Chapter Seventeen

A lyce had spent the last two days pushing her way through the crowded market streets of Shrewsbury, squeezing through the throngs of people to get to the stalls displaying the wares she needed. The markets in Shrewsbury were the largest in the region. People came from the far reaches of Wales and England to trade, barter, and buy the supplies needed to prepare for the busy autumn weeks of harvesting. Vendor stalls were filled with everything from the practical to the frivolous, and the atmosphere was filled with laughter and enthusiastic greetings as friends greeted one another. Three wagons, weighed down with supplies purchased, were already on their way back to Hawkspur under the watchful eye of Aelwin, four of Cynwulf's soldiers, and six of Hawk's soldiers.

When Hawk realized that Cynwulf would be escorting Alyce, he offered himself and eight more of his men to accompany the party to the market as guards. Alyce suspected the real reason for Hawk's offer was to stay close to Cynwulf. To be fair, it was less an offer and more a statement from Hawk that he and his men would be attending the market with them.

The market was the ideal location for clandestine meetings with nearly as many Welsh as English attending the market. Crowds of people everywhere were the perfect environment for inconspicuous encounters or unnoticed exchanges of information. Alyce had watched Cynwulf's every movement nearly as closely as Hawk did, and much to her relief, Cynwulf did not do anything that would raise suspicion.

She, on the other hand, had been doing her best to hide from Hawk since the day she showed him the village. She couldn't actually stay out of his sight, but she kept her attention focused on anything but him. She needed distance from him to sort out the tumult of emotions that had her stomach in knots since their kiss on the parapet.

Alyce had seen very little of Hawk since arriving at the market the morning before as she and Cynwulf spent the previous day and the whole of the current morning concentrating on securing tools, fabrics, spices, grains, chickens, and other provisions for Hawkspur castle and village.

Now that the wagons were packed and already on the way to Hawkspur under the watchful eye of Aelwin and a contingent of guards, Alyce had a glorious hour, maybe two, to look for the items she wanted from the market. Since they finished buying the necessary supplies with plenty of daylight left for the return journey to Hawkspur, Cynwulf had agreed to escort her to the market stalls for her to find some bone needles and a few other items.

"I promise to be quick, brother," Alyce said looping her arm through Cynwulf's. "I already know which merchants have the items I want."

Before Cynwulf could answer, a messenger appeared in the yard of the inn. "Lord Cynwulf," he said, waving as he jogged toward the stables where they stood. "I beg your pardon, sir, but the sheriff has requested your counsel immediately."

Cynwulf sighed and turned to Alyce. "I am sorry to disappoint, but I best do as the sheriff requests."

"Why does he seek your counsel now?" Alyce asked.

Cynwulf shrugged. "There is a disagreement brewing between one of our townsfolk and a Shrewsbury merchant."

Alyce was perplexed, sure she would have known if there were such a disagreement. "I don't recall—"

"It is nothing to worry yourself over. It will be resolved in no time." Cynwulf turned to Hawk. "May I request that you be so kind as to escort my sister to the market while I attend to the sheriff and settle this trifling nuisance?"

Hawk narrowed his eyes with what looked like suspicion at Cynwulf, then extended his hand to Alyce with a nod. "My lady."

The hairs on the back of Alyce's neck seemed to stand on end. Was Cynwulf hiding something? She reluctantly released his arm and turned her attention to Hawk. "I am sure there is no worse duty than having to follow a woman around the market. I promise to get this over with as quickly as possible."

"I'll admit, the market is not my favorite place to be, but Red cannot imagine a day better spent." He tipped his head toward the grinning Viking and another soldier of his, named Hunter. Both men had stayed behind.

Hawk certainly surrounded himself with a motley assortment of men, she decided. Hunter was a quiet man, big and brooding, the complete opposite of Red, and Alyce found him intimidating. In truth, other than Red, all of Hawk's men were intimidating with their constant watchfulness.

Still, Alyce turned to Hawk and smiled broadly as her brother quickly mounted his horse and rode across the yard and out the gate. "Then I shall request Red to escort me so the rest of you are not detained from your duties." She'd found Red to be pleasant and cordial for such a large and imposing warrior. Not only would she enjoy attending the market with him, but it would also keep her from being too close to Hawk, which was getting more difficult to endure each day.

But before she could link her arm through Red's, Hawk grabbed her hand and started toward the market in long strides. "I don't trust either of you to return before nightfall." As they passed by Hunter, busy grooming the horses, he said in a low voice, "You know what to do."

Alyce didn't like the ominous tone in Hawk's voice, and she feared he was just as suspicious as she was of the unusual summons of Cynwulf. If the matter was truly trivial, then it would have been handled during the hearings held every month at Hawkspur or Shrewsbury.

"What is Hunter to do?" Alyce asked Hawk's back as he pulled her toward the market with determined strides.

"Ready the horses," Hawk said without hesitation or sincerity.

Hunter didn't have the physical appeal of Hawk or the charm of Red and spent most of his time scowling at everyone. She'd rarely heard him speak, but he'd always seemed to be watching. So now, Alyce suspected Hawk's command to him had nothing to do with the horses and everything to do with her brother. Even if the big oaf followed Cynwulf, he wouldn't be granted access to the meeting with the sheriff, so he had nothing to gain.

Whatever Cynwulf's business was with the sheriff, he would be finished with it soon, and then he would be anxious to start the journey back to Hawkspur. Best she turn her attention to finding the last items on her list so they could be underway as soon as possible. Putting Cynwulf, the sheriff, and Hunter out of her mind, she started toward the market stalls with Hawk and Red following in their wake.

Not many men had the ability to make Alyce feel small; she stood nearly as tall as her brother. With the Viking on one side and Hawk on the other, she felt petite, which was a rare occurrence for her. She found it humorous how a path cleared ahead of them as if by magic as they walked through the street teeming with people, animals, and wares. Miraculously, every crowded booth she approached with these two hulking warriors by her side suddenly had a space for her near the front.

"Does this happen wherever you go?"

Hawk looked genuinely puzzled. "Does what happen?"

She tipped her head in the direction of the people veering out of their path while the three of them consistently stayed true to their course.

Hawk still looked confused, and Alyce thought it doubtful he found anything unusual about the situation.

"He lives in oblivion, my lady," Red offered as an explanation. "He has no idea how much people shrink from him while he pays them no attention."

Hawk's mouth gaped as though grievously wronged. "If you think 'tis I that causes men and women alike to part like the Red Sea, you are gravely mistaken. 'Tis that ugly smirk you call a smile and the frightful, matted braids at the side of your head that scare people away."

Alyce looked at Red, really looked at him. It was true; her own first impression had been that of a barbarian, a berserker, one of the bloodthirsty Norsemen who invaded England's shores with the Danes scores of years ago. But as soon as the big Viking had smiled at her, her fear had disappeared. Later, she'd found he wasn't nearly as intimidating once he started talking in his easy way, accentuating most of his remarks with a bubble of laughter or a wink. In truth, he was quite handsome.

"I think his smile to be quite appealing," she said in his defense. The frown on Hawk's face only encouraged her to continue. "And the braids keep his hair from covering his eyes, which I see now are so very blue and quite stunning."

"Enough," Hawk growled.

Red winked at Alyce before she turned her attention to Hawk. Aye, Red was pleasing to look at, but Hawk caused her body to react in ways that were new to her. She could convince herself any involvement with Hawk could only lead to heartache when she was alone, but as soon as he was near, she found herself able to think of little else than wanting him to kiss her again.

She focused on the vendors to hide the heat she felt rising in her cheeks. After purchasing the needles and fabric requested by Edna and Gertie, she perused a booth filled with swaths of leather in all colors and thicknesses. She found a length that was durable yet surprisingly pliable in a rich brown tone that would be perfect for a new pair of boots.

"I take the brown, and I'll have this one, too," she said to the merchant, lifting a luxuriously soft bit of leather that had been dyed a deep, forest green. She would sew gloves from it before the winter for Cynwulf and Edna. She paid for the leather, which Red immediately took from her hands to tuck under his arm along with her other purchases. Hawk, she noticed, was constantly scanning the crowd as though he suspected an attack at any moment.

"What else do you need?" Red asked Alyce, looking at the wares of each stall as they walked.

"Ribbons," Alyce replied to Red, trying to ignore Hawk. "I like to have a collection of ribbons to give on special occasions or as tokens of appreciation."

Red looked over the heads of the others in the market, then pointed to a booth ahead. Alyce glanced at Hawk as they walked to the stall of ribbons, puzzled by the unsettled look on his face.

"What has him so upset?" she asked Red.

The big Viking answered without even turning to look at his friend and commander. "His gut is talking to him."

Alyce squeezed her eyebrows together, perplexed.

"He has a feeling in his belly that something is not right," Red explained, "and his gut is never wrong."

Alyce purchased the ribbon strands, tucked them in her pouch, and turned back toward the inn. She prayed that Cynwulf would already be there by the time they returned, waiting by his horse, and impatient to leave.

*

Alyce, Hawk, and Red returned to the inn to find Cynwulf's remaining two soldiers mounted on their horses and extremely agitated. And Hunter was nowhere in sight. Cynwulf had not returned from his meeting with the sheriff, sending word by messenger that he decided to ride out ahead of the group and would meet them back at Hawkspur. She wondered now if Cynwulf had deliberately chosen his two youngest and least experienced soldiers to stay behind while the others accompanied the wagons. Any of his other men would have left immediately to search for their commander upon getting such a message.

Dumbfounded at the news, Alyce said nothing when Hawk lifted her onto the back of her mare. He and Red mounted their horses without acknowledging Hunter's absence. Hawk signaled for the two young soldiers to take the lead while Red fell to the rear of the small group.

As they rode out of the village and into the countryside toward home, Alyce asked Hawk, "Where is Hunter?"

He was quiet for a long moment, his jaw tight, before he responded in a clipped tone. "Doing what he does best."

"And what is that?" Alyce braced herself for the answer. She noticed Hawk had slowed their pace, putting distance between them and Cynwulf's soldiers.

Hawk looked at her, his eyes full of…suspicion? Sympathy? "Hunt. More specifically, track."

"Is he hunting Cynwulf?" She cringed at the bitter bite to her tone.

Hawk nodded once, his eyes focused again on the road ahead. "Tracking." He shifted in his saddle, as though he felt as unsettled as Alyce, but he did not look at her.

Alyce took a deep breath to calm herself. In truth, she didn't know what irritated her more, Hawk sending his man to hunt down Cynwulf, or Cynwulf disappearing when he knew he was being watched. When had her brother become so addlebrained?

Alyce steeled herself for a fight, ready to protect her brother, no matter what folly he brought upon himself. Cynwulf was not a malicious man, and he strived to be as fair and just an overlord as Uncle Ranolf. Despite his odd behavior of late, she could not believe he was doing anything to threaten the king or kingdom.

"And what will Hunter do if he finds him anywhere other than at Hawkspur?" She lifted her chin to give Hawk a haughty glare, daring him to dismiss her with a flimsy lie.

Hawk nudged his horse closer to her so that their legs touched, then put his hand over hers, applying enough pressure on the rein to bring her horse to a halt. She was about to ask him, with an indignant huff, what he was doing, but the look on his face stopped her. His brow was furrowed, and his eyes immediately locked with hers when she lifted her face to his.

"He will not hurt him, I promise you that, Alyce." He looked as though the most important thing to him in the world at this moment was for her to believe him. "Cynwulf plays a dangerous game, and he has been for quite some time."

"How can you say that?" Alyce shook her head at him, confusion and anger welling up inside her.

"Cynwulf has been seen crossing the border alone into Wales more often than is required of his position. No other Marcher lord ventures into hostile territory without a small army to reinforce his position, even for diplomatic missions. The king's sources say your brother routinely passes over the border unhindered since the rebellion began—and that this is the only stretch of the border not being ravished by Welsh rebels."

"That cannot be true. We are not immune to the hostilities between our two countries; my husband was killed by Welsh rebels a year ago."

"And how many of Cynwulf's soldiers have been killed since then? Or suffered injuries beyond a few scratches and bruises?"

Alyce gasped, appalled at Hawk's insinuation. "You think Cynwulf a spy because we have not suffered enough at Hawkspur? Has it not crossed your mind that his soldiers are well-trained and fulfilling their duty to protect Hawkspur?"

"I do not mean offend, my lady." He looked pained, as though he did not wish to say the next words. When he did speak, his tone was even, deliberately calm, "Every other fortress along the border is suffering casualties, their villages being ravished and burned. Even the unbreakable Roger Mortimer is losing men every month in the fight to keep the Welsh rebels contained. The relative calm that you are experiencing at Hawkspur is not in alignment with what is happening along every other segment of the border."

Alyce's chest heaved with every breath as she fought to contain her ire at the ridiculousness of Hawk's suggestions. "What are you saying? That Cynwulf has brokered some deal with the rebels? If he has, maybe the king needs to learn from him. Maybe Cynwulf should be put in command of the entire border." She tugged her hand out from under Hawk's and pressed her mount's side to put distance between them.

Hawk sighed but did not give her the space she desired, nudging his horse to stay close to hers. "It's not just that Hawkspur is insulated from the fighting and the killing. Our armies are being ambushed at every turn; the rebels seem to know exactly where to be and when to be there. Someone is feeding them the information they need to maintain the advantage. If we do not stop this soon, it won't be just the borderlands embroiled in a bloody war."

Alyce felt like her world was being turned upside down. "You do not know Cynwulf as I do. He would never do anything that would bring down the wrath of the king or endanger the kingdom. He has always been fair to the Welsh people who live near Hawkspur. They respect him as they did my uncle. That is why he can travel freely anywhere along his stretch of the border. He is a good man. You must believe me."

A flicker of sadness crossed Hawk's face and Alyce felt it like a knife to her heart. He didn't believe her. A cold wave of dread washed over her, weighing down her shoulders. She took a deep breath and a desperate sob caught in her throat. "My brother is a good man, Hawk."

Hawk lifted his hand slowly, as if she were a skittish mare, brushing his fingers lightly up her arm. She didn't pull away from his touch, letting him wrap his big, warm hand around the back of her neck as he leaned close enough to press his forehead to hers. "I believe you that he is a good man, but good men can make bad decisions," he said in a hoarse whisper. "And Cynwulf has made some very bad decisions."

Alyce felt the last reserves of her composure drain from her body when Hawk pulled her close. She wanted to sag into him, to let him be a shield against her crumbling world for a while. She closed her eyes as the threat of tears welled up in her throat. "He is my brother."

Hawk brushed his lips across her forehead. "I know," he said, his voice thick with compassion.

Alyce pushed back from Hawk, straightening her spine and wiping her eyes. "Let us be on our way. I am needed at Hawkspur."

Hawk simply nodded and picked up his reins, and for that Alyce was grateful. It was time to be strong, to take control, and Hawk's gentleness only made it more difficult for her to think straight. Her priority now was to pull the truth from Cynwulf and then figure out how to rectify whatever wrong he may have committed.

"Dear God," she prayed, "please don't let it be too late."

*

Hunter slipped in behind the small group of riders as they entered Hawkspur's gates. Hawk noticed the addition to their party, but he hoped exhaustion would keep Alyce from noticing, otherwise, she would insist on hearing Hunter's report.

Hawk jumped down from his horse at the front of the castle and helped Alyce to the ground. As he'd hoped, fatigue made her pliant in his arms and she leaned into him until the strength returned to her legs. Stiffening, she pulled away from Hawk, muttering her thanks as a stableboy took the reins of her mare to lead it back to the barn.

This mission might be the death of him because it was killing him to see Alyce afraid and in pain. She was devoted to her brother, and for that, he could not fault her; Cynwulf was the only family she had left. What would happen to her when they had the proof they needed against him? When he would no longer be lord of Hawkspur, and she would no longer have a home here?

I'll protect her.

As soon as the thought shot through his brain, he pushed it away. She would want nothing to do with him once he completed the king's mission. The king would find another lord to marry her, one deserving of a fortress like Hawkspur.

When he thought about someone else with Alyce, his stomach lurched as though he'd been punched, and he wanted to rip the heart out of any man who touched her. He wanted her for himself, but it could never be. Hawk had little doubt of how all of this would end once he found the evidence to prove Cynwulf's guilt, and Alyce would hate him for it—which was for the best. Even if he did not ruin her life, he could never give her all that she deserved.

Hawk watched Alyce ascend the castle stairs and disappear through the heavy door before he led his own horse in the direction of the stable. He had been seething from the moment they'd returned to find Cynwulf gone from Shrewsbury. He'd expected Cynwulf to do something foolish while they were there, but he didn't expect him to be so blatant. Nor did he expect him to abandon his sister to the care of men he hardly knew.

He did not speak to Hunter until the horses had been groomed, fed, and turned out. Hawk raised a questioning brow as he and Red met up with him in the bailey. Hunter gave a single nod in response. Hawk felt a moment of triumph and an unfamiliar pang of regret. The king rewarded him well because his gut was never wrong, and he always delivered what the king wanted. Up until now, he'd taken pride in his victories, but this one was beginning to taste bitter.

"What happened?" asked Hawk.

"'Twas brief," Hunter said in a low voice. "He met his man in a forester's hut on the Welsh side of the border."

"And?" He knew he need not ask Hunter if Cynwulf suspected he had been followed.

"It was the same man who left here the day we arrived, riding for the border like he had a band of demons on his tail."

"Did you discover his identity?"

Hunter shook his head. "Cynwulf argued with the man for a while, warning him to stay away from Hawkspur." Hunter's expression grew dark, and he hesitated.

"Out with it, man," Hawk urged.

"He reminded Cynwulf they knew his sister's habits, and it would not be difficult to get to her if he did not cooperate."

Hawk's blood turned to ice in his veins at the mention of a threat toward Alyce. He didn't like the way both Red and Hunter were studying him for his reaction, but he also knew they understood him better than anyone and were well aware of his weakness for the lady.

He had to work hard to control the rage in his voice. "What did Cynwulf say?" he bit out through gritted teeth.

"Everything," Hunter said, his voice dripping with disdain. "He told him exactly which castles the king has commanded to be seized in the south, and which commanders will be leading the armies in the attacks."

Hawk's hands clenched into tight fists. He wanted to kill Cynwulf for his treachery! Then he remembered the fear in Alyce's eyes that harm would come to her brother. "God's blood! The cowardly fool!"

"Seemed like he was trying to hold back information, just giving scant details, but then the other man would mention another part of Alyce's routine and how easy it would be to get to her. He said they could kill her as easily as they killed her husband."

Realization dawned and Hawk let out a loud sigh. "So the only casualty at Hawkspur wasn't a random skirmish with Welsh rebels. It was a message to Cynwulf."

"When he finally took his leave," Hunter continued, "he didn't look good. Had the look of a man about to hang in the gallows."

Hawk had hoped, for Alyce's sake, that it wasn't too late to save her brother from the gallows, but it seemed his fate was sealed. "Where is Cynwulf now?"

"Expect he's here," Hunter said with a shrug of his shoulder. "He went straight to the main road and turned this way. Kept my distance, but I know he didn't leave the road again."

"Good work, Hunter." Hawk clapped the big man on the back in appreciation.

Hunter grunted, then took his leave. Hawk and Red turned toward the castle.

"Do not let her out of your sight, Red," Hawk said in a low voice as they started up the narrow stairs to the castle door.

"You don't want that job?" Red raised a questioning brow at his friend and commander.

Hawk shook his head. "For her sake, I will keep my distance from her."

And for his sake, he could not afford to let any attachment to the lady cloud his judgment. He had a duty to the king, which must be fulfilled, even if it ruined Lady Alyce's life.