The Silken Cord (23 page)

She prayed silently that Evan had
sequestered Dafydd away to safety. The prince must be her men’s
first concern.

Ariana felt the burn of tears. If only she
could do something to stop this tragedy from happening. If only she
could save Wulfgar’s life.

Edwin rode beside the king, conversing with
animated gestures. Oh, how she loathed the man. Heaven help her,
she hated him.

He was much taller than the king, sitting
his horse easily as the army moved toward Cynan. Edwin leaned his
head down to hear what the king said, then threw his head back and
laughed deeply. His hair glimmered almost blue black in the
sunshine and he swept it away from his high forehead with a brush
of his hand.

As they approached the town, the sun gleamed
on the sparkling waters of the River Teme. Sweat trickled down
Ariana’s forehead. The skin on her arms was red and scratchy from
the woolen tunic she wore. She longed to change into a soft linen
gown.

By now, their approach would have been seen
by one of Wulfgar’s scouts and reported to him. The massive army
was a fearful site, dressed for battle, descending over the low
hills to surround the town and keep. No doubt the people were
terrified.

The gates of the town palisade were secured,
the townsfolk armed and prepared to defend their homes as they
peeked over the high walls.

There was a scurry along the ramparts as
William rode with a small company of his men to the gatehouse.
Edwin remained behind, the coward. He didn’t even reach to finger
the shiny hilt of his sword as the other men-at-arms did.

Spearmen and bowmen lined the ramparts of
the castle, looking down at the king’s host. Dressed in chain mail,
their heads were covered by helmets. Horses blew dust from their
nostrils and stomped their hooves, sensing the tension in the air.
Heads were raised high as everyone watched and waited, prepared for
the worst.

But where was Wulfgar? She prayed he was
safe.

It was easy to make out Raulf standing
between the merlons as he called down from the wall. “What do you
want?”

“We demand entry into Cynan. Yield and we
won’t burn the town,” Baldwin, the king’s captain, called back.

Raulf snorted. “I think we will oblige you
to take the castle, if you can.”

From her vantage point, Ariana saw the
king’s profile harden. Was Raulf daft? This large army would lay
waste to Cynan.

Wulfgar, where are you? He would never
abandon his men. Had he been killed?

Her heart squeezed painfully. She couldn’t
stand to live in a world without him.

The king raised a gauntleted fist and roared
with fury. “Open in the name of William, King of England.”

Raulf stilled and Ariana watched him stare
hard at William. There was a heavy pause as the king prepared to
depart into the woods to make camp and plan war. Ariana felt the
bunched muscles of her horse beneath her. The other steeds pranced
nervously.

Lifting a white flag, Raulf shouted once
more. “My lord will come out and speak with the king.”

Wulfgar? No, he must not leave the safety of
the castle walls.

A loud screech filled the air and chains
rattled as the portcullis began to rise. King William and his men
moved back as Wulfgar emerged, accompanied by Arnulf, who carried a
flag of truce. Gaston, Evan, Cwrig and Ifor also rode beside
Wulfgar, a mingling of Welsh and Norman.

Their men.

Pride flooded Ariana’s heart. They were
united now, their cause was one. She felt the burn of tears as she
watched them advance. No longer could she hate these Normans.
Wulfgar’s knights had fought valiantly for her cause. She’d already
lost Jenkin and didn’t want to lose any more.

Where was Dafydd? Was he still inside the
castle? He was safe for now, but if William took Cynan, the boy’s
life would be in danger once more.

The horses clattered over the drawbridge.
Dressed in full battle gear, Wulfgar’s back was stiff as he rode
his warhorse, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. He wore no
helmet and Ariana could see his expression was harsh. She imagined
his dark eyes blazed with deadly fire.

Nay! Go back where it’s safe. She wanted to
shout at him to return to the safety of the walls.

It’d do no good. A man such as Wulfgar would
face his death with courage. She tried to swallow, but her throat
felt like dry sand.

Accompanied by Baldwin and several other
knights, King William rode forward to converse with Wulfgar. Though
older now, the king had a fearsome reputation and Ariana doubted
not this day could end in a bloodbath if all parties didn’t keep
cool heads. How sad that Wulfgar must face in battle a king he
loved.

This was a black day, indeed.

As they met, Ariana could hear their words
carrying in the crisp morning air. Wulfgar separated himself from
the others and urged his chestnut stallion further out into the
open, just as the king did. From where she sat, Ariana could see
the king’s profile tighten with fury. Likewise, Wulfgar’s features
were hard as granite, yet now she could see his eyes and they bore
no hatred as he looked upon his king.

“Now you have rallied the Welsh against me,
Wulfgar?” King William’s tone sounded heated. “You still conspire
treason? I thought I was done with you.”

“Nay,” came Wulfgar’s reply. “The Welsh are
here for their princess. I’m here only to serve you.”

Ariana’s gaze lifted to the Welsh warriors
who stood with Wulfgar’s knights along the battlements. Looking at
their stoic faces and sparse clothing as they held their weapons,
she knew it was true. Their loyalty to her even in their saddened
state touched her deeply.

“What do you want, traitor?” William spat
the words.

“I wish only to serve you, sire.”

The king tilted his head to one side. Ariana
wished she could see the king’s expression and read his
thoughts.

“The liar,” Edwin whispered low, his eyes
narrowed with loathing.

Ariana tossed a scathing glare in his
direction. She wouldn’t listen to aspersions directed at Wulfgar.
“You call your king a liar?”

“Not him,” Edwin huffed. “I mean de
Conteville. He’s just sealed his doom.”

What could she say to that? It could very
well be true.

“Hush,” she hissed. “I’m trying to
listen.”

King William heaved a heavy sigh. “No doubt
you’ve won the heart of Princess Ariana. She is lovely. I find it
interesting that she bought you at the slave market and you helped
her get her brother back from Carlinham. Do you think to make
yourself king of Powys?”

Wulfgar shook his head. “Prince Dafydd will
be their king. It’s his right. I ask that you free Princess Ariana
so she might return to her people.”

The king snorted. “You ask me? How dare
you?”

Wulfgar remained silent, his jaw
clenched.

The king lifted a hand. “And what will you
give me in return for the princess’s life? Will you hand over her
brother, Prince Dafydd?”

Ariana tensed. Now was the moment of truth.
Would Wulfgar betray her?

“That isn’t my preference,” Wulfgar spoke
low.

Ariana’s heart leapt.

The king shrugged. “You’ve nothing else I
want. I’ve been told many things, Wulfgar. Things I’m not certain I
should believe.”

Wulfgar frowned. “What things, sire?”

“That you are, in fact, loyal to me and
always have been. That Lord Huntingdon lied when he said you
conspired with him against me. I’ve seen the people of Glyndwr
standing on their walls, thinking to defend themselves against my
army. I’ve been told they’ll have no one else to rule over them but
you. Bah!” The king smacked a gauntleted fist against his thigh.
“It’s a bunch of pig slop if you ask me. I’ll say who will rule
them, else I will harrow their lands and burn everything to the
ground. Let them starve through the winter and we’ll see who
they’ll accept as their overlord.”

As he spoke, William’s voice rose to a
steady roar. If his anger had been aimed at her, Ariana would have
been crouching in a box. But Wulfgar remained passive, meeting the
king’s furious glare.

The jingle of spurs could be heard as
Wulfgar’s horse shifted its weight and waved its head impatiently.
Ariana noticed Edwin’s face had turned a sickly gray color, but he
wisely held his tongue.

“Still,” William continued in a calmer tone,
“these things make me wonder. Why do the people of Glyndwr love
you, Wulfgar, hmm? It makes me think you could easily lead them
against me, and I can’t allow that.”

Wulfgar leaned an arm against the pommel of
his saddle. “Sire, these are your people. They’ll welcome you now
they know it’s your army that has come and not Carlinham’s
mercenaries. They’ll honor you before they honor me. It’s always
been so, this is not new.”

“I’m not so certain, Wulfgar.”

“You can be assured that I’ve given the
order for my men to surrender Cynan to you.”

William’s brows rose. “Oh? Why would a
convicted traitor order his men to honor the king he’s accused of
betraying?”

The northern wind stirred dust around them.
Ariana closed her eyes and began to pray. Opening her eyes, her
gaze lifted to the gatehouse where Raulf stood in one of the
towers. The drawbridge was down, the portcullis raised. Extremely
vulnerable. It would be no difficult task for William to rush
Wulfgar and gain entrance to the keep. Both William and Wulfgar
must know this.

Tears filled her eyes when she considered
what might happen next.

“I’ve never betrayed you,” Wulfgar insisted.
“I returned to England so I might find a way to prove myself to
you, nothing more.”

“And have you found proof?” The king’s tone
was filled with a hopeful lilt.

Wulfgar shook his head. “I need more time. I
have my own deductions, but no proof. Yet.”

William heaved a great sigh and his black
stallion pawed the earth. “I can’t afford to give you time,
Wulfgar. You’re too powerful for that kind of trust.”

“Will you free the princess?”

Ariana’s heart squeezed. Why would Wulfgar
think of her when his own life was now in jeopardy? His
thoughtfulness touched her like nothing else could.

“If I return Princess Ariana to her people,
what will you offer me in exchange?” William asked.

There was a long pause and Wulfgar’s lips
thinned.

“Myself.”

Ariana’s horse shifted beneath her and she
clutched the edge of her saddle, the padding stiff beneath her
fingers. Shivering as the wind blew across the battlefield, she
felt her heart plummet.

Wulfgar had offered himself in exchange for
her. The supreme sacrifice. His life for hers.

The thought terrified her.

“Do you understand what you’ve offered me?”
William asked Wulfgar.

The two men sat still as stone, their horses
swishing their tails. Heavy silence filled the air with only the
sounds of the wind and the subtle shifting of armor.

“I understand,” Wulfgar said.

Ariana also understood. Wulfgar would be
taken to Winchester and beheaded with Waltheof of Huntingdon. His
life would be forfeit. Never again would he reign as lord of
Glyndwr. Never again would Ariana see his tender smile or feel the
warmth of his hand around hers.

“Wulfgar, don’t do this. I don’t need your
help.” She choked back a sob. Tears ran down her cheeks and her
body trembled with grief.

The king swiveled in his saddle to look at
her, his lips pursed tight, his narrowed eyes boring into her like
a hot dagger. She’d spoken out of turn, but she didn’t shrink from
William’s sharp gaze.

The king’s eyes softened and he faced
Wulfgar again. “Why would you offer your life for the princess,
Wulfgar? You could have your freedom. Go wherever you like. Do what
you want. Yet, you returned to Cynan and now offer your life in
exchange for a mere woman. Why?”

“I love her.” Wulfgar answered without
hesitation.

Ariana felt the weight of his gaze. In his
eyes, she saw the truth of his words. He loved her, just as she
loved him.

Ariana blinked and tears tumbled down her
cheeks.

William snorted. “Bah! Love. It’ll be your
downfall, Wulfgar. It causes much heartache, I’m afraid. Yet, it
makes men stronger, too. It gives them a good cause to fight
for.”

Wulfgar’s eyes hardened as he met the king’s
gaze. “That’s my request, sire. In exchange for Princess Ariana’s
freedom, I offer myself and Cynan to you.”

“Without a fight?” William’s brows
lifted.

“Without a fight.”

William’s eyes narrowed and he spoke slowly.
Ariana could almost hear the wheels turning in his mind, thinking.
“I understand from Lord Carlinham that you have Prince Dafydd
inside Cynan. You may choose between your princess and her brother.
Which one will go free and which will you hand over to me?”

Ariana froze. She didn’t blink as she stared
at Wulfgar.

Please, God. Not Dafydd. Not an innocent
child.

Wulfgar met her gaze and she shook her head,
mouthing the words over and over again. “Not Dafydd.”

Wulfgar’s eyes filled with regret. Ah, he
didn’t want to make this decision, but he must.

Ariana’s heart thudded madly in her chest.
Would King William kill her? The sacrifice would be worth it, as
long as Dafydd was safe. Her people would have a second chance.

Wulfgar clenched his eyes closed and lowered
his head for just a moment. He spoke without looking up, his voice
raw with emotion. “Prince Dafydd will go free. But I beg you, sire.
Please don’t harm the princess.”

Ariana wept silently. He’d done the right
thing. It wasn’t Wulfgar’s fault. He’d tried his best and would
even now lose his life.

Because of her.

It was too much to bear. To hear this proud
Norman knight reduced to begging almost overwhelmed her. After all
they’d been through together, Ariana could hardly believe this turn
of events. Even when Wulfgar had been reduced to the status of
slave, chained, starved and beaten, he’d never begged for anything.
Now, he begged for Ariana’s life. His only desire had been to see
himself restored as Earl of Glyndwr. To prove his innocence.