Rhys had known full well this day would come. He had waited for it, prepared for it, was eager for it. His one regret when he had won his freedom was that he would not see Haidar dead. Taking his wife gave Rhys the chance to satisfy that regret.
Rhys heard the footfalls behind him and waited for Pitt to reach his side. “Still no luck in finding the rest of Rab’s body?”
“Not a sign of it,” Pitt confirmed.
“And not one of the warriors who were keeping watch on McDolan saw anything?”
“He was snatched right out from under everyone.” Pitt shook his head. “Perhaps the head was sufficient for his message and he disposed of the rest of the body.”
“No, the head was a message for me. Haidar lets me know that he will severe me from all I hold close. The body will surface elsewhere on purpose.” Rhys cast an eye up at the graying clouds. “Have you made any progress with Nessa?”
“She spares me barely a moment, while she gives freely of her time to Fife.”
Rhys turned his head and a slight grin surfaced. “She prefers Fife over you.”
“I cannot believe it myself, though I think I am making some small progress. She spoke with me a bit longer than she usually does the last two times I engaged with her.”
“So, what you are telling me is that you have learned nothing as of yet.”
“Only that Fife brings her flowers far too often and I have heard him tell her just as often how beautiful she is—he is definitely right about that—and she is even more beautiful when she smiles.”
Rhys’s grin grew.
Pitt threw his hands up. “And he follows her around like a lovesick pup. I do not think there is a place she goes that he does not follow.”
Rhys’ smile vanished and Pitt’s eyes widened.
“It has been right there in front of me this whole time,” Pitt said with an angry snarl for not seeing it sooner.
“He also was the one who found the severed head,” Rhys reminded.
“I should have seen it,” Pitt said, growing angrier with himself.
“We both should have seen it, but Fife has been with us about a year, enough time for him to prove himself worthy of becoming a ghost warrior and for us to accept and trust him.”
“What do you want done with him?”
“Watch him. Put only our most trusted and skilled men on him and when the time is right...he will be mine to deal with.”
“What of Nessa?”
“You know you can say nothing to her.”
“I do not want to see her hurt. She has a generous heart.”
“Then set doubt in her mind as to how she feels about him,” Rhys said.
“I think her mind is firm on him.”
“Not if she lingered the last few times to speak with you.”
“You think?”
Rhys laughed. “I never thought I would see you doubt yourself with a woman.”
“And I never thought I would ever see you laugh.”
“The right woman can do that to a man...make him do what he did not think possible.”
