Free The Silken Cord by Leigh Bale

mustn’t know that
now.
    He shrugged. “There are worse things than
being a slave, but our men will fight. We all might die, and you’ll
not be able to free your brother. What is to be gained by
that?”
    Ariana tightened her hands into fists, her
nails biting into her palms. Her mind raced and she tried to calm
the flutter of anxiety in her stomach. What he said was true. If
they couldn’t reach an agreement, all would be lost. The Normans
were fierce warriors, but so were the Welsh. It would achieve
nothing to kill each other. Her brother would be dead and her
people thrown into chaos.
    Her only hope was Wulfgar.
    “Do you have a conscience?” she asked.
    “If you tell me who your father is, we’ll
discuss the existence of a secret entrance.”
    Her father’s name would be all too familiar
and give him an advantage. So long as her men held Wulfgar, he
couldn’t use the information to plot with Edwin against her. Having
his outlaw Normans here posed a threat. What if they freed Wulfgar
and he decided to conspire against her?
    “How arrogant you are.” Fingering the hilt
of her dagger, she took a step toward him.
    “Have a care, cherie.” He inclined his head
in the direction of their men. “If you attack me, our men will join
in the fight. Blood will be shed. I don’t want you hurt.”
    “How kind of you to consider my welfare,”
she cried. “You plotted against your king and have no honor.”
    His expression became grim, his eyes
glittered dangerously. When he spoke, his voice sounded deep and
low, like the rushing of many waters. “Hear me well, Ariana. I
would lay down my life for my king. I’ve done nothing but fight for
his cause. Never at any time did I plot against William. Don’t
believe the lies you’ve heard. They are all false.”
    “You deny it?” Did he really expect her to
believe him?
    “I do. I’m innocent and I intend to prove
it. I will find justice. The ones responsible for my misfortune
will pay for their crimes. I will be avenged.”
    Ariana gave an exasperated huff. “Vengeance
is for the Lord alone.”
    He flashed a cruel smile. “Let’s just say
I’d like to help God out.”
    “And how do you intend to do that? You’re
only a slave. An outlaw. If you’re found on English soil, you’ll be
killed.”
    “I challenge any man to try and kill
me.”
    “Your king had the power to kill you.”
    “If William wanted me dead, he would have
chopped off my head and been done with it. Yet, he let me
live.”
    “Yes. Why would he do that? Doesn’t he fear
you might return and try to destroy him?”
    Wulfgar lifted one shoulder in a lopsided
shrug. “I’ve wondered the same myself. Perhaps deep inside, he
knows I’m innocent, yet I was condemned by my accusers and he
couldn’t overlook that. William was always quite fond of me.
Perhaps he feels loyal to me for my past service to him, so he
spared my life.”
    His guilt or innocence didn’t matter to her.
She must think only of Dafydd.
    Ariana shook her head and turned away. She
had failed. Wulfgar wouldn’t help her. “If you don’t help me, my
brother will die along with many more of my people.”
    “Why is there so much at stake simply
because a child is held for ransom?”
    She bit her tongue to keep from replying. He
was a Norman after all. No doubt he would be reluctant to help get
Dafydd free.
    She felt the brush of his hand on her
shoulder and his voice sounded almost gentle. Soothing and kind.
“I’ve not refused to lend you aid. If you want to enter Cynan
Castle, I’ll agree to tell you the location of the passage. But
first, you must answer a few questions in return.”
    She peered at him with suspicion. “I thought
you said there was no passage.”
    He didn’t respond, but she could see the
truth in his eyes. There was a secret entrance.
    “What do you want to know?” She couldn’t
hide her urgency this time.
    “First, tell me how you came to know there
is a passage.”
    Ariana cringed, but he left