Dark Under the Cover of Night

by Jayne Castel

  Raedwyn ignored her mother’s hard stare and exchanged a look with her brother that needed no explanation.

  “Thank you Eorpwald.” She smiled, stepping forward. “And I accept.”

  “What!” Seaxwyn could not hold in her vitriol any longer. She grabbed Raedwyn’s arm and yanked her to a halt. “Your father is barely buried and you plan to take up with a nithing! Raedwald would turn in his grave to know his daughter betrayed him so!”

  Raedwyn turned to her mother, her expression sad.

  “Mother,” she said softly, “the hate has to end now. I never betrayed my father in the past, and I’m not doing so now. Father had his revenge against Ceolwulf, and if he had left it there then he would still be alive.”

  “To marry Ceolwulf’s son is to betray Raedwald!” Seaxwyn shouted, her voice hoarse.

  “Why?” Raedwyn replied. “Both men are dead – the feud has ended. Neither Caelin, nor I were responsible for the hate between them. We are finished paying for it.”

  Raedwyn left the words both women knew to be the truth, unsaid. Instead, their gazes locked and Raedwyn let her response sink in. She understood her mother’s grief, her loss, but she was finished with taking the blame for something that had nothing to do with her.

  “Mother,” Eorpwald said gently, “Caelin risked his own life in trying to save father. Raedwyn has since told me that he also saved her life. It is time to let the past go. I know better than most, the effect that Ceolwulf’s treachery had on our family. Hating his son will not bring your husband back.”

  “Time to let the past lie, Seaxwyn.” Eni stepped up beside the queen and put an arm around her trembling shoulders. “Raedwald had his reckoning with Ceolwulf and he should have left it there. Don’t make the same error.”

  Seaxwyn’s face crumpled and she sagged against Eni.

  “I miss him,” she wailed. “I want him back. Give me my husband back!”

  Sadness etched Eni’s face as he held Seaxwyn close and let her cry against his chest. He looked across at Caelin then and nodded. It was a wordless gesture but all there knew what it meant.

  Eni was giving Caelin and Raedwyn his blessing.

  “There has been too much bloodshed, too much death of late,” he said gruffly. “What Rendlaesham needs is a real wedding, not that mockery of one.” Eni paused there, his gaze meeting Caelin’s. “Now, why don’t you kiss the girl and brighten up this dreary day!”

  Eorpwald laughed, Caelin looked stunned and Raedwyn blushed.

  “Go on then,” Eorpwald encouraged, his good eye twinkling. “My uncle has spoken, and you had better do as you’re told!”

  Caelin smiled then, and the expression lit up his face. Needing no further encouragement, Caelin walked across to where Raedwyn stood, her face flaming.

  “Raedwyn the Fair.” He stopped before her and inclined his head. “May I?”

  Raedwyn did not answer. Instead, she threw herself into his arms. Caelin’s mouth came down upon hers, and he kissed her there for all to see.

  The crowd of mourners cheered. Raedwyn’s cousins Annan, Aethelhere, and Aethelwold made the loudest noise, and the pall of grief and sadness that had weighed upon the crowd lifted. Even Seaxwyn lifted her tear-stained face from Eni’s chest to watch the lovers embrace.

  Raedwyn pulled back from Caelin, gasping for air, and her gaze locked with his. She could not believe this moment was real. She had thought she would never be able to see, let alone touch, Caelin again. Now, wyrd had finally turned in her favor.

  Her brother had given her the freedom to love as she chose and she grabbed this chance with both hands. She thought then of the lament her mother had sung as Raedwald’s burial was completed. Their lives, friendship, kin, love and happiness were all indeed fleeting – and for that reason she would not waste a moment more.

  “Ic þe lufu,” she whispered into Caelin’s ear as the crowd cheered. I love you.

  Epilogue

  The sun set slowly behind the ancient Barrows of Kings. The mist had cleared and pink ribbons laced the dusk sky, promising good weather for the coming day. All of King Raedwald’s mourners had now returned to Rendlaesham – save two.

  Raedwyn knelt before her father’s barrow and placed a wreath of spring flowers she had just made on the fresh earth. Behind her, standing at a respectful distance while his beloved paid her last respects to her father, Caelin waited.

  Dry-eyed, Raedwyn sat back and let her gaze shift, from her wreath, up over the dark mound of earth that shadowed her. It was spring and within days, grass and weeds would appear in the soft earth. By mid-summer Raedwald’s barrow would be part of the landscape, like the others beside it. After an emotional day, Raedwyn now felt a great peace settle upon her. Seaxwyn had returned to Rendlaesham and taken with her any lingering disapproval.

  Finally, Raedwyn and Caelin were alone together. They had tethered their horses nearby – Blackberry, and Mist, a stocky gray gelding that Eorpwald had gifted Caelin. In a short while, she and Caelin would ride off to their new life together. They would be married on the morrow and the thought of the adventure that lay before them – as man and wife – made Raedwyn’s belly flutter with excitement.

  “Goodbye father,” Raedwyn whispered. “I wish you a safe journey.”

  Raedwyn got to her feet and brushed earth off her cloak. Then, she turned and walked back to where Caelin waited for her.

  “Are you ready?” he asked softly, his dark gaze riveted on her face.

  Raedwyn nodded. “Thank you for waiting. I wanted to have some time alone with him, after the others had gone.”

  “I understand,” Caelin’s expression was wistful. “I would have liked to have given my father a proper burial.”

  Raedwyn stepped close to Caelin and kissed him softly on the lips. “I know,” she replied.

  In response, Caelin pulled her close and kissed her back. His kiss was initially gentle, but quickly grew urgent. Raedwyn felt one of his hands rest on the small of her back, pressing her against him, while the other hand cupped the base of her neck. It was a possessive gesture and Raedwyn melted into his arms. Her mouth opened under his and the world disappeared.

  When the kiss finally ended, Caelin’s eyes were glazed with longing.

  “We should go,” he urged her. “I’ve no wish to desecrate a burial ground but if I keep this up for much longer I cannot be answerable for my actions.”

  Raedwyn laughed and the warm sound shattered the day’s somber tone.

  “Very well my love.” She linked her arm in his and steered Caelin towards their horses. “Take me to a place where you can kiss me to your heart’s content.”

  “I plan to do much more than that,” Caelin replied with a wolfish grin. “Lead the way sweet Raedwyn.”

  --

  Loved DARK UNDER THE COVER OF NIGHT and want more?

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  About the Author

  Love is at the core of all Jayne Castel's stories. She writes historical romance set in 7th Century Anglo-Saxon England and contemporary romance set in Italy.

  Her inspirations for these genres come from her fascination for British history, and her love of Italy, where she lived for a decade.

  Two of her novels DARK UNDER THE COVER OF NIGHT and NIGHTFALL TILL DAYBREAK, reached the quarter finals of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards in 2013 and 2014. Her latest historical romance, DAWN OF WOLVES, is a Kindle Scout winner and is in production to be published by Kindle Press.

  Jayne lives in New Zealand's South Island, where works as a freelance copywriter. When she’s not writing, she’s studying languages, or dreaming about her next trip to Europe!

  Connect with Jayne online:

  www.jaynecastel.com

  Read Jayne's blog.

  Facebook.

  Twitter: @JayneCastel

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sp; Email: contact@jaynecastel.com

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