The Wolf and the Dove (51 page)

He finally caught her reins and drew the trembling mare to a halt. Leaping from the Hun, he reached up to snatch his wife from the saddle, angry at her foolery and the fear she caused him.

With a laugh, Aislinn threw her arms about his sturdy neck and as he would have set her to the ground, she slid full against him, her face flushed with excitement. It seemed more natural to kiss her than to speak and as he swept her into his embrace she did not protest but tightened her arms about his neck.

Some time later they rested in the warm sun at the top of a small knoll. Aislinn half sat, half lay, and plucked early spring flowers, weaving them in a garland. Much pacified, the Norman knight rested his head upon her lap while he considered the fairness of his mate and leisurely traced a finger across her bosom. Aislinn giggled and pressed a light kiss upon his lips.

“My lord, it seems you are never sated.”

“Ah, wench, how can I be when you are ever tempting me?”

She feigned sympathy as she sighed. “ ’Tis true. You are sorely beset by women. I must speak with Haylan—”

Wulfgar sprang up and snatching her to her feet, enfolded her within his arms. “What is this of Haylan?” he queried with a grin. “ ’Tis you I lay the blame to, you jealous vixen, none other.”

Pushing from him, she danced away with a flippant manner and setting the garland upon her head, bowed before him. “Do you say that you were not tempted by the lusty Haylan when she danced for you and showed her bosom? You must have been blind not to see.”

Wulfgar slowly advanced as she retreated, backing away from him with a delighted giggle. She held out a hand warily.

“Now, my lord, I’ve given you no cause to beat me.”

He swooped upon her and she shrieked in playful glee as he caught her up in his arms and whirled about with her.

“Oh Wulfgar. Wulfgar.” Her voice rang with a joyful note. “You are mine at last.”

He raised a dubious brow but smiled into her eyes. “I vow you planned this marriage from the first moment of our meeting.”

She nuzzled her face against his throat and sighed. “Oh nay, Wulfgar, ‘twas our first kiss that set my mind on the matter.”

They dallied through the day, giving no thought to others. The sun was low and had lost much of its warmth when they guided their mounts into the huge barn. As Wulfgar tended the horses, Aislinn watched him with glowing eyes, then they walked in blissful silence hand in hand like young lovers barely met. Just before they passed into the hall, Wulfgar laughed and swept the garland from her head then placed a kiss upon it before he sent it sailing through the door. Wrapping his arm about her, they entered to the cheers of his men and warm greetings from the others.

Sweyn sat at the foot of the table and seemed still more inclined to slip under it than meet their gaze. From him Aislinn’s eyes went to Hlynn. The Viking’s followed, then he buried his face in a mug of ale and strangely seemed to choke upon its tartness. At a whispered comment from Aislinn, Wulfgar threw back his head and roared heartily while Sweyn squirmed and flushed a deeper shade.

“I vow you’re right, Aislinn,” Wulfgar grinned. “For his waning years he must find a gentler maid to fondle.”

Still chuckling at her wit, Wulfgar swept Aislinn along with him to their table and met Gwyneth’s cold stare as he handed his wife into her chair.

“The way you coddle these Saxons, Wulfgar, I would believe you are one,” she said derisively, then gestured toward Kerwick, who now ate with Gowain and the other knights. “You’ll have cause to regret trusting him with your affairs. Mark my word.”

Wulfgar smiled, undisturbed. “I do not trust him, Gwyneth. ’Tis only that he knows what reward I hold in store if he should fail me.”

Gwyneth sneered in contempt. “Next you will be giving Sanhurst some title of importance.”

“Why not?” Wulfgar shrugged and mocked. “He has come to know his duties well.”

Gwyneth looked at him in distaste then continued with her meal in silence as Wulfgar turned to Aislinn, dismissing his sister as he would any burdensome matter.

Haylan brought trenchers for them to fill though she kept her reddened eyes and glum face downcast. The meal was passed in good grace with jovial banter tossed back and forth. After a few more draughts of ale, Sweyn joined in and mirthfully raised his horn to Wulfgar.

“Ho, lord, if I am wont to choose a gentle maid like Hlynn to fondle and I know of none more tame, ‘tis cause you’ve shown me the folly of rutting after a more determined wench.” The hall filled with roars of laughter at his quip. The Viking lifted his horn of ale and saluted his lord with a grin. “Good marriage, Wulfgar. Long life.”

Wulfgar chuckled his approval and lifting his own chalice, drained it without pause. The evening’s merriment continued but on a quieter note as Milbourne challenged Bolsgar to a game of chess. The men rose with followers and as they also stood, Aislinn leaned to Wulfgar, slipping a hand into his.

“I would see to my mother if you will permit. I fear somewhat for her health.”

“Of course, Aislinn,” he murmured, then added with more concern, “Take care.”

She rose on tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek. His eyes followed her warmly as she retrieved her cloak and left the hall, then he turned to join the men. Haylan bit her lip and watched him as he crossed the room, then as Kerwick passed her, he grinned tauntingly.

“Lady of Darkenwald, eh? It seems you misjudged your abilities.”

Haylan glared at him then whirled with a most unladylike word and began to help Miderd clear away the meal.

Aislinn strolled the path to Maida’s hut in the dark as she had many times before, but this time it was with a different purpose in mind. Without a knock or call, she pushed open the door. Maida was seated on her bed, staring morosely into the weak fire on the hearth, but when she recognized her late guest, she sprang to her feet and began to berate her daughter.

“Aislinn! Why did you betray me? At last we had a chance to revenge—”

“Cease your prattle!” Aislinn interrupted angrily. “And listen to my words well. Even your addled mind should make sense of them, though I fear your madness is much of your own making.”

Maida cast her eyes about as if looking for some escape and she would have denied her daughter’s words. Aislinn threw the hood back from her head in a fury.

“Listen to me!” Her voice rang firm and commanding. “Hold your tongue and listen to me.” She continued more gently yet spoke distinctly. “Should you succeed and slay a Norman knight to avenge my father, and especially Wulfgar, for he is William’s friend, you would only bring the Norman heel hard upon us all. What do you think the Norman’s justice is for those who slay his knights while they sleep?

“Had your blade struck home last eve you would have seen me stripped and nailed to the door of Darkenwald. As for yourself, you would have danced on a rope for all of London to see. You gave this no thought and only dwelt on your own revenge.”

Maida shook her head and wrung her hands and would have spoken, but Aislinn stepped forward and seized her mother’s shoulders, shaking her until fear widened her eyes.

“Heed me, for I’ll beat it in until my words reach whatever sanity you have left.” Tears came to Aislinn’s eyes and a desperate plea twisted her fair lips. “You will cease harassing the Normans here and now. William is King, and all of England is his. For anything you do in the future against the Normans every Saxon is honorbound to hunt you down.”

Aislinn released her grip and Maida sank upon the bed, staring up into her daughter’s wrathful face. Aislinn bent close to her and each word came from her hard and earnest.

“If you would lend no thought to that, then give full care to this. Wulfgar is my husband, vowed and sworn before a man of God. If you would do him further injury, I will do the like to you. If you slay him, you have slain my chosen one and I will see my own mother flayed and hung upon the castle wall. I shall fill my hair with ashes and evermore lay naught but rags upon my body, that all who see would know my sorrow. I love him.”

Aislinn’s eyes widened at her own words and she straightened in wonder at them, then repeated them again more tenderly.

“Yea! I love him. I know that in some ways he loves me. Not fully yet, but that will come.” She bent again to her mother and her voice hardened once more. “You have a grandson aborning in my belly. I will not let you make him part orphan. When it is meet that you find your mind again, then I will greet you with open arms, but till then make no threat to Wulfgar’s safety or I will see you banished to the farthest corner of this earth. Do you mark my words and know them for the truth?”

She stared down angrily and Maida’s face sagged and she hung her head then slowly nodded.

Aislinn softened. “Good.”

She paused, wanting to ease her mother’s burden but well knew the harshness of her warning would bear more fruit.

“I will continue to see to your comfort. Fare thee well for now.”

With a heavy sigh she turned and left the hut, wondering what Maida’s tortured mind would make of this. She entered the hall and went to Wulfgar’s side where he stood near the hearth watching the game of chess. He welcomed her back with a smile and, slipping his arm about her, returned his attention to the match.

Spring burst upon the land and of its myriad blossoms the most beautiful was Aislinn. She bloomed in a glorious color of spirit that stunned even Wulfgar. She reveled in her new position as Wulfgar’s wife and lady of the hall and did not shirk her responsibilities in either, nor did she hesitate to exercise her authority when needed, especially when Gwyneth was wont to charge someone unjustly. She had a strength of mind that made even the men of the village seek her out and come to her for advice. Bolsgar marveled at her wisdom and when he told of it, Kerwick simply nodded and smiled, knowing well of what the other spoke. She continually interceded for her people and that fierce Norman knight whose stern visage they yet feared. Yet when Wulfgar’s justice was demanded she stood back and let it have its way. She tended the aches and pains of Darkenwald’s people and rode many times with Wulfgar to Cregan when her skill was needed there. She was a welcome sight at his side and the people, seeing her
trust and fondness for her Norman husband, began to lose their fear of him. They ceased to tremble when they saw him coming and a few brave ones even ventured into conversation with him and were surprised to learn that he understood the peasant well and had compassion for their needs. They stopped thinking of him as the conquering foe and began to regard him as a reasonable lord.

Wulfgar was the first to realize the assets of making Aislinn his wife and not only in dealing with her people. He was amazed at the difference in her, a few spoken vows had made, for now at the softest touch of his hand she would turn to him warm and willing, giving herself without reservation. He dallied less and less in the hall after the evening meal but sought their chamber early. He enjoyed the quiet moments with her as well as their lusty passion. Often in those times he was content just to watch her. The sight of her sitting across from him with her fingers nimbly stitching some garment for him or the babe was strangely comforting.

The end of March had approached and it was a time of plowing, planting, and shearing; a time for building. Kerwick was sorely pressed to meet the demands of his new profession and set into his books, as Wulfgar had bade him, the birth of each kid, lamb, and child, as well as the circumstance of every soul who dwelt in the town and the time each man spent for the castle and credit him the amount on his taxes.

Wulfgar passed an order that two days of every man’s were his and lads were drafted from the fields to assist the newly arrived masons. A deep foss was dug about the base of the high hill and a single drawbridge would cross it, to be guarded by a stone tower. The brow of the hill was scooped level and a stone wall began to form a crown about the flat field thus created. In the middle a tall keep began to rise.

It was during this time that word came from William that he would be returning to Normandy for Easter. Wulfgar knew that Edgar Atheling and many of the English nobles rode with him as hostages of war, but he held the news from Aislinn, realizing she would be little pleased with the information. On his journey William would be passing close to Darkenwald so that he might come and view the progress of the castle. For the next few days there was a busy rush about the hall and its grounds as every corner there was tidied and readied for the visit of the King. Nearly a week passed before a watchman shouted from the tower that the standard of the King approached and Wulfgar rode out to meet him.

William came with some fifty men-at-arms and much to Wulfgar’s surprise Ragnor rode with him. Wulfgar frowned at sight of the other knight but kept his silence, taking some ease in the fact Ragnor would be returning to Normandy with the King. William greeted Wulfgar with the warmth of friendship and as the procession continued Wulfgar pointed out the terrain and spoke of plans for its defense as William listened and nodded his approval. Along the side of the road peasants paused from their work in the fields to gape in awe as the King and his cortege rode by. Finally the procession came up before the hall of Darkenwald and William bade his men to alight and relax, for he would be some while here.

As William and Wulfgar entered the hall, Gwyneth and Aislinn sank into deep curtsies as Bolsgar and Sweyn and those present paid homage to the King. William’s eyes scrutinized Aislinn as she rose and seeing she was with child, he lifted a questioning brow to Wulfgar and looked at him without a word until the younger man replied.

“ ’Twill be no bastard, sire. She is my lady now.”

William chuckled and nodded. “Good. There are too many of us in the world.”

Gwyneth watched coldly as the King greeted Aislinn with familiarity, laughing with her over the jest he made of her growing a little since he last saw her. Gwyneth bristled with jealousy yet held her waspish tongue in William’s presence. When he and Wulfgar left the hall to ride to the site of the castle, she whirled in a temper and fled to her room, little knowing Ragnor was just outside the hall.