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“I can help him,” Fia said and went to stand. A firm hand on her shoulder prevented her from doing so. She turned her head to see Varrick standing behind her.
“You will stay where you are,” he demanded.
“I beg you, do not touch her. She will work her evil ways upon you, and you will be fodder for the devil,” the cleric warned, blood dripping down along his chin and onto his robe. “Mar her beauty before it is too late for you.”
Argus entered with Marsh in time to hear the cleric’s plea and his eyes went wide when he saw Varrick standing behind Fia with his hand on her shoulder, and Varrick could almost hear his friend’s thought.
It is already too late.
CHAPTER4
Fia barely drank and ate enough to quench her hunger when Varrick commanded their departure. Clan Strathearn wanted her gone, and she believed her presence troubled Lord Varrick’s warriors. They feared her, though senseless as it was, there was no denying it. Unfortunately, that could prove dangerous for her.
Could she change that? Was it even possible? She was not sure. She only knew it was best that she took her leave and quickly.
Lord Varrick had grabbed the blanket from her hands when she had gone to wrap it around her before leaving the keep and replaced it with a hooded, fur-lined cloak. She kept it tugged around her, locking in the warmth.
Her mum and grandmother had taught her to always keep a keen eye and to stay alert to her surroundings wherever she was. That was what she did now. She watched as the villagers made their way among Lord Varrick’s warriors handing them each something that they eagerly accepted. Fia did not see what it was at first, but she had surmised what it might be… a talisman. The villagers were offering the warriors protection against her.
When she caught a glimpse of one, a twig of the blackthorn tree tied with sprig of lavender, her suspicion was confirmed. It was meant to ward off evil but since she was not evil, she had no worries. At least it would keep evil from them while on their journey, or she hoped.
Fia turned when Varrick let loose with a whistle, and her eyes followed her husband’s eyes along with others to glance up at the sky. It was not long before a bird was spotted circling overhead.
The closer it got the larger it got, its wingspan wide, and Fia watched as the bird dropped down closer and closer, and she smiled at its beauty. It was a red-tailed hawk, having become familiar with the lovely species in the forest. She wondered if it was one known to her and instinct had her extending her cloaked-covered arm out. She did not see that Varrick did the same.
The bird circled overhead, its wingspan impressive, then without warning it swooped down and to everyone’s shock landed on Fia’s arm.
“You are a beauty, my friend,” she whispered to the hawk, failing to see the anger that tightened Lord Varrick’s face and when the bird answered her with a squawk his anger doubled.
Silence descended over the crowd, no one moved, breathing seemed to still, and fear grew.
Consumed with whispering gently to the hawk, Fia did not realize that everyone stared at her in utter silence.
Varrick found it difficult to hide his fury that his hawk had ignored him completely and perched on Fia’s arm. If he had any doubts that she was a witch, they fled after seeing Sinead go to her so easily.
He whistled again and the hawk’s head turned away from Fia, her wings spread, and she took flight to land on Varrick’s arm.
Only then did Fia realize how it must have looked to all there that the hawk had come to her and not Varrick. She had lived her whole life in the woods, more comfortably with her friends, the animals and birds that made their homes there, rather than humans. None would understand that, and there was no point in explaining it.
“Home!”
Fia heard Varrick command the bird and she took flight, circling overhead, waiting to follow him home.
Varrick walked over to her, and she almost backed away from him, his anger was so palpable.
He leaned his face close to hers. “Never, ever, stretch your arm out to my hawk again.”
Fia kept her voice even and gentle, though her insides quivered as she said, “As you say, my lord.”
His hands were suddenly at her waist and with one swift lift, he set her atop a horse. “Do not try to escape me or I promise you will live to regret it. You will stay at my side unless I command otherwise.” He did not wait for a response. He went to his horse, mounted it, and rode off.
Fia followed, keeping at his side as he had ordered, and it was not long before Clan Strathearn was in the distance, and not long before she noticed that Varrick wore no talisman.
It was not until they settled into a steady pace, Argus taking the lead with a few warriors that Fia spoke to her husband.
“You wear no talisman like your warriors. Do you not fear me?”
He did not look at her when he answered, “I fear nothing.”
