Heather would have liked to ask them if they knew where her husband had gone, but that would not be proper for her to do. She went to the door with the two women and stepped outside, calling out to Jenny’s husband to come see his newborn son. He came running, a broad smile upon his face.
She closed the door behind him to give the couple time alone and walked over to Henry, standing a few feet away. “Henry, you are feeling well?”
“Very well, my lady,” Henry said with a firm nod.
Heather cast a glance about, noticing that clouds now threatened the beautiful day. “Some rain I think.”
“It feels it for sure.”
“Do you know where my husband is off to?”
Henry shook his head. “No, my lady. I only know I am to take you to the Great Hall when you are done here, and I am to remain with you there until the Dragon returns.”
Something had happened to take Rhys away. She had seen or perhaps had sensed that he had been just as eager to spend the rest of the day with her as she had been to spend it with him. Somethingurgent must have happened to take him away from her.
And she intended to find out what it was.
CHAPTER 16
Rhys entered the camp with Pitt. He wore his leather armor though no helmet. Most of the men in the camp stared at him in fear, some backed away, and a few would not look at him, too frightened that evil would touch them.
The warriors’ reactions didn’t matter to Rhys. His interest was in the short, thick man who stood in the middle of the camp, his head hanging down, staring at the dead body at his feet.
Rhys dismounted as did Pitt, their horses remaining where left as the two approached the man.
“See what the Macinnes have done to my son-in-law when all he asked was for his wife—my daughter—to be returned to him?” Hew McDolan said, raising his head.
Rhys looked at the badly beaten body of Rab McLaud.
Hew choked on his words as he said, “They beat him unmercifully.”
“How do you know it was the Macinnes that did this?” Pitt asked.
“Rab had insisted on going along to the Macinnes to retrieve his wife, but not trusting the Macinnes, I sent one of my warriors to follow him. He watched from a distance as Donald Macinneshad his warriors beat Rab to death.” He shook his head.
“What of Hunter?” Rhys asked. “Did he stand there and watch his brother beaten to death?”
“He did,” Hew confirmed with a snarl, “and said not a word or lifted a finger to stop it.”
“What of Rona?” Pitt asked. “Rab did not ask for his sister-in-law’s return as well?”
“The bastard took her captive too?” Hew spat.
“What concern of this is mine?” Rhys asked.
“I want my daughter returned to me and if they would not return her to her husband, I fear they also will refuse to return her to her father. I am asking for your help in freeing my daughter from the Macinnes. In return, I offer her to you in marriage. Saundra is a good lass and obeys well. She would make you a good wife. And with the uniting of our clans, I will pledge my allegiance to you.”
“So, what you ask for is revenge against those who had your son-in-law beaten to death,” Rhys said.
“Aye, I do, but not without offering you something in return.”
“So, if I give you what you ask for, you will give me your daughter and pledge your allegiance to me, on this I have your word?”
“Aye, I give you my word here and now onit.”
Rhys glanced at Pitt and gave him a barely visible nod before saying to Hew, “Bring me the warrior who witnessed the beating.”
“John,” Hew shouted.
