The Silken Cord (7 page)

Wulfgar talked of his childhood and the
mischief he’d gotten into. He spoke of daring deeds and battles he
embellished on purpose for her benefit. Soon, she laughed with
delight.

“And what of you?” he asked. “Did you have a
happy childhood?”

She looked away. “It’s been a hard life, but
I have many wonderful people whom I love. My mother died when I was
young, so I don’t remember much about her. My Aunt Frida raised me
to be a lady, but I fear my brothers undid much of her teaching.
They taught me to ride and to defend myself if we were attacked.
Father didn’t approve of the things they showed me, but he was so
busy leading our people and defending against the Normans that he
could do nothing to stop it.”

“So your father is a ruler?”

She glanced at him, her smile fading. She’d
let down her guard and said too much. “A ruler of sorts.”

“How many brothers do you have?”

She tensed, her mouth going dry. “I had
five. All of them died fighting the Normans, except the
youngest.”

Sadness settled over her, and her stomach
fluttered. She didn’t want to tell Wulfgar personal things about
her life. He was a Norman, a minion of William the Conqueror, who
sought to rule all within his grasp. Vengeful, conniving, and
ambitious. The Conqueror destroyed all who defied him, scorching
the land so nothing would grow. If people would not bow to his
sword, he would humble them with starvation. She could never trust
Wulfgar and she must not forget it.

“And where is your youngest brother?” he
asked.

She stiffened and looked toward the sea.
“He’s in danger. I fear for him. Oh, how I wish my men would find
us soon. I must get home.”

“Where is your brother?” he persisted.

“He’s being held for ransom.”

“Then your family must have wealth and
prestige.” He nodded and looked down at the plucked duck dangling
from his fingers. “Is that why you bought me? To fight to free your
brother?”

Shrewd man. “I don’t want you for
battle.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Who holds your
brother? Perhaps I can help.”

The only help he could offer would be to
disclose the location to the secret entrance into Castle Cynan.
Then, Ariana would sneak inside and steal her brother out from
beneath the nose of Edwin of Carlinham. Edwin was an evil man if
ever one lived. She clenched her hands, fighting the hatred she
felt for the man. As a Christian, she knew the Lord was a God of
peace, not of hate.

“Do you think I’d ask the help of a Norman
if I had any other option?” she said.

His eyes narrowed. “I feel much the same
toward the Welsh.”

The hostility between their people had
withstood time. Looking at Wulfgar, she tried to tell herself she
hated him. Truthfully, she didn’t know what to think about this man
she could neither accept nor shun. Where Edwin of Carlinham had
been cruel and treacherous, Wulfgar had been kind and merciful.

She crinkled her forehead. “You sought to
control the Welsh and place yourself as a ruler over them. My
people fought back to defend their lands.”

Wulfgar’s chilling gaze swept her. “I
defended our border at request of my king. I sought peace with your
people and at every turn they refused.”

She sucked in a harsh breath and gave a
bitter laugh. “Peace as long as we agreed to your terms. While you
were lord of Glyndwr, you would accept no less than our total
submission. For your King William, of course.”

His jaw clenched, but his icy stare softened
with emotion. Compassion? Surely not. It’d be easier to hate him if
he hadn’t been so kind to her.

Regaining her composure, she reminded
herself that she still needed Wulfgar’s help. For Dafydd, she would
curb her tongue. “I don’t wish to fight with you, Wulfgar. We both
have many grievances that cannot be resolved here and now. Let’s
speak of more pleasant topics. Tell me how you earned your spurs to
become a knight.”

He frowned, but complied with her request.
“I was sixteen years old, quite young to be knighted. I was only
seventeen when we crossed the English Channel and William won his
crown. I watched my father die proudly upon the Hill of Senlac. For
my family’s loyal service, I was rewarded with the Earldom of
Glyndwr.”

Ariana stilled as she watched him. He stared
at the feathers strewn around his feet, his voice raw with emotion,
his thoughts obviously absorbed by memories. Like her, he had lost
his father to war, but he had also won much through battle. It was
more than sad that there could be no peace between their
people.

She cleared her throat. “Tell me, is it true
to become a knight you must run and mount your war horse over its
rump while you are dressed in full battle gear?”

Wulfgar’s deep laughter filled the air.
“Yes, but I’ve never heard it described in such a way.”

The spark of anger seemed to have vanished.
Sudden warmth blanketed her as she stared at his hands. While her
delicate skin was now red with sunburn, his arms, face and feet had
turned a deep, rich bronze. With his long hair and flexing muscles,
he looked like an invincible warrior.

“Why did you buy me?” he asked again.

“Tell me instead why you were sold as a
slave.”

He gave an impatient scoff. “You already
know why.”

“But I wish to hear your side of the
matter.”

A troubled frown tugged at his brows. “Do
you wish to hear the truth or merely amuse yourself at my
expense?”

“I wish to understand why you betrayed your
king.”

Wulfgar’s eyes darkened. “If you doubt my
honor, I would simply make myself a fool by telling you of the
injustices done to me.”

Her mouth tightened. “Your own king didn’t
believe you were innocent. Why should I?”

He sighed and crossed his arms. “I misjudged
you, I see.”

Ariana stared. “What do you mean?”

Unfolding his arms, he stood and leaned
near, his eyes glittering. “I thought you had a mind of your own,
my lady. Until this moment, I believed you were different from the
rest, and that you thought for yourself. Otherwise, why would a
woman such as you come to the slave market to purchase a man such
as me? I still don’t know who you are and why you bought me. I
don’t believe it was on a whim. What do you want? What service do
you require of me? Speak it and I’ll comply if it is within my
power. I yearn for my freedom.”

She wished it were so easy. Edwin would be
more than happy to hand Dafydd over in exchange for her. If her men
had died at sea, she didn’t want to take the chance that Wulfgar
would try to gain advantage for himself by giving her to Edwin.

She must wait for her men.

Wulfgar sighed. “Once you know me better,
you’ll regret not trusting me.”

She drew herself up indignantly. “I don’t
wish to know you at all.”

“Is it because I’m a Norman that you don’t
trust me?”

Of course. Norman. Barbarian. They were the
same to her. “And also your past crimes. Words mean very little,
but actions speak the truth.”

“Given time, you’ll come to see my actions
are honorable where you’re concerned.”

Her brows rose in question and her voice
laced with sarcasm. “Only where I’m concerned? What about your
king, Wulfgar? You should be grateful he spared your life. Slavery
is the least you deserve. Do you think I can be persuaded to free
you because you say you are innocent?”

“No, I don’t believe I’ll ever be able to
walk away from you so easily.”

She swiveled toward the sea and let out a
shriek of delight. “Look!”

Wulfgar jerked his head around.

“Jenkin,” Ariana cried.

The tall frame of Raulf stood at the tiller
of Wulfgar’s ship with Jenkin nearby. Ariana’s men accompanied the
Normans. They must have been forced to abandon her father’s damaged
ship.

Ariana ran to the beach. Wulfgar picked up
his spear and followed more slowly. It appeared that God had
answered her prayers after all.

The men waded through the splashing sea to
the shell beach. Evan reached Ariana first, followed by Jenkin.
Raulf and Arnulf secured the moorings of the ship to large rocks,
then joined them. The Welsh shouted joyous greetings, but each man
carried a sword or battle-ax, ready to fight.

Jenkin wasted no time with niceties. He
stormed over to Wulfgar, a snarl on his lips. “Did you touch
her?”

Raulf drew his blade. Both the Welsh and
Norman warriors faced off against one another. They would fight
again! After all that had happened, after all they’d been through,
they would still fight.

Ariana inhaled a sharp breath. If they
killed each other, it could jeopardize her brother’s life. More and
more, she saw her plans vanishing with the tide.

She stood between them, tired of dealing
with this nonsense. How she hated death and killing. “Stop this
bickering, you fools.”

Clutching her jeweled dagger, she pushed
herself in front of Wulfgar and faced them all like a mother bear
protecting her cub. In her tattered clothing, she waved her weapon
in front of them. The men’s eyes rounded as they caught the gleam
of her bare ankles. Fury covered Jenkin’s face as he glared at
Wulfgar. Austin flushed and gripped his sword with hardened
knuckles.

“Did you touch her?” Jenkin bellowed.

Callum stood near his hut with Gara and
their baby behind him. With these angry voices, he’d picked up his
spear, looking confused. No wonder why. The strangers were both
friend and foe. The child cried and Gara comforted him.

Wulfgar’s dark eyes blazed. “Why don’t you
ask her?”

Everyone stared at Ariana. She grit her
teeth and pulled the ragged skirt of her hem over her bare feet.
“No, he hasn’t harmed me. Some Viking fishermen ripped my dress,
but they fled after Wulfgar taught them a lesson. He defended me.
He saved my life.”

No one moved. No one said a word. They gaped
at her in astonishment.

Jenkin’s frown eased slightly. “Have you
told the Norman slave what we want from him?”

Dear Jenkin. He was as delicate as a bull
trapped in the kitchen.

“He knows some of it, but I’ve waited for
your arrival to tell him everything.” Ariana rounded on Wulfgar.
“You and I must speak privately.”

“My lady?” Jenkin called in a pleading
tone.

She looked at her trusted friend, her body
tense, her mind resolved to what must be done. “Jenkin, he saved my
life twice when it would have served him better to let me die. He
has seen to my welfare and I’m unharmed. The plan hasn’t changed.
Please don’t fight me on this.”

Jenkin sighed deeply and kept his silence.
It was obvious from the disgusted expression on his face that he
wasn’t happy about the situation.

Ariana licked her dry lips, fighting off the
knots of tension in her stomach.

Wulfgar inclined his head. “What do you want
from me?”

“Come.” She indicated he should follow as
she moved away from their men.

The others appeared reluctant to let the two
of them move off alone together. It was almost amusing the way they
fought one another. If it weren’t so serious, Ariana would have
laughed. They were like little children fighting over the attention
of a choice playmate.

As Wulfgar followed her, Ariana lowered her
dagger and sighed with resignation. If Wulfgar refused to do her
bidding, she was in a dangerous predicament. Their men would fight.
All her plans could be destroyed.

Her brother would die.

Ariana’s hands trembled as she stared out to
sea. The fragrant heather surrounded her along with the tangy scent
of brine. She breathed deep, cognizant of Wulfgar standing beside
her, waiting, completely aware of her every movement.

“You have told me you value your freedom.”
She began in a quiet voice, choosing her words carefully.

“Yes, more than anything.” He nodded his
head, the wind lifting the long hair away from his shoulders.

“You were Lord of Glyndwr, once a great
earl. You ruled with an iron fist along the English border. Before
your fall from grace, your men and king respected you. It is said
that you built Cynan Castle. You know every brick and every stone
placed in its making. You took great care with its building so that
other great men came to you for plans to construct their own
castles.”

She waited for his acknowledgement, but he
didn’t speak. His silence was unnerving. He still clutched the
ancient spear, his broad shoulders looming before her, solid and
strong. But now, as she spoke of his home, Ariana could see the
sadness in his eyes and how it pained him to hear her speak of what
had once been his. And she was sad for him. Sad for all that he had
lost.

“How do you know so much about me when I
know so little about you?” His voice was a monotone.

She shrugged, unable to meet his gaze. “I
just know.”

He lifted his head higher as he looked down
at her. “You planned to buy me at the auction before you had even
met me. It wasn’t by chance.”

“Correct. I went there to purchase you.”

He looked perplexed. “Why?”

“I want you to tell me how to get inside
Cynan Castle without being detected. In return, I’ll grant your
freedom.”

For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, he
inhaled deeply and let his breath out slowly. The light of
understanding flickered in his eyes. “Your brother is inside
Cynan.”

A statement, not a question.

“Yes.” Ariana nodded. It was imminent that
he find out where Dafydd was being held, and by whom. All she
wanted was to know how to get inside, then she wanted Wulfgar to
disappear from her life.

Or did she? Somehow, the thought of never
seeing him again brought a sinking of despair to her heart. A
princess of Wales had no right to feel sentimental toward a
convicted traitor. She wished Wulfgar no harm, but she mustn’t
forget her priorities.