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

much to serve me,” Ceolwulf replied in a dangerously quiet
voice. “Females are a distraction, as your presence here proves. It’s your good
fortune that I need you alive as a bargaining tool Raedwyn the Fair, or I’d
have wrung your neck by now. Get yourself back to your bower.”
    Raedwyn’s
temper erupted again. Terrified as she was of Ceolwulf, she was unused to being
addressed in such a rude manner. Her father had always spoken to her with
respect, as had her brothers. Her fingers clenched tightly at her sides, her
nails biting into her palms. Not for the first time she wished she had been
born a man.
    Raedwyn’s
next course of action, whether it was to defy Ceolwulf or submit to his will,
was interrupted as voices on the far side of the glade reached them.
    “Word from
Raedwald, M’lord!”
    Raedwyn
watched as a travel-stained rider atop a stocky dun horse, trotted briskly
through the settlement. Defiance forgotten, Raedwyn realized that her father
had learnt of her abduction.
    Caelin
appeared beside his father, his sharp-featured face impassive as he watched the
rider approach.
    The rider
pulled his horse up before Ceolwulf. He was a grizzled warrior covered in
battle scars and with a face that seemed hewn from stone.
    “What
news?” Ceolwulf barked.
    “I have
given Raedwald your terms m’lord,” the rider replied, “and I made it clear that
if I was harmed or if he breaks our agreement in any way, his daughter will
have her throat cut.”
    Raedwyn’s
hand went instinctively up to her exposed throat. She felt eyes on her and
looked across at Caelin. Their gazes met. The enigmatic expression he usually
wore had slipped slightly and she saw concern cloud his dark eyes for a moment.
Despite his promise she would not come to any harm here, Raedwyn’s life was
seriously threatened.
    Ignoring
Raedwyn’s reaction to his words, the rider continued. “Raedwald has agreed to
meet us in battle on Uffid Heath at dawn of the next full moon with a fyrd of two-hundred men – no more – no less.”
    Ceolwulf’s
hairy face split into a wide grin. He turned to Raedwyn, giving her a mocking
bow.
    “In just
three nights, your father will meet his maker. Did I not tell you Raedwald
would do anything to have his precious daughter returned to him?” Ceolwulf
jeered. “Not such a fearless warrior now is he? It seems the great Wuffinga
line is nothing but a family of cowards where women rule.”
    A red haze
swept over Raedwyn at Ceolwulf’s cruel words. This traitor had slandered her
family for the last time. Striking like an adder, Raedwyn leapt forward,
grabbed a sword that lay atop a pile of weapons to be sharpened, and plunged it
at Ceolwulf. She gripped the hilt with both hands as she had seen men do during
swordplay, and the sword would have found its mark if another blade had not
blocked hers.
    Caelin had
stepped in between his father and Raedwyn and stopped her blade a moment before
it caught Ceolwulf below his collarbone.
    Ceolwulf
reeled back and Raedwyn had the momentary satisfaction of seeing the giant
caught off guard. Raedwyn was a tall woman and despite her feminine curves,
strong enough even to wield a sword with enough power to kill a man.
    Caelin
twisted his blade and tore Raedwyn’s sword from her fingers. Still in a haze of
fury, Raedwyn scrambled to retrieve it but Caelin’s foot pressed the sword into
the mud, foiling her again. He dropped his own sword and grasped her tightly –
one arm clamped across her chest, the other around her neck. Raedwyn struggled,
kicked and clawed at Caelin. However, his arms were like two iron bands. He
held her fast until her struggles ceased.
    Panting,
Raedwyn looked up and saw Ceolwulf glaring at her, his face swollen and red
from the force of his anger. She had humiliated him in front of his men. Her
own anger was subsiding now and Raedwyn felt a jolt of alarm as she stared back
at Ceolwulf. He would make her pay for attempting to stick him on his