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“Aye, henbane has a foul odor to it, warning people away from the deadly leaves.”
“Isn’t henbane what almost killed the monk at the abbey?” Varrick asked.
“Aye, I would say it was,” Fia said.
“Then why bring the very poison that almost killed him along with him?” Argus asked, shaking his head.
“That, Argus, is a good question,” Fia said.
CHAPTER27
Fia stood braced against her husband, his arms wrapped around her as they watched Sinead circle in the sky just after the day broke cloudy, cold, and gloomy.
“I can feel your troubled thoughts,” Varrick said, growing accustomed to how often he could sense what his wife was feeling.
“Three days since discovering the poison on Brother Luke and I still can find no sensible reason for it,” Fia said, discouraged.
“But you continue to believe the poison caused his death.”
She nodded, recalling her discovery. “You saw for yourself the skin rubbed sore on his ankle. It had to have been where the pouch lodged itself day after day and with how worn the pouch was, I have no doubt the poison seeped into the wound eventually causing his death. Unfortunately, that does not answer why he had the poison with him in the first place.”
“Your knowing tells you nothing?”
Fia turned around in his arms. “My mind is so often occupied with you that it thinks of nothing else, makes room for nothing else.”
He smiled, not only pleased with her words but also pleased at seeing that her lips were still puffed red from the powerful kisses they had shared only a short time ago and their bodies both still warm from their arduous lovemaking. He also loved the way her cheeks were pinched red from the cold, adding to her beauty.
He hugged her. “I am grateful for these stolen moments with you.”
“As am I,” Fia said, loving every moment they shared when no one could see how much they truly loved each other.
Sinead squawked overhead and Varrick held his arm out for her to land on, which she did with ease.
“Sinead ate her fill and now it is our turn to feast,” Varrick said and took his wife’s hand.
“I have noticed that Sinead lingers with you lately after her morning flight. She might sense a need to protect you.”
“It is possible. She has done that before battle at times,” he said, glancing at the hawk whose head kept turning, keeping focused on her surroundings.
“Oh,” Fia said, coming to a stop. “People wait for me.”
“And they can continue to wait until you have had your meal,” Varrick said, seeing a line had already formed at the healing cottage.
Sinead squawked and suddenly took flight.
Varrick did not need to turn to know that someone approached. Sinead was not one to be surrounded by too many people.
“Three days and they already realize their mistake in listening to a few disgruntled people,” Marsh said when he came upon them. “And there is no one as skilled as you to tend them, my lady.”
“Their worries wane as problems wane and with no death cries from the hounds and knowing their leader will do whatever is necessary to protect them, there is little to concern them,” Fia said.
“No disrespect, my lord,” Marsh said. “But if your intentions are to harm Lady Fia to appease the foolish in our clan, then I will have no choice but to protect her and get her to safety, no matter the consequences.”
“I am pleased to know you would protect my wife, Marsh, even against me, though you would have no chance of succeeding,” Varrick said with a chuckle, though with a seriousness to his eyes that spoke otherwise.
“Still, my lord, I would try.”
“And for that I am grateful,” Varrick said as he watched Argus hurrying toward them.
