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“Aye,” Sven said, taking his daughter to hand to his wife and sit next to them both on the bed. “We are grateful and proud that Lord Bhric has such a brave wife. You do him proud.”
“That she does,” Bhric said and though she smiled, he knew it was forced, her mind elsewhere and he could not blame her. “It has been a long day with much happening. We will take our leave so my sister can rest.”
“But I want to know what punishment you have set for William and Glenna,” Ingrid asked.
“They have suffered enough,” Tavia said, thinking how they had found the elderly couple huddled in the woods together awaiting their fate. “They wish to return to Clan MacVannan once we are sure Ivan is dead. They want to help their clan that has been made to suffer under Ivan’s brutal reign.”
“But William must pay for what he did to Marta?” Ingrid argued.
“And what of Glenna and how she made Ingrid suffer?” Marta asked, her face pinched with annoyance.
“William was not the one who attacked Marta,” Bhric said and continued to explain. “He told us it was one of Ivan’s men who posed as a cleric and stopped here for food and drink. He was here to see Glenna and William and took advantage of the moment after learning that Marta disliked Tavia. And we are lucky that Glenna lied to the man and told him she had already poisoned the food and that a potion sat waiting for Ingrid to drink and succumb to. Otherwise, he intended to do it himself. Glenna was aware her lie would be discovered, and she would be made to suffer for it. And one look at her and you will see that she did suffer. Now rest, Ingrid, and enjoy the blessings of your newborn daughter.”
Bhric took his wife’s hand and walked with her to the door and when he opened it he found one of his warriors standing there.
“Chieftain Newlin is here, my lord. He waits at the keep.” the warrior announced.
Tavia did not wait, she tugged her hand free of her husband’s, pushed past the man, and hurried toward the keep. Fen was quick to keep pace with her and her husband was not far behind her.
“Tavia!” he called out, but she ignored him. Her leg would pain her for sure if she did not slow down. He caught up with her and grabbed hold of her arm to bring her to a halt. “Your leg,” he warned.
“I do not care. I want to see my da. I want answers. After what Finley implied jokingly, I cannot help but wonder who I am. Or why I was lied to. I need to know, Bhric.” She let herself fall against him and sighed with relief when she felt his strong arms close around her. “I must know,” she said not only hearing defeat in her own words but feeling it as well.
He hated to see her hurt like this and he could only imagine how she felt. Everything she believed true could very well be a lie. But why?
“I will make certain you get your answers, Tavia,” Bhric said and kept her at a steady pace as they continued to walk to the keep.
“Tavia!” her da called out with joy throwing his arms wide when she and Bhric entered the Great Hall.
Tavia hurried into his arms, the arms of the man she had believed was her da. The man who had loved her, looked after her, cared for her since she was born.
“You are upset,” Newlin said after hugging his daughter. “I can feel it.”
“You came for a reason, Newlin?” Bhric asked, seeing his wife was far too upset to speak.
“I came with your warrior to warn you about Lord Ivan, and I wanted to see for myself how my daughter fared. We believe he is responsible for the poisoning of Clan Strathearn, one of his warriors confessing to the evil deed,” Newlin said still holding on to his daughter, concerned for her.
“Sit,” Bhric said, pointing to a nearby table. “There is much you need to hear.”
Tavia sat beside her da and listened as her husband explained everything that had happened, though made no mention of Newlin not being her da. She knew he left that for her to ask.
Newlin stared speechless at Bhric for a moment when he finished, then finally asked, “Why?”
Bhric looked to his wife, and she responded, turning to her da so their eyes would meet. “Lord Ivan claims that Lord Bennett is my da and that upon his death I inherited the clan and all its holdings the day I wed, and he feared losing everything since he is not truly related in any way to Lord Bennett.” She was surprised to see her da’s eyes widen in shock.
“What nonsense do you speak?” her da snapped. “I know not where Ivan heard such lies, but they are just that lies. Your mum loved me. She would have never cheated on me. Who told him such complete nonsense?”
Was that all it was? Complete nonsense? Had tales been told? But for what reason? And what of Finley’s remark? Had he merely poked fun at the situation? Could it be all lies or had a dark secret been kept all these years?
Shea rushed into the Great Hall and yelled, “Fire outside the kitchen!”
They all got to their feet and rushed after Shea, Fen taking the lead and barking as he went. All knew a fire had to be contained immediately or a whole village could burn, and a keep destroyed.
Tavia’s sore leg forced her to go slow so she lagged behind the others who quickly disappeared down the stone passageway. She was about to make her way down the enclosure that connected the keep to the kitchen when she was grabbed by her arm and viciously yanked back. Her eyes went wide when she was slammed against a thick body and looked up to see it was Ivan.
“Do not waste your breath asking me how I managed to enter the keep without being seen. I have snuck in and out of far more difficult places with ease. This was nothing, though sneaking out with you would be a different matter. That is why you will not be going with me.”
Fright gripped Tavia tightening around her like an iron shackle when he raised a dagger to her throat.
