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Thaw jumped up suddenly and started growling.
Snow followed suit, standing and listening. Thaw’s growl meant one thing.
Someone approached he didn’t like or he felt was a threat to Snow.
“You cannot expect me to leave when I’m not feeling well,” Abbot Bennett said, sitting at a table in the Great Hall with a tankard of ale in hand.
“I don’t care how you feel, Abbot Bennett, you’re not welcome in my home. You will take your leave with Lord Polwarth and never return here,” Tarass ordered, the strength of his command leaving no doubt he meant it.
“Your father would have never been so rude,” Abbot Bennett sneered.
Tarass slapped his hands down on the table right in front of Abbot Bennett. “My father wasn’t a heathen… I am. And I’ll show you just how much of a heathen I am if you don’t get your arse off that bench and leave.”
Abbot Bennett’s eyes grew as round as full moons and he drew his head back, his mouth falling open and his lips moving, though failing to find words.
“If you make me repeat myself, I’m going to reach across this table, drag you over it, and toss you out on your arse,” Tarass warned.
Abbot Bennett stood and raised his hand, pointing a finger at Tarass.
Tarass straightened to his full height and glared at the Abbot. “Shake that finger at me and you’ll be leaving here with nine fingers, maybe less if you continue to annoy me.”
Abbot Bennett immediately dropped his hand to his side. “You’ll rue the day you disrespected me.”
Tarass walked around the table, Abbot Bennett backing up as he did, but not fast enough. Tarass reached out and grabbed him, the Abbot wincing as his hand closed like a shackle around his upper arm.
“Listen well, Abbot,” Tarass said, forcing the man to keep step with him as he rushed him toward the door. “Threaten me or dare to bring harm to my clan and you will know a wrath like nothing you have ever seen. Try to take my wife from me—” Tarass stopped abruptly, the Abbot cringing as Tarass’s hand squeezed his arm so hard the pain brought tears to the Abbot’s eyes. “And I will see you die a slow, agonizing death. On that you have my word.”
The Abbot paled and Tarass’s abrupt steps had the Abbot stumbling alongside him to keep up.
Tarass didn’t bother to ask Rannock if the horses waited outside for the Abbot and his entourage, he knew they would be there. He all but dragged the Abbot down the steps to the shock of the clerics waiting by their horses.
One wide glance had Tarass turning to Rannock. “Where’s Lord Polwarth?”
“He was here a short time ago,” Rannock said, looking around as well.
The Abbot cringed in terror when Tarass grabbed him by the throat. “Where is he?”
“I-I-I don’t kn-know,” Abbot Bennett struggled to say.
“Liar!” Tarass screamed and tightened his grip on the Abbot’s neck. “Rannock, alert the warriors.”
Rannock let out a vicious roar that sounded as if it echoed through the village, when actually his roar was echoed by others and suddenly men and women poured out of their homes weapons in hand, ready to battle.
“Tell me where Lord Polwarth has gone?” Tarass demanded again as the Abbot began to turn red and struggle for breath. Tarass loosened his grip when he saw that the man fought to speak.
In between gasps, the Abbot said, “He only wants to save her soul.”
Tarass let out a roar that sounded as if it came from the depths of hell itself and shoved the Abbot so hard that he tumbled to the ground.
“Let no one leave the village,” Rannock yelled out and rushed up the stairs behind Tarass.
“Is someone there?” Snow called out when Thaw’s growls grew stronger.
“It’s only me, Snow,” Lord Polwarth said, entering through the open door.
Fear sent gooseflesh rushing over Snow, even more so when she caught more than one shape enter the room.
“You have no right to be here in my private chambers,” she scolded, keeping her voice strong, though she trembled inside.
Thaw keep guard in front of Snow, his snarl warning not to approach.
“Your father would not want this for you, Snow,” Lord Polwarth said and took a step toward her.
Thaw jumped forward snapping and growling, warning him to stay away.
“I don’t want to harm your dog but if I must—”
“Harm Thaw, Lord Polwarth, and I will see you dead,” Snow threatened with a snarl that matched Thaw’s.
“I’m only trying to help you. Do what’s best for you as your father would want.”
Snow caught the anger in his voice even though he managed to keep his tone calm. She also realized he referred constantly to her da and what he believed her da would think best for her.
“I don’t believe you knew my da as well as you claim to,” she said.
