Chapter Six
He heard her out in silence, his face impassive. She had not known what to expect for he was skilled at hiding his thoughts; but at least she was spared any appearance of scorn. Somehow her voice remained level as she outlined the proposal, giving no indication of the thumping heart within her breast. No indication either of how keenly this invited proximity disturbed her equilibrium. Nothing in his manner suggested that this interview was having the least effect on him; he seemed to take it in his stride, like everything else he did.
They were standing in the hall, ordinarily a place she avoided whenever possible for its old associations with Torstein. Yet somehow the presence of this stranger drove the shadows back; he dominated the space and made it his own. While he was there she felt no desire to leave. Besides, as the heart of Drakensburgh, the hall seemed a fit setting for this conversation. She had ordered that the fire be remade, and the warm light did much to lift the gloom from the atmosphere. All the same, it could not dispel her inner trepidation. Would he even consider this scheme?
When at length she finished speaking he said nothing for a moment, only continued to regard her steadily. Her heart sank. He was going to refuse and now sought a means of letting her down gently.
‘Such a decision is not mine to make alone,’ he said. ‘I would need to put the idea to my men.’
As swiftly as it had sunk her heart leapt. He was not turning this down out of hand. The sudden expression of hope in her eyes had not gone unnoticed.
‘I told you that we were on our way to join Rollo before the storm delayed us.’
‘Yes.’
‘Such an alliance promises to be lucrative.’
‘I realise that.’
‘Then you will also realise that my crew would need to be sure the reward was sufficient to justify this change of plan,’ he continued. ‘That would be expensive.’
‘I know, but I am not without the means to pay for the services that Drakensburgh needs.’
‘They won’t consider it for less than ten gold pieces per man.’
Anwyn blinked. It was going to come to an eye-watering total, but worth the cost if it achieved her aim.
‘Very well.’
He nodded slowly. ‘You also need to understand what it means to start something like this. Ingvar won’t bow out gracefully. Things are likely to get unpleasant.’
‘I understand that, too.’
‘Do you?’ The blue gaze locked with hers. ‘I wonder.’
‘I know what Ingvar is.’
‘Good, because I can assure you that all pretence of neighbourliness is going to vanish as though it had never been.’
‘I have no wish to play the role of aggressor. What I want is a trained force that will be strong enough to act as a deterrent against aggression.’
‘A comfortable ideal,’ he replied.
‘You think it won’t work.’
‘I didn’t say that, but there’s a real risk that such a force would be tested at least once before the enemy understood its strength and backed off.’
‘Bloodshed must be a last resort.’
‘Of course. Even so, the affair will likely be protracted.’
‘That is a chance I am prepared to take.’
‘But I am not.’
Her heart sank again. ‘Not?’
‘The extent of my commitment here would be to train up a force sufficient to the task of protecting Drakensburgh. It might extend to leaving a few of my men here to oversee things, if they were willing to stay.’
‘They would be well paid.’
‘They would need to be.’ He paused. ‘Then there is the matter of your late husband’s men.’
‘What about them?’
‘If I stay, they will take their orders from me.’
For a moment Anwyn was silent. ‘They may resent that.’
‘Nevertheless, that’s how it will be. Without a force united under one commander there is no hope of prevailing against the likes of Ingvar and his henchman.’ He paused. ‘This point is not negotiable.’
Her brow wrinkled a little. To consent to this condition would effectively put Drakensburgh in his power. However, she needed his help and to get it she would have to trust him. ‘If I agree to this, I want to be informed of your plans before you carry them out.’
‘You have that right.’
‘Very well, then—it is agreed. You will command both forces.’ She regarded him steadily. ‘Ina is greatly respected among the men here. If you would win them over, first begin with him.’
‘I shall heed your advice, my lady.’
The sober tone was at distinct variance with the glint in his eye and she wondered now if he were gently mocking her.
‘Does it irk you that a woman should offer advice?’
‘By no means,’ he replied, ‘when the advice is good.’
The blue gaze was now closely focused on her face. Her heart thumped harder. Forcing herself to an outward expression of calm, she returned the look, hoping he could not read her confused thoughts just then. He already had too dangerous an advantage.
‘Will you speak to your men, then, my lord?’
‘I’ll speak to them, but I cannot promise that they’ll agree.’
‘But you are their chief, are you not?’
‘Aye, but decisions like this are reached by consensus.’
Privately she owned to surprise. Most commanders did not consult in that way. It gave another insight into his mind and confirmed the thought that he was unlike anyone she had ever met. Her experience in these matters was not great, but she knew that men remained loyal to leaders they respected, and such respect had to be earned. He had not won his reputation for nothing. Once again she had the sense of hidden danger, but it remained undefined.
‘I will speak to them later,’ he continued. ‘When I know their mind I will tell you.’
He left her then and for some time she remained where she was, deep in thought. Were her instincts correct? Could she trust him? Or was she making an error that would cost her dear in every sense of the word?
Wulfgar waited until after the evening meal before broaching the subject with his crew. They had built a fire of driftwood to keep off the evening chill, sitting around it and swapping tales over a cup of ale. They listened attentively while he outlined Anwyn’s proposal, though many faces registered surprise. Others registered more knowing looks.
‘Well, I can see your reasoning, my lord,’ said a wag from the crowd. ‘The lady is fair.’
‘Fair game?’ asked another.
That drew guffaws of laughter. Wulfgar smiled wryly. ‘The lady is fair,’ he agreed, ‘and game enough as we have seen, though no game for you, Dag.’
More laughter followed this.
Dag looked mournful. ‘The story of my life.’
‘Got designs on her yourself, my lord?’ asked Thrand.
‘It would do me no good if I had,’ said Wulfgar. ‘The lady is proof against my charms.’
Several ribald comments followed this, chiefly concerning the nature of his charms, but he bore it good-humouredly. When they saw he was proof against their baiting they left off.
‘What about Rollo?’ asked Beorn.
‘We can still join him when the repairs are complete, if you so decide,’ replied Wulfgar, ‘or we can meet him later.’
‘He may not take kindly to the delay, my lord.’
‘Rollo’s emotions don’t enter into it. Our alliance with him was discussed because it would be to our mutual advantage. The day it isn’t, the agreement ceases to exist. In the meantime, if we choose to earn ourselves some extra gold, it’s none of his affair.’
Murmurs of agreement greeted this.
‘How much gold exactly?’ asked Beorn.
‘Ten pieces for each man, plus food and board, of course.’
They digested this in thoughtful silence. Then Hermund spoke up.
‘Why not? One more job makes no odds. Rollo will still be there afterwards, won’t he?’
‘That’s right,’ said Thrand. ‘Besides, this shouldn’t be too hard.’
Hermund met his eye. ‘Don’t underestimate the enemy. Ingvar’s force is not small, as we’ve seen.’
‘Maybe not, but we’re more than a match for them. Besides, I’m looking forward to meeting Grymar Big Mouth again. Then we can talk about trespassing.’
His companions muttered agreement. Wulfgar surveyed them keenly.
‘All right, let’s come to an accord. All those in favour of remaining here a while, raise your hands…’
It was a unanimous vote in favour of remaining. He wasn’t surprised. As a business decision it made sense. Such a sum was more than most men would see in a lifetime. All the same, he felt a certain ambivalence about it, which had nothing to do with the nature of the task or with the reward they would receive. It was concerned with his own motives for agreeing to put the scheme to his men in the first place. This was a private matter and therefore none of his affair. So why had he allowed himself to be drawn in?