“And the other?”
Cedric’s lips curled into a grisly smile. “He wants Gareth dead as badly as we do. He’ll lead Gareth straight to us. My brother has betrayed his people by marrying a Norman. It’s a sin not so easily forgiven. Not even by his closest friends.”
*
Gareth and hisgroup made camp on the outskirts of Herefordshire two days later. Tanon sat with Rebecca while they ate with the rest of the men around a small campfire. She listened quietly while Hereward finally confronted Gareth about his true identity.
“TheCymrycannot help but rebel against invasion.” Gareth spoke calmly, but his eyes over the glowing embers shone with unshakable conviction. “When the Normans try to raid the land I rule, I hold them back with the sword, and with my army. But the people who live along the marches have no defense. They are mostly peasants who have been abandoned by their princes. Some marcher lords treat them kindly. Some don’t. I cannot sit by and do nothing while children are taken as serfs and women and old men are beaten or killed because they refuse to swear fealty to their overlords.”
Tanon’s gaze drifted over her husband while he spoke. Though his words were chilling to her ears, they settled warmly over her heart. Her childhood hero had become a champion to his people.
“Why do you fight them asWyfyrn?” Hereward asked.
“If the Normans knew who I was, my villagers would suffer the consequences.”
“But if you fought them openly, as a prince…”
Madoc tossed his uneaten bread into the fire and turned his dark eyes on Hereward. “You were once a rebel against the same men who took your land. You didn’t fight openly but eluded them for years. Why do you judge Gareth for doing the same thing?”
“I don’t,” Hereward tossed back at him. “I understand his cause. But if he fought as a prince, making his reasons known, other princes might stand with him.”
“My reasons are known to them who die by my hand,” Gareth replied in a thoroughly controlled voice. “And tell me, Hereward, when I fought against Lord Fitzgerald while he tried to advance into Ystrad Towi, what princes drew swords by my side?” Gareth didn’t wait for an answer. They all knew what it was. “If we aren’t united, how can we stand against an army that stretches as far as Normandy? I don’t want to plungeCymruinto a war we cannot win.”
“Yet you kill Norman noblemen in their beds,” Hereward argued.
“I exact justice to those who deserve it.”
“There have only been…” Cian closed his eyes and moved his lips, counting out how many. “Three, nay, four marcher lords we’ve killed, aye, Gareth?”
“And their entire garrisons, lest you’ve forgotten,” Hereward reminded them succinctly.
Tomas nodded and spit a twig out of his mouth. “Aye, and the circumstances of their deaths have instilled fear into the rest, making further bloodshed unnecessary.”
“And if your identity is discovered?” Hereward asked Gareth, the concern in his voice conveying his fondness for the Welsh prince. He’d spent a full year with him in Wales and had come to think highly of King Rhys’ youngest nephew.
Alwyn guzzled the last of his ale, then swiped his knuckles across his mouth and raised his gaze to Tanon. “The Normans won’t find out whoWyfyrnis unless someone tells their king.”
Tanon regarded the hefty warrior who clearly didn’t like her. She understood now why he didn’t. But not all Normans were cruel lords. Her father and her uncle…and even William treated their vassals kindly. “I’m loyal to my king, Alwyn,” she told him. “But I wouldn’t betray my husband.”
“King William has left the laws of Wales to the Welsh, and to the Normans who govern them,” Hereward grazed his eyes over Alwyn and then settled them on Gareth. “Else he would have already sent troops to hunt down and captureWyfyrn.He’s not the merciless tyrant you imagine. He pardoned me, and I’ve killed even more Normans than you.”
Tanon hugged herself and shivered. She’d heard enough about killing Normans. She didn’t want to think about death and war, and deceit. She looked around the twilit glade, praying that there were no men hiding in the shadows. She met Gareth’s gaze across the fire and he winked at her. Mayhap it was his confidence, or the tenderness in his eyes, but he soothed her. She offered him a grateful smile in return.
Rising to his feet, Gareth stepped around Alwyn’s hulking form to reach her. “Come.” He held out his hand and she took it, letting him lead her to her pallet. When he lay beside her, she didn’t protest.
Spooning her against his body, he closed his arms around her. “You’ve nothing to fear,” he whispered when he felt her trembling.
Tanon wanted to tell him that she wasn’t afraid, but it would have been a lie. Her defenses were crumbling every time he looked at her, touched her, smiled at her, and she had no idea what to do without them.
*
Someone watched themfrom across the campsite. Over the flickering flames, his eyes reflected the stark darkness of the night.
Alwyn sat beside him and followed his gaze before Madoc blinked it away.
“He’s falling for her,” Alwyn grumbled and slipped a sliver of apple into his mouth. “He assured us he wouldn’t. What does he have in common with a Norman?”
“Shut up,” Madoc growled at him.