“Your head hit the stone hearth and you have a large knot on the back of it,” he explained.
“You shoved me to protect me.” Her words were a bare whisper. “You shoved me away to keep me safe. Did you get him?”
Rhys leaned to the right so that she could see the man’s body near the door, knowing his wife would not rest until she did.
Heather stared at the lifeless body and saw that the man wore the same grime on his face as those who had attacked them on their journey here. The Dark Dragon had an enemy, and he meant to see the Dragon dead.
Heather saw several of the Dragon’s warriors roaming about the room. It appeared as if they searched for something while one stood guard over the body.
“Pitt,” Rhys called out and the man hurried to his side.
“I am most pleased to see you awake, my lady,” Pitt said.
Heather grimaced as she turned her head, and said, “Thank you, Pitt.”
“Do not move. You cause yourself pain every time you do,” Rhys ordered.
“Aye, that I do,” Heather said and let her eyes drift closed.
“And do not go to sleep,” Rhys shouted at her. “I have seen too many men fall asleep aftersuch a head wound never to wake again. You will keep your eyes open.”
His caring words, though abrupt manner, brought a smile to her face that caused her to cringe again.
“No smiling,” he warned.
“Then what am I allowed to do,” she asked with a sigh.
“You are to do nothing but lie there and rest.” Rhys turned to Pitt. “Dump the bastard in the woods and leave the dagger in his throat. And I expect you to find out before morning how he got into my bedchambers.”
“Secret passage,” Heather said. “Is not that what your men search for?”
Even after a blow to the head her attention was sharp, and Rhys was impressed. His wife was a strong woman and while it might pose problems along the way, he was glad for it.
“They do,” Rhys admitted, “but they have found nothing so far.”
“They should be searching outside as well,” Heather said.
“They are,” Pitt said and received a scowl from Rhys.
“You are not to concern yourself with this,” Rhys ordered his wife, though knew his demand useless.
“I can help,” Heather said, laying her hand over her husband’s.
“No!” he said forcefully.
Heather had no want to argue with him in her present condition and she had no want to sit by and do nothing. And while she knew that Seamus might know something about the secret passage, she did not wish to share that information with her husband. Seamus did not trust Rhys and he would stay quiet if asked anything about a secret passage. She would wait until she was feeling better, and then ask the old man if he knew anything about this phantom way into and out of the keep.
Rhys took her hand. “You are to rest, nothing more.”
She stared at him for a moment, not able to take her eyes off his face, then as if coming out of a fog, she said, “As you wish.”
Rhys thought she acquiesced to his demand much too easily. He would have to keep a watchful eye on her. He looked to Pitt again. “The men have spent enough time here. Take them and search elsewhere and leave two men outside the door for the night. And send Nessa up.”
Pitt nodded and within minutes everyone was gone along with the dead body.
Rhys squeezed her hand lightly. “Nessa will help you into your nightdress while I go see to some things.”
Heather grabbed onto his hand, not wanting to let go. “You will not be long? You will be coming back?”
