Ever!”
They made love again, this time in a more gentle and leisurely manner. She took his face in her hands and kissed him passionately as they reached the peak of their mutual desire. Then they fell asleep, exhausted.
When they awoke in the middle of the starry night, it was to discover that they were both hungry, but this time their hunger was for food. Cailin had brought a roasted capon, bread, cheese, crisp apples, and a heady wine to the solar. Together they shared the feast, returning to their bed space to kiss, and to caress, and to love some more.
The happiness that they had gained in finding each other again quickly communicated itself to all the inhabitants of the hall. Aurora, who had been so withdrawn and frightened, was now a laughing, happy child adored by both of her parents. Her unpleasant memories were fading, thanks to her relatively young age, and her third birthday was celebrated with much festivity, and not just a little excitement. Aurora had not been expected until at least the end of August, but she had chosen to be born on the nineteenth of that month.
The day of her third birthday dawned clear and warm. The grain harvest was all in and stored in the barns within the walls. The workers were preparing to harvest apples to make cider.
The watch upon the walls suddenly called out, “Horsemen upon the hillcrest!” and immediately the gates of Cadda-wic were shut and barred. The horsemen descended the hill slowly as Wulf Ironfist was called from the solar and hurried to a vantage point atop the walls.
Ragnar Strongspear’s dark blue eyes narrowed with irritation as he saw the newly built defenses about the hall. Too late, he realized his error in withdrawing his spy. As he drew closer he observed that the wall enclosing Cadda-wic was a very strong one. And the fields about the hall had all been harvested, but where were the grain barns? Within those damned walls, he suspected, and safe from him. Ragnar was not a man of great intellect, but he knew that retaking these lands was not going to be as easy a task as he had earlier anticipated. Looking up, he saw Wulf Ironfist upon the walls, watching his approach.
Ragnar smiled toothily and said in his booming voice, “Good morrow, Wulf Ironfist! Surely you have not closed your gates to me? We are neighbors, and should be friends.”
“Friends do not come calling at dawn with a party of heavily armed men,” came the reply. “State your business with me, Ragnar Strongspear.”
“ ‘Tis just a friendly visit,” the older man declared. “Will you not open your gates and let me in, my friend?”
“We are not friends,” Wulf Ironfist replied coldly. “If you wish to enter Cadda-wic, then you may, but you must leave your troop outside my walls. We are a peaceful community and seek no warring.”
“Very well,” Ragnar said, deciding that he must get a look inside the walls of Cadda-wic if he was to eventually take it. He dismounted and handed the reins of his horse to his second-in-command.
“My lord,” the man, whose name was Harald, said, “it is not safe.”
“It is safe,” his master assured him softly. “If our positions were reversed, ’twould not be so, but Wulf Ironfist is a man of his word.”
The gate was opened just enough for Ragnar to squeeze through, and then the strong iron bars were lowered, securing the entry from intruders. He noted that the gates were sheathed in iron. Cadda-wic was well thought out. The well was in the courtyard’s center, and there were several grain barns, well away from the walls.
“ ‘Tis virtually impregnable,” Wulf Ironfist said in answer to Ragnar’s thoughts as he joined his guest. “Have you eaten? Come into the hall, Ragnar Strongspear.”
The hall doors were also thick oak, and bound with bands of iron studded with large iron nails. The two men passed through them into the hall. It was not like his smoky and dirty hall, Ragnar noted. Indeed, the smoke from the fire pits was drawn directly out several smoke holes in the roof. The rushes upon the floor were clean, and filled with sweet herbs that gave off their perfume as they were crushed beneath his feet. Several well-fed, sleek hounds came up to sniff him, and then returned to their places by the fires. The two men seated themselves at the high board. At once a line of quiet, contented-looking servants began