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“As perfect and unlikely a pair as you and Tarass?” Twilla’s chuckle was as raspy as her voice. “The one you’re looking for isn’t always the one you find.”
Snow thought about Sorrell and Willow and their husbands, and how true Twilla’s words were.
Twilla led her to a chair at a table after entering her cottage.
Snow pushed her cloak off her shoulders to fall over the back of the chair as she settled into the seat.
“A hot brew to warm you and heat my old bones,” Twilla said.
Snow turned her head in the direction of Twilla’s voice and saw the flicker of a flame, orange and yellow in color, in the hearth. It swayed and shivered as it ate at the log. It couldn’t be her imagination. She watched as it faded slowly, such a glorious sight, and she rubbed at her eyes, hoping to somehow bring the image back into focus, but it was lost.
Keep hope in your heart, my daughter, and you will see again.
She kept hope strong that her mum had been right and her sight would return at least enough for her not to depend on others to help her. But like her sister Willow, there was a practical side to her, which reminded that she also had to be prepared if her sight never returned.
Twilla placed a tankard by Snow’s hand. “It’s hot be careful.”
“What was Tarass’s mum like,” Snow asked, hoping to gather more pieces to the puzzle. “I recall some about his da, though it was more fear I had of him. I thought his head touched the sky when I looked up at him from a young bairn’s small height.”
“He was a big man, much like his son, though Tarass is a bit taller. He’s as handsome as his da and carries himself with strength just as his da did. His mum was a beautiful woman. It was difficult for men not to glance more than once at her.” Twilla laughed. “It was even more difficult for his da to handle. She had a kind yet strong nature and was a good wife and mum.”
Snow decided to ask. “Why did his da leave here suddenly only to have Tarass and his mum do the same?”
“You ask what Tarass has asked endlessly, but only his mum and da have the answer.”
For some reason Snow didn’t believe her. “It must have been difficult for Tarass’s mum—”
“Haldana. Her name was Haldana.”
“Difficult for Haldana in a new home with no friends to talk with.”
“Haldana had Tarass’s da. They were inseparable. They needed no one else, though after Tarass’s grandda came to adore Haldana, many in the clan came to admire and respect her. And for a good reason. She was a wise woman and offered wise advice.”
The rasp in Twilla’s voice wasn’t enough to hide how much the woman cared for Haldana. And Snow suspected that Twilla and Haldana had come to be good friends and that Twilla knew more about Tarass’s parents than she was saying. But why? Why wouldn’t she confide to Tarass what she might know about his parents that would help him?
“Where is my wife?” Tarass demanded when he came upon Nettle and Rannock arguing.
The two looked around and Nettle paled.
“She was here a moment ago,” Nettle said.
“I saw her myself,” Rannock agreed.
“She isn’t here now and are you sure it was only a moment ago that you saw her? The snow-covered ground shows no signs of footfalls,” Tarass said, fear jabbing at him. “She could not have gone off alone unless Thaw led her somewhere.” His anger was growing. “How could you let this happen after the problems of last night.” He spotted Runa and called to her. “Have you seen my wife, Runa?”
Runa shook her head. “No, my lord, I have been busy tending to a birth and I’m on my way to see how Helga does, since her husband fetched me. But if I see her I will tell her you are looking for her.”
Tarass turned to Nettle and Rannock. “Find her. Now! And know this will not go unpunished.”
The pair hurried off in opposite directions, Nettle thinking that Snow may have returned to the keep and Rannock thinking her endless curiosity may have taken her to the shed where the one body was being kept.
Tarass stood where he was, fear starting to creep over him. Where had she gone? Wherever she had gone off to, Thaw was with her and while he was still only a pup, he fiercely protected her. If, God forbid, she was hurt, Thaw would go for help. He would run to find him and bring him to her.
“My lord, you search for Lady Snow?”
Tarass turned to see the young lad, Roy, who had participated in the snowball fight the last time Snow had been here.
