Master Of Torment by Karin Tabke

Author:Karin Tabke [Tabke, Karin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-08-13T03:00:00+00:00

Tarian watched the knights thunder from the bailey toward Dunloc. Her hand slid to her belly, and she wondered if she were at that moment growing a babe inside her. “’Twill take more than a few days to see if the seed bears fruit, milady,” Edith said from behind her.

Tarian turned to the nurse and smiled tiredly. “I don’t know what to do, Edie.”

“I say we fly from here. To Powys, where you will be safe.”

“And give up Draceadon?”

“Aye, is your life and that of the child worth this rubble heap?”

Tarian looked out the window at the stretch of forest and the surrounding land. “What life would I have in Wales? As a hostage?”

Edith came and stood behind her. She pressed her hands to Tarian’s hair and smoothed the long tresses. “I know it is the last thing that you wish, Tarian, but you should give Rangor more thought.” Tarian stiffened. “Hear me, girl. He is noble, he has strong allies in Edric, he would become earl, he will protect you, and he has the ear of two Welsh kings. He has several bastards to his name and is virile. He would not leave you wanting for children.”

When Tarian did not answer, Edith continued. “Malcor was evil, and if you could bed with him, then why not with Rangor, who in his twisted way desires you above all women, and who would not harm you?”

“If I bear the Norman’s child there will be no question to my right here.”

“Aye, among the Saxons, yes, but the Norman king? All the more reason to see you removed.”

“I will use my coin to buy more men.”

Edith let out a long breath. “Let my words simmer in your mind. You will see I am right.”

Tarian shook her head and continued to stare across her vast estate. But she knew in her gut that Edith, who never spoke a word in haste, spoke the truth.

She peered at her nurse’s hunched form. Aye, Edith spoke true, but Tarian still had in her hand dice to throw. Her men awaited the interception of Warner, who was no doubt on his return to England from Normandy. Regardless of the king’s decree, time was her ally, and she would hold the knight until such time as Wulfson became unmanageable; then she would trade her life for his man’s. So sure was she that Wulfson would not sacrifice one of his men for her life that she was able to form a different strategy with a clear head, on the slim chance she was wrong.

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