Dark Under the Cover of Night (The Kingdom of the East Angles Book 1) by Jayne Castel Page A

you
again.”
    “My father
was exiled shortly after,” Caelin replied, before adding mischievously. “Did
Wuffa grow into a ferocious wolf?”
    Raedwyn’s
smile widened. “He did. Wuffa was my father’s favorite on the hunt for many
years, until he got too old to run with the horses.”
    Their
gazes met once more and air inside the bower suddenly seemed heavier than
before. Caelin broke the spell. He rose to his feet to retrieve her empty plate
and cup. Raedwyn handed the plate to him, accidentally brushing his hand with
hers as she did so. Caelin pulled away as if she had burned him and backed up
towards the curtains
    “Good
night Raedwyn,” he gave her an enigmatic parting smile. “Sleep well.”
     
    ***
     
     Raedwyn
stirred amongst the furs. She languished in the softness for a moment, rolling
onto her back and stretching like a cat. Outside, Ceolwulf’s settlement was
already awake. Raedwyn could hear the bleating of sheep and goats, as men
herded them past her bolted window, and the rumble of voices. The aroma of a
stew cooking made her stomach growl. This village may have been makeshift, but
it functioned like any other settlement. Raedwyn yawned and sat up. Despite
everything, she had slept well – better than she had in a long while. Raedwyn
could not remember feeling so clear headed. Her senses were as sharp as a
sword’s edge this morning.
    Raedwyn
washed and, using a bone comb her brother Raegenhere had carved for her many
years before, laboriously untangled her long, blonde hair. Then she broke her
fast with a piece of bread and a cup of goat’s milk.
    When
Raedwyn stepped outside for her walk a short while later, the two guards that
Ceolwulf had assigned to escort Raedwyn at all times, fell into step behind
her. She had dressed in a forest-green dress and tied her hair back with a
matching ribbon. All of the clothes in her bags were unsuitable for life as
Ceolwulf’s captive. They were too showy, and Raedwyn felt the wolfish gazes of
Ceolwulf’s men follow her as she walked. Nonetheless, Raedwyn walked tall and
ignored the attention she was attracting.
    Raedwyn
was half-way across the village when she spied Ceolwulf. Having not seen the
warrior since he had banished her to her bower, Raedwyn felt apprehension
flower within her upon catching sight of him. Her confidence wavered. Ceolwulf
was over-seeing the sword-smith’s work; testing that the blades were sharp and
weighted properly.
    Ceolwulf
looked up, and his eyes narrowed when he saw the attention Raedwyn was
attracting. His men were stopping work to gawk at her like pubescent boys.
    “Get back
to work!” he bellowed. “Have you not seen a fine bit of female flesh before?”
    Raedwyn
felt her cheeks flame and she bit back a sharp reply.
    The huge
man was as intimidating and unkempt as usual. His mane of dark hair was tangled
and his wild beard obscured most of his face. Ceolwulf wore an intense, almost
maniacal expression as he caught Raedwyn’s eye.
    “As lovely
as a rosebud you are Raedwyn the Fair. It’s no wonder my men forget themselves
when you walk by. Yet, they need no distraction from their work. Go back to
your bower now and stay there till I give you leave.”
    “Are your
men so weak willed that a woman amongst them is enough to turn them from their
work?” The words were out before Raedwyn could stop them. Despite her flaring
temper, Raedwyn’s heart thundered against her ribs as she spoke. She had not
forgotten the feel of the back of Ceolwulf’s hand. He still terrified her.
    Much to
her chagrin, the giant laughed.
    “So fair
and yet such a shrew,” he rumbled. “You are so like your mother.”
    Raedwyn
clenched her jaw. She was not a shrew – and neither was her mother.
    “It seems
any woman who does not take a liking to you is named a shrew,” Raedwyn replied,
watching his brow darken as she spoke but continuing nonetheless. “It’s little
wonder I see no women among your ranks!”
    “My men
have sacrificed