The Viking’s Touch(26)
‘No, he won’t,’ replied Wulfgar.
‘How do you know that?’
‘Curiosity will get the better of him.’
It seemed he was right because a short time later the gate swung open to allow egress for a group of horsemen. At their head was Ingvar. He was flanked by Grymar and half-a-dozen others. They rode unhurriedly towards Wulfgar, pulling up close by. For a space the two men surveyed each other in silence before Ingvar spoke.
‘My guard said that you desired speech with me.’
‘Aye,’ replied Wulfgar. ‘So I do.’
Ingvar smiled. ‘I am intrigued.’
‘I’ll make this short. Yesterday Lady Anwyn did me the honour of becoming my wife.’
The smile faded and Ingvar’s eyes narrowed. ‘What treachery is this?’
‘No treachery, but a decision taken of her own free will.’
‘A likely tale.’
‘I speak the truth.’
‘Nay, you used your wiles to gain entrance to Drakensburgh and then seized control.’
Wulfgar surveyed him coolly. ‘You judge others by your own standards. I used no wiles here. I had no need of them.’
‘He speaks true.’ Ina nudged his horse forwards. ‘Lady Anwyn married of her own free will.’
Ingvar’s gold-brown eyes glinted, but it was clear the old warrior’s words had struck home. ‘Is it so indeed?’
‘It is so. Lord Wulfgar is master of Drakensburgh now.’
‘You move quickly, my lord,’ said Ingvar. ‘But then the prize was great.’
‘The prize is mine,’ replied Wulfgar, ‘and I mean to keep it.’ His gaze flicked to Grymar. ‘Any more un-neighbourly behaviour will find an un-neighbourly response.’
Grymar glared, his hand moving to his sword hilt. Ingvar checked him with one upraised hand.
‘I have never sought enmity with Drakensburgh. I do not seek it now.’
Wulfgar nodded. ‘Then we understand one another.’
‘I believe we do. I only hope that Lady Anwyn does not come to regret her decision.’
‘I shall give her no cause to regret it,’ said Wulfgar.
Ingvar’s lips curled. ‘We’ll see, won’t we?’
With that he turned his horse’s head and, barking an order to his escort, rode away. The others watched them go.
‘Nasty piece of work,’ said Hermund. ‘Still, he knows where he stands now.’
‘He knows,’ replied Wulfgar.
‘Did you believe him, about not wanting trouble?’
‘No, but the case is altered and he knows it.’
‘Then perhaps he’ll back off and accept defeat.’
‘If he’s wise, he will.’
It was perhaps an hour later when they returned. On leaving his men Wulfgar went in search of Anwyn. He found her in the hall, speaking to one of the servants. Hearing his approach, she looked round and he saw her smile. She dismissed the servant and came forwards to meet him.
‘Did you enjoy your ride, my lord?’
He returned the smile. ‘Not especially, but it was necessary or, believe me, I would not have gone.’
The implication brought a faint tinge of colour to her face. He thought it became her well.
‘I went to see Ingvar,’ he continued.
‘Then he knows now. I will not ask how he took it.’
‘Do you care?’
‘Only in so far as his anger may affect Drakensburgh,’ she replied.
‘It will not—now.’
Her eyes widened slightly. ‘Wulfgar, you did not—’
‘Kill him? No.’
She breathed a sigh of relief. He saw it.
‘Would you have cared if I had?’
‘Yes, but not for the reason you suppose.’ Her hand came to rest on his sleeve. ‘I would not have our marriage vows sealed in blood.’
His gaze met and held hers, but found only sincerity there. It warmed him, like the touch of her hand on his arm.
‘Then I am glad I resisted the temptation,’ he said.
‘So, what now, my lord?’
‘I will hear the men give their oaths of fealty.’ He smiled down at her. ‘After that I am at your disposal.’
Having summoned the men to the mead hall, he seated himself in the great carved chair that was the symbol of the lord’s power. Anwyn, sitting beside him, thought he looked as if he had been born to the role. His was a commanding figure in every sense of the word, a strong physical presence who carried with him an aura of authority—a man whom other men would follow. A man to draw a woman’s eye and hold it. She pulled herself up firmly at that; no woman would ever hold him for long.
When all were gathered he rose and one by one the Drakensburgh warriors came forwards, each one kneeling and placing his hands in those of the new lord, and swearing the oath of loyalty. It was a solemn and binding promise that held both parties while they lived. Anwyn glanced round at the assembled crowd, but could see no sign of Thorkil or his friends. Their absence implied that they had left, a circumstance verified later by Ina.
‘Good riddance, too,’ he said. ‘We’re better off without them.’
Anwyn nodded. All things considered matters had gone more smoothly than expected. She glanced across the room where Wulfgar was engaged in conversation with a small group of Drakensburgh men. He must have said something witty because the words were followed by a burst of laughter. It reinforced her earlier impression of his leadership skills. These men would follow him. Ina followed her gaze.
‘I think we may look forward to better days, my lady.’
She surveyed him in surprise; coming from him, the words amounted to high praise. ‘Indeed, I hope so.’
As though sensing himself watched, Wulfgar glanced round. With a few words he excused himself from the group and came over to join his wife.
‘And now, my lady, what would it please you to do?’
‘I would like to go out for a ride, but you have already done that.’
‘A matter of duty,’ he replied. ‘This time it will be a pleasure.’
The words and the accompanying look caused her pulse to quicken. Ina looked from one to the other and his lips quirked.
‘I’ll have the grooms saddle the horses, my lord.’
Wulfgar held the horse’s bridle while she mounted. Then, having seen her safely ensconced, he followed suit.
‘Are you ready?’
‘Ready,’ she replied.
‘Come then, wife.’
The use of that word brought spots of colour into her cheeks. She glanced around, but the grooms were too far away to have caught what he said. Wulfgar grinned and she realised then that he was enjoying this. She threw him an eloquent look and turned her horse’s head towards the gate.
Once they were beyond it she let the animal out to a canter. Moments later his mount drew level. Anwyn grinned. They crossed the heath and pulled up on the edge of the dunes. The horses fell into single file, picking their way through the soft sand and coming at last to the bay beyond. The sea was calm, the waves breaking gently on the strand where the Sea Wolf waited.
At the sight of the ship Anwyn’s pleasure faded a little for she could hear Wulfgar’s voice in her head. I won’t stay for ever… With an effort she pushed the thought away. He was here now. She would not spoil the day with fears of what the future might bring.
The men on guard called a greeting which Wulfgar returned. ‘Is all well here?’ he asked, reining to a halt beside Dag.
‘Aye, my lord. No sign of anyone hereabouts until you came.’
‘Good.’
‘I reckon that Grymar oaf got the hint.’
‘Let’s hope so.’
Wulfgar rejoined Anwyn and they rode on.
‘Do you think Ingvar and company really have taken the hint?’ she asked.
‘Unless they’re stupid.’
‘I don’t know about stupid, but I believe them to be vengeful.’
‘They need not concern you now. Forget about them, Anwyn.’
‘I confess I don’t find them a particularly edifying subject.’
‘No more do I.’ He nodded in the direction of the strand. ‘That’s a mighty tempting stretch of firm sand. What say you to a gallop?’
Her face lit in a smile. ‘I’d say it sounded like an excellent idea.’
Given their heads the horses leapt forwards, their hooves flying over the packed wet sand, manes streaming in the wind. The swifter pace was exhilarating and Anwyn’s spirit soared. Once she glanced sideways and saw Wulfgar grin. They sped on, their mounts neck and neck, pulling up eventually at the far end of the bay. Anwyn laughed, patting the horse’s neck enthusiastically.
‘That was wonderful.’
‘Aye, it was,’ he replied. Then, as they walked on, ‘You ride well, my lady.’
‘So do you.’
‘My father taught me. He’s a fine horseman.’
‘A great warrior, too, I imagine.’