Page 64 of The Refuge

“Aye,” he said. “In the other chamber, seeing to some of his wounded archers.”

“If ’tis all right with you,” Fia faced Catrìona, “since we are done here, I would offer my help in the next chamber.”

“Go,” Catrìona said. “Audra must need help since she did not return.”

Steinar moved to one side of the door, allowing Fia to pass.

Now that they were alone, well, except for the sleeping wounded, she remembered hearing some of the returning men speak of the scribe’s saving the king’s life in Alnwick. “Is it true what they say? That you saved the king?”

“’Twas my job to defend his back and I did.”

“You make it sound a simple thing but the men tell a different story.”

He shrugged, apparently unwilling to say more.

“Whatever you did, you have earned the praise of the king’s men.”

He did not respond to her statement but asked instead, “Must you stay here?”

She gazed about the room. “Most of the men sleep, but I must fetch a servant to keep watch before I could leave them.”

“I will fetch the servant,” he said. “Then I would speak with you alone.”