“The Serpent Dragon eludes even us,” Gareth argued. “But why should my uncle hunt a man for defending his land against overlords who burn down our villages and defile our women?”
The king leaned forward in his chair, looking like he might leap from it at Gareth’s charges. “Are you telling me that the menWyfyrnkilled all did these things?”
“I am, Your Majesty,” Gareth confirmed quietly.
William cut his gaze to Brand and then ran his hand over his jaw. “I was unaware.”
“With respect”—Gareth bowed slightly—“you were unaware because after you gave your marcher lords free rein, you turned your back on what became of us.”
“You err, Prince Gareth. I traveled to Wales not three years past to seek counsel with your uncle on the issue of peace between our people.”
“Then I beg you, my lord, let us speak of it now again,” Gareth said. “It’s for peace that I’ve come to claim what is now rightfully mine.” He didn’t blink or flinch when William’s powerful gaze penetrated his.
Somewhere behind Brand, Tanon’s mother slammed her palm down on the table. “You’re mad if you think—”
“Duchess.” Gareth’s voice was quiet, almost soothing, but the raw force radiating from him shook Tanon to her core. “I’m not here to fight—or to argue.” He turned to the king again. “I’m simply here to seal the treaty you agreed to over a dozen years ago when you put your writ on parchment and swore with my uncle on the holy relics. It was done for peace between our people,” he said earnestly. “But I fear peace is slipping through our hands. There’s already famine in some parts of the land. I’ve come to put an end to it once and for all.”
“William—” Brand began.
The king raised his palm to quiet him, admiring the depth of the young prince’s desire to save his people from the ravages of war and the courage it took to stand before England’s king and declare it.
“You were with King William when he met with my uncle.” Gareth addressed Brand again. “You agreed this was the only way to stop the bloodshed. I ask you now not to refuse.” He spoke with authority, and Tanon doubted many people had ever refused his commands.
“He won’t refuse,” William said with stern assurance mixed with a hint of regret. “King Rhys and I want peace. Had I known you were alive, I would have sealed our treaty sooner.”
Expelling a breath, Gareth bowed. When he straightened, he tossed back his head, sweeping his deep tawny hair off his shoulders. “I’ll be traveling to my uncle’s fortress in Llandeilo in a few weeks. I’ll relay your words to the king of the South. He’ll advise the people of your continued goodwill.”
“Do so.” William leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowed with deadly conviction. “But know this. If any harm comes to her, it will cost you your head. Peace be damned.”
Gareth smiled easily. “Her value to you is noted, Sire.”
William sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose in his fingers. “Enfer, she is betrothed.”
“So I have recently learned.” Gareth looked over his shoulder and met Roger’s scalding gaze. His lips curled into a wry grin as his eyes met Tanon’s once again. “It seems I have arrived just in time.”
Chapter Two
Tanon sat ina carved chair in the king’s private solar, her hands folded neatly in her lap, her chin dipped to her chest. She could hear her mother weeping softly, but she didn’t look up, afraid that if she saw her mother’s tears, she’d be unable to hold back her own. Her father paced behind her chair. Tanon could almost hear his teeth grinding with frustration and anguish while William spoke to her.
“Ma précieuse,you understand this must be done.”
“Of course,” Tanon replied quietly, her eyes veiled beneath the inky darkness of her lashes.
“There is no greater vow between people than one made for peace.”
Tanon nodded but said nothing. She refused to give voice to the nagging whisper that had tormented her every day since she had first learned of her betrothal to Cedric, and then to Roger.
What about love?
Her father rushed to his wife’s side when Brynna stifled a sob. Tanon lifted her gaze briefly to watch them.
She’d accepted her fate to live in a loveless marriage. Twice! It had taken every ounce of fortitude she possessed to lock away her hopes of ever being loved by a man the way her father loved her mother.
“Naught has changed, really,” William gently reminded her as well as her parents. “This course was set many years ago.”
Oui,Tanon thought. She’d never been happy about it, and that wasbeforeshe’d learned what a barbaric place Wales was. She glanced at Gareth leaning against the large alcoved window, his boots crossed at his ankles, his arms folded across his chest. He’d been her friend once. He had cared about her. She’d spent years wishing she could marry him rather than his brother. But that was long ago, before so much destruction and death had separated their people. She knew as little about him now as she knew about the wild lands he came from.
“We thought,” Brynna said, swiping the tears from her eyes, “after Cedric was exiled, Tanon could remain in England. William, Wales is too far off.”