The Silken Cord

by Leigh Bale

  Doubt filled their eyes as Edwin pulled Ariana down the steps to the bailey. Guards came running from the gatehouse but Wulfgar held out a hand of caution.

  The armsmen stared between Edwin and Wulfgar, looking baffled until the king appeared. William’s expression darkened as he shouted to the guards. “Carlinham is the real traitor. Sound the alarm. He’ll not leave the castle.”

  “Don’t come any closer,” Edwin warned as guards wielded their swords around him. “I’ll slice her like a plum.”

  The blast of a horn filled the air. Knights emerged from the guardhouse, armed with knives and swords. The air filled with the grating of the portcullis being lowered.

  Edwin was trapped.

  “You’re not leaving Cynan alive,” Wulfgar said.

  Edwin swore viciously and swerved toward the stable, moving faster, jerking Ariana when she couldn’t keep up.

  “Come on, witch,” he swore. “I’ll cut you if you give me cause.”

  Guards appeared in front of him and Edwin swerved again, his head bobbing frantically as he found himself surrounded on all sides. Tall knights clutched swords, axes and spears, mingled with servants holding brooms and pitchforks. They surrounded Edwin but they didn’t advance. They waited for orders from the king or Wulfgar. Whispers sounded amongst them as word passed through the throng of what had occurred.

  “Are you daft?” Baldwin shouted at Edwin. “Do you really think you can get away?”

  Edwin gave a desperate whine. He must have realized his fate was sealed, but a trapped animal could be the deadliest. Wulfgar moved with caution. Above all else, he wanted Ariana safe.

  “There’s nowhere you can go,” Wulfgar’s voice sounded calm. “Keep some bit of pride and put the knife down.”

  Edwin’s beady eyes darted this way and that as he looked for a way out. The only path not blocked by guards was just to his right, where the stone steps led upward to the ramparts high above.

  “You’ll never have her,” Edwin screamed. “If I must die, then so will she. I’ve seen the way you look at her, de Conteville. How will you feel when I kill the woman you love?”

  As his hold tightened, Ariana gasped with pain. Jerking her around, Edwin darted up the steps, pushing her ahead of him. There was no railing. Wulfgar tried to follow, but a guard came out of the kennels, saw Wulfgar, and drew his sword, engaging Wulfgar in battle.

  * * *

  Halfway up the stairs, Ariana tripped and almost fell over the side. A scream tore from her throat. The fall could kill her.

  Clutching frantically for the steps, she hung on. Reaching down, Edwin jerked her onto her feet, then shoved her roughly upward.

  They reached the top walkway and Ariana turned to face Edwin. Holding out her hands, she stepped back to evade his grasp.

  “Don’t do this, Edwin,” she pleaded. “It’s evil. If you would die, then do so as a man.”

  He snarled at her. “If I had succeeded in seeing Wulfgar dead by the executioner’s hand, you would have been mine.”

  Ariana shuddered at the thought. Shouting came from below in the bailey and she glanced down. Knights ran to stop the guard from fighting with Wulfgar. Men scrambled around to the other side of the castle where steps led up to the gatehouse. On the other side of the battlements, men raced up the stairs leading to the parapet, coming at Edwin from the opposite side.

  Clutching his sword, Wulfgar reached the steps and hurried up them. His presence gave Ariana courage, but she wasn’t out of danger, yet.

  Heaven help her. She prayed silently, asking for God’s mercy one more time.

  She backed up against the merlons, the high section of the battlements cold and hard at her back. Ariana looked down at the moat. So far down.

  Her head spun.

  Thinking to put distance between her and Edwin, she edged further down the thin path until her side came up against the wall. The end of the walkway.

  Cornered!

  Flattening her palms against the wall at her back, she felt the rough stone against her fingers. On the outside of the castle wall, men-at-arms raced to the edge of the moat, shouting up at them. They seemed so tiny, like ants.

  Ariana faced Edwin. Rivulets of sweat ran down his high forehead and his mouth curved in a lethal smile.

  “Jump,” Edwin ordered.

  “What?”

  His shrill laughter sounded maniacal. “Jump, or I’ll throw you over. If I can’t have you, Wulfgar won’t either.”

  “You have lost your mind.”

  His eyes glittered like a serpents. He must be insane with jealousy, greed and fear.

  With a flourish, Edwin tossed his knife over the ledge and quickly pulled his sword, brandishing it before her eyes. Archers stood on the opposite wall, their arrows aimed at Edwin. Why didn’t they fire? They must fear they might miss Edwin and strike her.

  He spoke again, louder, more insistent, as he urged her over to the ledge. “Jump, or I’ll skewer you.”

  Oh, Wulfgar, please hurry.

  “I won’t do it.” She shook her head, shrinking against the wall. “You’ll have to kill me, Edwin. I won’t make it easy for you. And if I die, Wulfgar will have you tortured to death. There will be no where you can hide.”

  A glimmer of doubt filled his eyes as he glanced back at Wulfgar, who’d reached the pathway and ran toward them.

  Maybe she could distract Edwin so Wulfgar would attack. She lowered her voice. “Wulfgar will place you on the rack. He’ll torture you with hot irons.”

  Edwin’s blade lowered just a bit, his brows curved in a hesitant frown.

  “What she says is true,” Wulfgar confirmed as he skidded to a halt just a few feet away.

  Edwin touched the sword to Ariana’s stomach. "Stay back or I’ll gut her like a rabbit.”

  Wulfgar froze.

  “You’ll die slowly, oh, so slowly.” Ariana tried again, twisting her voice into a soothsayer’s chant. “Begging for the knife to end your own life. You’ll scream in pain until your voice gives out and you can only whimper. Oh, Edwin.” She shook her head in sorrow for him. “Save yourself from excruciating pain. Let me go.”

  “Nay,” Edwin bellowed. Spittle ran from his mouth, his eyes crazed.

  He raised the sword and Ariana winced, prepared to feel the sharp blade pierce her flesh. A scream froze in her throat. Her muscles tightened as he drew back to spear her.

  Her death had come.

  A subtle sound reached her ears, like the wind rushing past, yet something more. What was it?

  Edwin jerked. Blood burst from his left shoulder and he staggered sideways. His sword grated against the rock wall. His expression changed from rage to amazement.

  Wulfgar growled low in his throat and attacked. Ariana watched with horror as Edwin whirled to face Wulfgar.

  Now was her chance.

  She pushed Edwin. He stumbled, but lifted his sword to block Wulfgar’s thrust. An arrow protruded from Edwin’s back.

  Someone had shot him!

  Drawing back her fist, Ariana hit his shoulder where the arrow was imbedded and Edwin screamed. He stabbed at her, staggering on his feet. She jumped to the side, barely missing the blade. Wulfgar advanced and the clash of steel rang in her ears. He fought like a berserker, wearing the wounded man down.

  Edwin’s blows became weaker while Wulfgar’s became more powerful, forcing Edwin back, carrying the fight toward Ariana. She was pinned against the wall with nowhere to go and she shrank against the wall for protection.

  Dodging a lethal thrust, Edwin bumped her hard, knocking her over the side. She screamed, grabbing for something, anything to keep from falling. Her hands clasped the decorative curve of stone and she dangled there in mid-air. She struggled to pull herself up, her long skirts hampering her legs. Panic climbed up her throat and she dug at the stones with her toes to gain a foothold.

  Wulfgar thrust hard and deep. Edwin’s eyes widened and he dropped his sword, reaching for his belly. Blood poured over his hands. He st
umbled back over the edge, his body brushing past Ariana.

  Falling. Falling.

  She heard a splash below as he landed in the dark waters of the moat.

  “Wulfgar!”

  Her fingers were slipping. Terror prickled her skin. She screamed again.

  She fell. But Wulfgar grasped her arm and she hung there, suspended.

  “Don’t you dare let go,” he commanded.

  She grabbed for him, clutching his hands. She kicked her feet against the wall and one toe caught the edge of a stone. Pushing upward, she reached for Wulfgar’s arms.

  His voice surrounded her, soft and reassuring. “Don’t fear, my love. I have you and I’ll never let you go.”

  My love!

  She latched onto his forearms with ferocity and he pulled her up. Once her feet were safely on the stone walkway, she threw her arms around his neck. He clutched her to his chest, holding her there for what seemed an eternity. He kissed her forehead, his hands caressing her back as he soothed the tears trembling down her cheeks. She sobbed with shock and relief, not even trying to stop the tide.

  “Shh, sweeting,” he soothed. “You’re safe, now. Carlinham will never harm us again.”

  Drawing back, Ariana touched his face gently. “You’ve never failed me. Always you’ve been there to save me.”

  “Yes, my love, just as you’ve saved me.”

  Guards stood below, staring up at Ariana, their eyes wide, their mouths hanging open.

  “Is she all right?” the king shouted from the bailey.

  “Aye,” Wulfgar called back.

  “Who shot the arrow?” Ariana turned to look around.

  Numerous guards and knights had assembled in the bailey and outside the castle walls. Several men fished Edwin’s body out of the moat. No one had a bow. As her gaze traveled further out, she stiffened.

  “Markus,” she whispered.

  Standing at the foot of the stairs leading into the great hall was Markus, clutching a bow to his chest, his face ashen.

  He had shot his father.

  Ariana’s eyes filled with tears. The boy had shown courage to save her life. Looking at him, she tried to communicate her gratitude with her expression. He must be overcome by grief.

  Beside her, Wulfgar bowed deeply to the boy.

  Nodding his head once, Markus turned to go back inside the great hall, his shoulders slumped.

  “If Edwin had one whit of his son’s valor, he could have been a great lord,” Wulfgar observed.

  “What will become of Markus? All of his father’s lands will be forfeit to the crown.”

  Wulfgar kissed her lips, his eyes glowing with warmth. “I think the king will make an exception in this case. Markus has been loyal in spite of his father. If not, he may foster here with us. I always have need of good men.”

  “We always have need of good men. You know I’ll never leave you, now,” she said, then laughed at his astonished look.

  He took her hand. “That’s good. If you left, I would follow. Come, let’s go down to the king. I can see he’s worried for you.”

  Nodding, Ariana let Wulfgar lead her down the narrow steps to the bailey.

  “I’m glad to see Carlinham didn’t harm you.” When they stood before him, the king smiled warmly.

  Ariana trembled as she squeezed Wulfgar’s hand. His strong fingers curled around hers and he smiled. In joyous triumph, he let out a whoop of victory. In the next moment, Ariana found herself pulled into Wulfgar’s embrace and he kissed her openly, in front of King William and the host of knights.

  Ariana was aware of Raulf, Gaston and Arnulf joining them. The king must have had them freed from the dungeon. They laughed and clapped Wulfgar on the back.

  “We leave you for a short time and look at the trouble you get yourself into,” Raulf laughed. “Couldn’t you have waited until we were here to join in the fun?”

  A chuckle rumbled in the king’s chest and he nodded with approval. “You have much to celebrate, Wulfgar. Indeed, we all do. For your loyal service to me, I vow never to doubt your word again. All you have lost will be returned. You’re once again Lord of Glyndwr. It’ll bring me great peace to inform your mother I’ve found you innocent of any wrongdoing. No doubt she’ll visit you forthwith.”

  A grin spread across Wulfgar’s face. A cheer rose up as the people threw hats, baskets, and straw into the air. Ariana wept with joy.

  “My mother is at Winchester? She is well?” Wulfgar asked, his voice roughened by emotion.

  “Aye. Not a day has passed that she hasn’t begged me to pardon you and bring you home. As you know, she’s a dear friend to my wife. Even my Matilda has begun to complain that I should never have sent you away. But I knew of no other way to ferret out the real traitor.”

  Wulfgar laughed deeply, a rich, vibrant sound that filled Ariana’s heart with incredible happiness.

  The king’s brow furrowed. “I fear there’s still one small problem remaining to be solved.”

  Wulfgar’s face crinkled in a quizzical expression. “And what is that, sire?”

  William arched a brow as he looked at Ariana. “To whom should I wed the princess? She is my hostage. I weary of fighting the Welsh and I can’t let her go free.”

  Nodding his head, Wulfgar took her hand and lifted it to his lips where he kissed her fingers. “Aye, sire, I think I know just the lord for her to wed.”

  “And will this arrangement suit the princess?” William asked.

  Ariana stared into Wulfgar’s eyes, thrilled by this magical moment. “It’s my fondest desire, sire.”

  The king laughed. "Then I commend her to you, Wulfgar, with my blessing. You will wed her as soon as possible.”

  “Aye, sire.”

  Stepping back, William turned to his man Baldwin. “I want to see Edwin’s body myself. To know he is really dead.”

  Wulfgar turned to follow. “I will go with you, sire.” He paused, brushing his fingers against Ariana’s cheek. “I will join you in the great hall anon. Wait for me there, cherie.”

  “Forever, my lord.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  By mid-day, the king had departed with his army and Raulf came to inform Ariana and Wulfgar that her brother awaited her outside the castle walls. As they rode out to meet him, she sat in front of Wulfgar on his destrier. They left the gatehouse and traveled across the fields toward the forest where a horde of armed Welshmen awaited them. Dafydd sat his pony at the front of the throng, beside Evan and Cwrig.

  In unison, Ariana and Dafydd slid off their horses and raced into each other’s arms. She hugged him tightly, breathing deeply of his warm skin.

  “Oh, Dafydd. Dafydd. I love you so. How happy I am that you’re finally safe.”

  “I feared I’d never see you again,” he confided.

  “I feared the same.”

  Drawing back, he smiled, his young face crinkled with joy. “Lord Wulfgar sent Sir Raulf to me an hour ago. Your betrothed has promised me the labor of his men to help rebuild Powys.”

  “I know. I would have brought you word myself, but we didn’t know where you might be, so Wulfgar sent Sir Raulf to find you.” She laughed. “King William has put me under arrest until I’m wed to Wulfgar. I am his willing hostage.”

  Dafydd’s face beamed. “Are you happy, sister?”

  She nodded. “Very much. But I’d rest easier knowing you won’t take chances with your life any more. You’ll be king over our people and you must be more careful.”

  Jutting his chin, he gazed up at her with more maturity than she’d seen in him before. “A king should never ask things from his men that he’s not prepared to do also.”

  How true. No doubt Dafydd would make a good, wise ruler, just like his father.

  “After we’ve rebuilt Powys, it’ll be even greater than when father ruled there,” he said. “Lord Wulfgar has assured me it’ll become a haven to all who wish to trade at the market. He and I will deal well together. Evan will serve as Regent until I’m old e
nough to be crowned king.”

  Wulfgar joined her and tears of bliss rolled down Ariana’s cheeks. She could do little more than nod her head as she looked up into his eyes. He wrapped an arm around her back, squeezing her tight.

  Dafydd eyed Wulfgar and Ariana. “Jenkin and father would be happy with this outcome.”

  “I have no doubt,” Ariana agreed. “I only wish they were both alive to see the peace that’s finally come to our people.”

  Dafydd’s eyes filled with sadness and his brow crinkled as he pursed his lips. “They gave their lives for me. I’ll never forget any of them.”

  She cupped his young face with her hand and her voice vibrated with emotion. “Nor will I.”

  Then Dafydd was gone, with Evan’s promise to return the boy to Ariana in four days, when she and Wulfgar were wed.

  That evening, Wulfgar ordered a feast in the great hall, which lasted deep into the night. Knights and their ladies, guards, and lowly peasants crowded into the castle. Ariana ate, danced, and sang with joy until her voice was raw and her face felt flushed with heat.

  Near midnight, she stood in the threshold of her chamber upstairs and a wave of happiness swept her as she stared at the cheery fire in the brazier. Soon, she would be Wulfgar’s wife. There would be more laughter within the walls of Cynan, love, happiness and children.

  Clasping her hands to her face, she whirled about the room. The shock was wearing off and she began to realize what all this meant to her.

  She and Wulfgar were free. Everything she’d wished for would now come to pass. The Welsh would prosper and there would be peace along the border. Edwin had been punished for his crimes and Wulfgar had been vindicated.

  A sound came from behind and Ariana turned to see Wulfgar leaning against the doorjamb. He smiled and came toward her, his shoulders filling her view, his dark eyes compelling. Running to him, she threw her arms around his neck, laughing and spreading kisses upon his face and neck.

  A chuckle rumbled in Wulfgar’s chest as he lifted her and danced about the room.

  “God has been so kind to us,” she said.