Read Strangclyf Secret for Free Online

too, Geno. You have been to Strangclyf.”
    As the hall emptied, the
king turned his glower on Barwolf. “When did your cousin kill your
father?”
    “ Three days ago,
Sire.”
    “ Afte never have
overpowered the Strangclyf army with...” Her voice faded and a
horrified expression crossed her face. “’Twas a trick! I sent most
of the warriors because of the numbers the messenger gave me, thus
Strangclyf could not defend an attack from within.” She raised a
penitent expression to Bernon and wrung her hands. “I am so sorry,
Bernon. ‘Tis my fault your holding was taken.”
    “ What were you doing
issuing commands to the warriors?” Bernon asked, incredulity
clipping his tone.
    Barwolf’s shoulders
slumped, and she pressed a small hand against her left ear. “My
father gave me the duty after Geno departed. ‘Twas punishment for
cutting my hair.”
    That was the most absurd
thing he had ever heard. If she was trying to make a fool out of
him with such tales, she would find out what real punishment was
like— just as soon as he figured out how one went about punishing
someone the wind could blow over. Honest to God, he was a trainer
of warriors, not women. “Could this Aurick be in league with the
rebels?”
    “ Nay. His loyalty is to The
Strangclyf and his liege. If I send a message to his scribe,
telling him that I am no more, Aurick will immediately seek you out
and pledge his fealty. Should you wish, I will do this now if I may
have a quill, parchment, and ink.”
    “ You can write?” King
William asked, surprised. ‘Twas a skill few men possessed and she
was a mere woman.
    A blush tinted her cheeks
and she bowed her head embarrassed. “My grandfather insisted I
learn a long time ago, so I could keep accounts for my husband’s
coffers. Father Marcel took care of other matters until a few years
ago when he preached to my father and was dismissed. Now ‘tis also
my duty to record all transactions, births, deaths and such, write
and read all correspondence, and keep accounts for the decoy
coffers. The last was my punishment for letting Padarn keep his
lord’s share of his crops two years ago.”
    “ You what?” Bernon clenched
his jaw and balled his fists.
    Barwolf took a defensive
step backward and turned a fragile gaze onto his hands. “Padarn
hurt his back after the sowing. His wife had to care for five
children and had another on the way. By the time he recovered, most
of his crop was lost. His family would have starved that winter. I
still do not understand why my father got so angry.” She raised her
hand and rubbed her ear. “When the others heard of Padarn’s plight,
they gave extra and more than made up for the loss of his
share.”
    “ What were you doing
collecting shares to begin with?” he asked, pinning her with his
glare. Did she truly expect him to believe this
nonsense?
    “ I got that duty when my
father disagreed with the way I settled the dispute between Aiken
and Merton over who should marry Sherard’s daughter. No one told me
‘twas not appropriate to ask Willa who she wanted.” She ended on a
lame note.
    Damnation! Her tales were
too outrageous to be made up. What in perdition had William gotten
him into? Bernon wiped a hand over his face. “Do you expect me to
believe you were
responsible for settling disputes at Strangclyf?”
    “’ Twas given to me as
punishment three years ago when I decided to whitewash the interior
of the great hall. ‘Twas a bit gloomy and I thought it would cheer
the place.”
    “ And just what in perdition
did your father do while you were running the holding?”
    “ He spent most of his time
trying to make a son, so Strangclyf wouldn’t have to pass through
me. ‘Twas the reason Father Marcel preached to him about
fornication.”
    Silence reigned as the
king and queen stared at his bride. Geno didn’t seem surprised. His
friend looked at Bernon with a sad expression.
    Barwolf sucked in a deep
breath then leveled her eyes at his chest