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“And what made you believe that?” he asked, thinking the young lass more astute than even Rannock believed.
“You complained about her after each visit to the Macardle keep and talked about her often. Only someone in love has a person on their mind that much.”
If only he had been so astute, he could have saved himself time and trouble.
“You observe things well. I need you to keep keen eyes and ears on all that goes on in the keep and outside it as well. If anything—anything at all—seems amiss, I want you to tell me and only me.”
“Aye, my lord, that will be an easy task for me. I love to watch people. It became a habit when few, mostly none, would talk with me. I watched and listened and saw things that most ignore.”
“Like what, Nettle?” he asked.
“I don’t want to gossip, my lord,” Nettle said.
“Gossip might provide a clue as to the problem we’re presently having.”
Nettle hesitated a moment, though saw no way out of telling what she saw. “The young warrior Dolan is sneaking into Maude’s cottage at night.”
“How do you know this?” Tarass demanded, knowing the warrior had sentinel duties at night.
“I sometimes have trouble sleeping so I walk through the village late when everyone is asleep so that I am tired when I return to bed and finally am able to sleep.” His nod permitted her to continue. “Fasta seeks endless charms from Runa, and I heard her complain that one brought the wrong man to her. It seemed the charm had Helga’s husband seeking out Fasta. She didn’t deny him and was now worried he’d gotten her with child, since his seed takes root easily, Helga having three bairns in the four years since wed.”
Tarass was stunned at what the woman knew and realized Rannock was right. The woman saw and heard everything.
“And Rannock pines over Runa and hides when he sees her. He can’t bring himself to talk to her, though I don’t see how she’d be good for him. She barely glances at any man.”
Tarass almost smiled. Had he and Snow been that obvious? Had Nettle been the only one to see it? He almost shook his head. Twilla had and said nothing. But then perhaps love needed to find its way in its own good time.
“You will keep watch for me, Nettle, and keep me apprised of all that goes on,” Tarass said.
“Aye, my lord,” she said with a nod.
Tarass left his solar shortly after Nettle, letting her know that Snow would send for her when needed. Then he climbed the stairs and entered the small room that his wife had claimed as her solar.
“Snow,” he said, letting her know it was him when he entered the room, keeping it foremost in his mind that she needed to see through his eyes just as Nettle so generously shared hers.
She turned in the chair to face him, the blankets Nettle had piled around her falling away.
“That’s a good fire burning in the hearth,” he said as he reached her and took hold of her hand she stretched out in his direction. “And Thaw sleeps soundly there close to the hearth.”
“Aye, it kept me warm while I’ve waited impatiently for you, though Thaw didn’t last long at keeping my feet warm since I moved them too much, disturbing his sleep. I apologize for not remaining in the Great Hall as you instructed, but I longed for some quiet.”
“You stayed in the keep that’s what matters,” he said.
“Do not keep me waiting any longer. Tell me about the pool of blood,” she said eagerly.
“It was just that, a pool of blood. No tracks around it. Nothing that led anywhere.”
“And no body?” Snow asked.
“No body,” he confirmed. “I have all in the clan being accounted for and the animals as well. And anything that has been slaughtered for kitchen use in the last two days. I’ve also sent some warriors to see that Cleric Norman made it safely to the abbey. Other than that there is not much to tell. It still remains a mystery.”
“And brings fears to the clan,” Snow said.
Tarass scooped her out of the chair to sit and place her in his lap. She curled to rest against him comfortably. He kept his one arm around her waist and draped the other over her backside, his hand giving her cheek a gentle squeeze.
Of course, it was enough to stir her passion, but she had questions for him first.
“A mystery that needs solving just like the mystery of what I overheard earlier. Why Fasta could satisfy you in ways I never could.”
“I don’t know, shall we find out,” he teased and nibbled at her ear.
Gooseflesh rushed over her. It always did when he teased her that way. But she would not be deterred. “So you admit you poked Fasta.”
