Rhys ignored him and squeezed a bit harder.
John’s hands came up to grasp at Rhys hand, trying frantically to free himself, but it proved useless. The Dragon’s grip was like a band of metal forged around his neck.
“Release him or I will have my men take the Dragon down here and now.” Hew raised his hand and his warriors, some with reluctance, stepped forward.
Ghost warriors rushed from the woods and dropped from the trees completely surrounding the group and Hew paled along with several of his warriors.
Rhys’ grip tightened. “It matters not to me if you die. I know the truth. That blond-haired beautyyou say was there could not have been there. Heather was with me; she is my wife.”
* * *
Heather satat one of the tables in the Great Hall wondering where her husband had gone off to. Henry had stood nearby until she had insisted that he sit and give his injured leg some rest. He had not argued; he sat.
On her walk to the keep, Heather had discovered that Henry would not be forthcoming with any information about her husband’s whereabouts. She wished she could have spent more time walking through the village for surely someone would have heard something, though now that she had sat for a while, she realized that she was tired and that her head ached a bit.
She silently admonished herself for not taking more care with her injury. She had ignored the fatigue that had crept up on her and the throb in her head.
“Your brew, my lady,” Nessa said, placing a tankard with swirls of steam rising from it in front of her.
“Bless you, it is just what I need,” Heather said, lifting the tankard to her lips to sip cautiously.
“I hope I made it to your liking.”
Heather smiled after tasting it. “Perfect.”
“You look tired, my lady, perhaps you should rest in your chambers.”
The thought appealed to her, but before she could agree, Henry spoke up.
“My orders are for me to remain with Lady Heather in the Great Hall until the Dragon returns, and here is where she will be staying.”
“But she needs rest,” Nessa protested.
“I have my orders,” Henry said.
“I will wait here,” Heather said the pair’s bickering causing the slight pain in her head to increase.
Nessa shook her head as she walked past Henry, saying, “It is her bed she needs.”
Henry ignored her and after few moments, he said, “I am sure the Dragon will return soon.”
Heather saw the concern in his eyes and reassured him. “It is all right, Henry. I will sip my brew and rest right here until my husband returns.”
The brew soothed her as always and the pain in her head lessened, but her eyes grew heavy and by the time she finished the brew, her eyes were closing and her head felt too heavy to hold up. She folded her arms on the table and brought her head down on them to rest.
“My lady, are you all right?” Henry asked anxiously.
“Need a bit of rest,” she said as her eyes drifted closed.
* **
“You are wed to Heather Macinnes?”Hew asked as if he did not believe his words.
“I am. Now tell me why you had Rab McLaud beaten to death,” Rhys demanded.
With his shoulders drooping in defeat, Hew said, “I discovered he intended to kill my daughter and that Greer knew and approved of it. I began to wonder what other things Greer had planned for me. I decided it would be wiser to free myself of one McLaud and in so doing free my daughter and make her available to wed you, thus joining forces with you and protecting myself against Greer.” Hew shook his head. “Donald Macinnes beat me to it.”
“You got part of what you wanted,” Rhys said and released John. “You pledged your allegiance to me if I gave you revenge against those who did this to Rab. John is one. Give me the others who helped him and I will see them punished.”
