When Toran whirled to face her his eyes were wild, his breath harsh.
“How did he breach our defenses?If you hadn’t the senses of a wolf on the hunt I wouldn’t be standing here.”
Brunhild brushed past him.“We are not safe from harm yet,” she said as she nudged the hood aside.The man’s skin was pale green, his slanted, lidless eyes wide and staring.She let the fold of the hood drop."What manner of creature is this?"
Toran's eyes narrowed in disgust."That creature is one of Nighodd's half-mer half-Kraken assassins.If he doesn't have venomous tentacles, he likely has a blade coated in poison."
“It would appear you have a traitor within your walls, because he shouldn't have slipped past your guards."
"That is the only explanation.Someone that knew the whole keep would be on the field betrayed me.”
“Do you think he intended to kill you?Or merely maim?"She looked at the room and noticed the way everything had been flung into disarray."What was he searching for?Is there something you’ve been hiding from me?”
He held his hands up.“I have nothing left to hide.Most of my treasure is now held in your father’s coffers.”
Brunhild’s gaze scanned the chaos of the room.“Well whoever this is,” she said as she flicked the hood.“I think he was looking for something and we surprised him."
“I need to speak with the council.”
“Yes, you do,” she agreed as she stood.
He tipped his head back and sighed.“I’ll summon them now.”
“I’ll take care of this,” she said as she kicked the dead assassin.
Before she could turn away, he stepped forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“My gratitude for my saving my life a second time, Valkyrie.”
Brunhild closed her eyes, and when she opened them, she only caught the flutter of his plaid as he strode out of the room and around the corner.
Once he’d disappeared, she sank to her knees and wrapped her arms around her torso to stop the trembling.It had been too easy for the assassin to make his way past the castle’s defenses.She hadn’t known the depth of her fondness for her new husband until the moment her ax landed where it needed to.As crouched beside the body to ensure the threat was neutralized, she exhaled with relief.
Brunhild’s home had never been safe from her father’s moods or his fists.Finding a hiding place very quickly was a skill she’d been forced to hone, and now she needed to put her sleuthing ability to use.Whoever Toran had placed in charge of ensuring the castle was impervious to its enemies had failed, and she needed to find all the cracks and make sure they were filled.
She hadn’t exchanged any courtesies with her husband’s man at arms, but she was going to batter his ears today.
The giant crossed his arms and glared.He was at least three heads taller than she was and Brunhild knew she should probably feel intimidated.She didn’t.Because her anger drowned everything else out.“Commander Glamorgan, it’s your responsibility to ensure the king is safe.”
“I do not have eyes in the back of my head, wench,” the man snarled.
“Perhaps you should ask the gods to give them to you!Your failure is inexcusable.”
“I’ve already increased the guard on the perimeter, and even now the masons are closing off all the tunnels not in use.”
“The tunnels?Is that how the assassin got in?”
“It’s the only explanation that makes sense.There were several passages that weren’t guarded - we didn’t think anyone outside of the keep’s residents knew they existed.One of them led directly to the king’s bedchamber.”
“What else is being done to ensure there are no further breaches?”
“As I’ve said, we’ve doubled the patrol along the perimeter and the tunnels are being dealt with.”
“I want you to show me everything.I’ve spent the last ten years leading raids and I’ve become very adept at finding weaknesses to exploit.”
“You can follow me around to your heart’s content, Valkyrie, as long as you can keep up.But only because my liege the king said you were to have free rein.Mind you, I don’t agree with his decision because I don’t trust you.It wouldn’t surprise me if you’re behind this attack somehow."
“I saved him from the attack.Why would I do that if I was trying to see him murdered?”