Dream of Me/Believe in Me

between them. He did it so smoothly that Cymbra didn't even see her hand removed from her brother's arm and placed instead in her husband's.
    “That won't be necessary,” Wolf said. “You have the feast to see to. Dragon will show Hawk and his men to their quarters.”
    Smiling, or at least showing his teeth, Dragon moved smoothly between his startled sister-in-law and her brother at the same moment as Wolf drew her back, separating her further from Hawk, who scowled and looked about to protest.
    Before he could do so, Cymbra said, “Yes, of course, you're absolutely right. I'll see you shortly, brother.”
    Without giving him a chance to object, she turned away quickly and hurried to the kitchens. Her heart was beating very fast and she murmured a prayer that Hawk and Dragon would not come to blows. Or Hawk and Wolf. Or any of the Norse and Saxon. That all those superbly conditioned warriors would refrain from using their savage skills to brutalize one another at least until she could get a good meal into them.
And
a sufficient quantity of ale to improve their spirits or, preferably, knock them out altogether.
    “My lady,” Brita said anxiously when she caught sight of her mistress. “My lady, we heard—”
    “Yes, yes, my brother is here. It's wonderful, I'm thrilled. Now quickly, there's a great deal to be done.”
    The dozen or so women gathered in the kitchens hurried to obey. They were as mindful as Cymbra of the urgent need to soothe male tempers and were joined in determination to keep the peace in any way they could. Work-worn hands clasped quickly at amulets that had hung from the sacred tree. These same hands also sketched the sign of the cross, just to be sure. The wise woman knew that when dealing with the uncertain temperament of men, it never hurt to have all the help one could get.
    S O IT PLEASE ALMIGHTY GOD, BROTHER JOSEPH SAID solemnly, “we give thanks for His bounty and rejoice in the unity of family gathered beneath one roof, at one table, to break bread together.”
    With a glance at Cymbra to see if this was what she'd had in mind when she requested a special blessing before the meal, the monk received her nod of thanks. He smiled and sat down.
    As only a tense silence greeted what she thought was a very nice prayer, Cymbra said a firm “Amen,” which, perforce, required the Saxons—good Christians all—to do the same.
    When Hawk hesitated to join in, she shot him a look and said pointedly, “Did I mention that Wolf was so kind as to have Brother Joseph officiate at our marriage, along with Ulfrich, too, of course?” She nodded at the holy man, to whom Hawk had already been introduced.
    “Amen,” her brother intoned with a sardonic glance at the newest addition to his family. He lifted the drinking horn a servant had just filled but refrained from partaking of its contents as his piercing gaze shifted to the monk. With feigned pleasantness, he said, “I presume, Brother Joseph, that you are aware of the Church's prohibition against vows given under duress.”
    Having just taken a sip of his own ale, the young cleric looked in danger of choking but he recovered quickly. Despite facing one of the most feared warlords in the known world, he managed to reply with his usual equanimity. “Most certainly I am aware of it, my lord. Be assured, I would never consecrate in marriage anyone who gave indication of being unwilling.”
    “I'm very pleased to hear that. Tell me, how exactly do you determine whether a party is unwilling? Did you, for example, take counsel with my sister prior to these
joyful nuptials?”
    At the obvious, indeed biting doubt underlying his words, Brother Joseph blanched slightly. But he held firm and said with gentle humility, “I had no opportunity to meet with the Lady Cymbra beforehand, my lord. However, she in no way impressed me as unwilling. Indeed”—he looked at Cymbra kindly—“she impressed me as a woman of rare courage and virtue.”
    “How perceptive of you,” Hawk drawled. “Perhaps you aren't aware that such nobility of character may leadone to put aside personal interest—even personal safety— in pursuit of a higher goal.”
    “That is true,” Brother Joseph said quietly. “But then are not we all supposed to be in pursuit of such a goal? I would hardly be much of a monk if I denied someone their chance to attain it.”
    “A neat bit of reasoning,” Hawk allowed. “Very convenient to your case. Perhaps too convenient.”