handed it to him.

“Be quiet and eat,” she admonished in a
lighthearted voice. “The fish is delicious. I’m so famished, I
would eat a leather shoe.”

She didn’t want to jest with this man. If he
hadn’t been convicted of treason, Dafydd might not be in the hands
of Edwin of Carlinham and her father would still be alive. The
thought was sobering. Wulfgar had no idea his own treachery had
played such a dramatic role in Ariana’s life and she mustn’t forget
what he was capable of.

Although Wulfgar didn’t recognize her, she
had met him as a child. Before his conviction, he had been Earl of
Glyndwr, a Norman stronghold at Castle Cynan. A truce had been
called and he had met with her father on several occasions, to talk
of peace along the border. They had reached an agreement, but
Wulfgar was convicted of treason and Edwin of Carlinham had taken
his place at Castle Cynan.

With Edwin as their leader, the Normans
began brutal raids on the Welsh. Edwin’s men harried Ariana’s
people night and day, murdering, kidnapping their women, burning
their fields and homes, slaughtering livestock to eliminate their
food supply.

The ploy had worked. During the harsh
winter, Ariana’s people had starved. Then, while she had been away
seeking help elsewhere, Edwin’s men had raided her father’s camp.
During the fight, Ariana’s father had been mortally wounded and
Dafydd, a seven-year old boy and the last remaining heir to her
father’s throne, had been captured.

Edwin’s ransom demand was too high. Lands
and wealth her poor people could not pay. So, Edwin had tried a
different ploy. If Ariana agreed to wed him, he would release the
boy. But Ariana knew Edwin would kill her brother anyway and use
her to steal her people’s lands. It was an impossible situation. Of
course, Edwin didn’t know her father was dead.

Yet.

It was the only reason Edwin hadn’t killed
Dafydd already. With Dafydd dead, there would be no heir to her
father’s throne. Ariana shuddered at the thought.

With his last breath, Ariana’s father had
begged her to get Dafydd back and see the boy placed upon the
throne. If it meant her life, she would see her brother safely
returned.

Now, she lost her appetite. Her brother’s
life was in jeopardy, her people were dying and there was no
peace.

Tears burned her eyes and she turned away so
Wulfgar wouldn’t see. She stared down at her plate of food, unable
to touch the tasty meat.

“You should eat.” Wulfgar’s voice reached
her ears. “You’ve had a difficult ordeal and must keep your
strength.”

He was right. Drying her eyes, she forced
herself to take a bite and chewed without thinking.

Her stomach cramped with tension and
fear.

I must get off this island. Please help me,
Lord.

A calming peace enveloped her. She mustn’t
panic, for she would be of no use to Dafydd then.

After the conquest of England, she could
understand why King William had made Wulfgar an earl over one of
the most powerful marches along the Welsh border. She could also
understand why he had sent Wulfgar into slavery the moment he
became a threat.

But why had the king spared Wulfgar’s
life?

He set his empty plate aside and took a long
drink of water. Then, he came to his feet and picked up the
spear.

“Will you be all right if I leave you for a
short time?” he asked.

Since they were on an island, she knew he
couldn’t flee without help. But what if his men found him before
Jenkin arrived? She mustn’t lose Wulfgar now.

“Where are you going?” She asked too
sharply.

“Up that hill to see if I can see a ship.”
He pointed to the west. “You’ll be safe here with Callum and Gara
and I’ll hear if you cry out.”

There was conviction in his tone, and Ariana
didn’t doubt his words. It seemed her slave had become her
protector, which confused her even more.

He turned to go.

“Wulfgar?”

He stopped and turned around, waiting
patiently for her to continue.

“Why did you jump in to save me?”

His dark eyes filled with emotions she
didn’t understand. “I knew you would drown if I didn’t.”

“But you would be free if I were dead.”

Both of them understood her question. If
their men found him later, he could simply say she had died, her
body lost at sea. No one would know the truth. He would be free.
Yet, he had done nothing but defend her. If he were truly a
traitor, why didn’t he kill her?

His face darkened. “Despite what you have
heard, I am no murderer. Nor am I a traitor.”

He turned and walked away. A shiver of
foreboding washed over Ariana and she wrapped her arms about
herself, staring after him. She wished she could believe him, but
didn’t dare. Too much was at stake. And once she told him what she
wanted from him, he might change his mind.

Wulfgar returned to the hut a short time
later, disappointed to see no sign of his men. He’d discovered a
small lake where ducks nested along the shore and understood how
Callum got fresh drinking water.

Gara stood upon one of the low hills, using
a long staff to help Callum herd the sheep. Wulfgar’s temper had
cooled. It did little good to tell Ariana he was no murderer of
women. His stomach sickened when he thought of pleading his cause
before the king. If his actions didn’t speak for him, he certainly
wouldn’t explain himself to Ariana. She would have to trust him or
not. It made little difference to him.

Ah, that wasn’t true. For some reason, what
she thought meant a great deal to him. Why? He didn’t know, only
that he was tied to this woman by more than chains.

Where was Ariana? Turning his head, he spied
her, standing beside the hut, bouncing Gara’s baby on her hip. The
little boy chortled as Ariana leaned her face close and kissed his
sweet face. Though Wulfgar couldn’t hear her words, he caught the
gentle tone of her voice and thought she’d make a lovely
mother.

A bolt of yearning tore through his chest
and he licked his dry lips. So much had been taken from him. All
his holdings. His freedom. His future.

He had no time to care about this woman now.
He must get off this island. Soon.

As he approached Ariana, he noticed her
cheeks, nose, and arms were rosy with sunburn. Startled, she turned
her head, then relaxed when she saw him.

His lips twitched with laughter. “I made
this for you.”

He handed her a hat he’d constructed out of
long grass. With the baby balanced in one arm, Ariana took the hat,
pinching it between two fingers as she held it away from her. Her
nose crinkled with repugnance and she stared at it like it was a
dead rat.

“What is it?”

“A hat. Put it on your head,
demoiselle
. It’ll protect your pretty nose from the
sun.”

From the frown creasing her forehead, he
could tell she didn’t like his offering, nor the way he spoke to
her. He supposed he didn’t speak like a slave should address his
mistress.

She settled the hat on her head and breathed
a sigh of relief as the rim shaded her eyes from the bright sun.
“Thank you. Though I fear it wouldn’t be stylish at court, it does
serve a purpose on this island.”

She was sensible and also kind with her
praise. The more he knew her, the more he liked her. And he didn’t
want to like this woman. He wanted to be free of her. She would
only hinder his plans. If his life weren’t in such a shambles,
things might be different between them. On the ship, he’d heard her
men speak of her father.

“Where is your husband?” he asked.

“I…I’m not married.” She pursed her lips
after speaking and he realized she wished she hadn’t responded so
quickly.

Her news pleased him and he didn’t
understand why. He was already betrothed, but thought she might be
worth angering King Rhys by breaking their agreement. It didn’t
matter now. He had nothing to offer her. No home or title.

No honor.

Doubt filled his mind. What if he failed to
clear his name? The rest of his life’s happiness and his mother’s
wellbeing depended on his success. He must succeed.

She took a deep breath and let it out with
exasperation. “I’m from a small, inconsequential clan.”

Definitely Welsh. Because they were his
enemy, he had made it his business to know most of the clans and
who their rulers were. Why had she traveled all the way to Hedeby
to buy him? He sensed desperation in her, some specific reason she
needed him. Jenkin had offered him freedom if he would comply. So
many questions swirled around Wulfgar’s mind. Could he get her
talking and hope she’d let down her guard and speak freely to give
him clues?

“You didn’t buy me to work in the fields,
nor to fight for you.”

Her gaze met his. In her eyes, he saw
anxiety and fear.

He answered for her. “You need me.”

She turned away, but didn’t deny his
words.

“Why is it a secret?” he persisted.

She bit her bottom lip. “There’s much at
stake. I want my men here before I disclose my plan to you.”

“So they can force me to do your
bidding?”

Her head jerked up and a guilty blush spread
across her face, mottling her sunburned cheeks.

He snorted. “Is the chore so detestable that
your men must force me to submit?”

They could try. He would never do something
unless he wanted to.

She paced in front of him, rocking the baby.
“There is great danger.”

“Then, tell me what you want and have done
with it.”

She shrugged one slender shoulder. “It
doesn’t matter until my men find us. We’re stuck here.”

Wulfgar sat down and began to pluck feathers
from two ducks Callum had snared earlier. To fight off boredom, he
regaled Ariana with light, amusing stories. As he thought of his
family, the topic soon turned serious.

“My mother was a gentle woman, but I knew
better than to disobey her,” he said. “Even my father’s booming
voice didn’t impact me as much as my mother’s quiet disapproval. I
was first born and many responsibilities come with a title. I
didn’t take them lightly.”

“Were you a protector even then?” Ariana
asked.

“Yes.” He brushed feathers from his lap.
“After my father died, it was my duty to care for my mother and
younger brother.”