AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Tavia turned to see Ingrid approach her. She was beginning to feel that she lived amongst giants, Northwomen almost as tall as their men. Ingrid also had lovely features making Tavia think that Bhric’s da and mum were exceptionally fine-looking people.
“I do not know. I simply responded to the situation,” Tavia said.
“Foolish when you did not know what the hound would do.”
“I knew what I would do. I would not let him reach the bairn,” Tavia said, feeling the need to defend herself.
“Foolish courage,” Ingrid said with a grin. “Be careful the next time you might not be so lucky. And be wise when it comes to my brother. He will tolerate only so much.”
“Ingrid!” a woman shouted and waved her over.
She hurried off without another word to Tavia. She watched the two women bend their heads in talk and glance her way a couple of times. That they spoke about her was obvious and that they did not hide it hurt. She had thought Ingrid and her might become friends but since the evening of the celebration when they first met, her sister-in-law had not spoken to her or made any effort to seek her out. Others seemed to ignore her as well. Every walk she took through the village had been met with stares, sometimes a bob of a head, but rarely did anyone speak with her.
“Are you all right, my lady?”
A sigh of relief welled up in Tavia, though she contained it, she was so happy to see a familiar face. “Hertha, I am pleased to see you.”
“Hume hurried to tell me what happened, then I saw Lord Bhric talking with you, then his sister, and well, you look a bit dazed, standing here alone.”
“I feel alone, Hertha. It has not been easy to get to know people here,” she admitted. “They seem to shy away from me.”
“We should walk and talk so you can stretch your leg,” Hertha said and hooked her arm out for Tavia to take.
Tavia took the young woman’s arm, her leg feeling stiff. She stumbled two steps before righting herself and caught the disapproving glances from those around her.
“They think me not fit to be Lord Bhric’s wife,” Tavia said softly as they fell into a slow stroll.
“They do not understand that your limp is a badge of honor you carry for your bravery.”
“Our clan did not think so. They avoided me after the accident.”
“Because of guilt,” Hertha said. “You did what none of them would, what none of them could. And you did not hesitate to do it just as you did not hesitate today to help the lass. Do not do what you did at our clan because you believed people shunned you. Do not lock yourself away no matter what people think, or they will never get to truly come to know you, see your strength, and be touched by your kindness just as you touched that hound with kindness today.”
“The North people think I am not a strong enough wife for their leader,” Tavia said.
“In the few days we have been here, I have come to realize the Northmen and women revere strength and courage. At first I feared they might view Hume as weak since he appears as if he has a meek nature, but when they learned that he went searching for me in a snowstorm, they accepted him as a fine warrior and they treat him with respect.”
“Yet I am thought foolish for helping the lass,” Tavia said, shaking her head.
“Or are they embarrassed because no one responded as fast as you did?” Hertha suggested.
“I wish we could talk more often, Hertha. It does me good to talk with someone from home, someone I trust.”
“I request daily to see you, but Greta denies me time to slip away. When Hume came and told me what had happened, I slipped away since Greta was not at the healing cottage to stop me. I feel as though Greta and Marta conspire to keep me away from you.”
Tavia wondered why they would do such a thing and it made her trust the two women even less than she already did.
“Does Greta teach you much?” Tavia asked.
Hertha lowered her voice to a whisper. “I feel more a servant than a student. Hume and I continue to prepare what plants we know in case you and our people need them. And I ask questions of Greta to learn what I can since she tends some illnesses differently than I am used to.”
“Hertha, why are you not tending to your chores?”
Tavia stopped, though kept hold of Hertha’s arm as she turned her head to Greta. “She is walking with me. We have not visited since arriving here.”
“She has chores to see to. Now be off with you,” Greta ordered.
“Nay, Hertha stays with me until I say otherwise,” Tavia said, her voice strong, though her stomach churned as it always did when she gathered courage to speak.
