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A tremendous roar went up from those in Clan MacShane, chests expanded, voices rang strong, even Lath managed to join in as painful as it was. Highland pride was heard and felt, not so the Northmen, anger sparked in their eyes.
Tavia worried that once again she had spoken without thought and may have overstepped her bounds. But the words had been spoken and could not be taken back. Besides, her husband had Highland blood running through him and his people here needed to know he was one of them.
Bhric kept a scowl on his wife. She set forth a challenge and a difficult one at that. He could not lose face in front of his tribesmen, yet he also could not alienate his Highland brethren, either way the consequences of his actions could cause strife.
Tavia could see that she had placed her husband in a difficult position, something she had not meant to do, and would not bode well for her. Words came quick and unexpected as they had done of late and she wondered if it was from having gotten to know Lady Dawn and her cousin Flora, both women confident in strength and courage that had her speaking up when normally her tongue would remain silent.
“I will obey your word, my lord,” Tavia said with a respectful bow of her head. “But I beg of you to please allow me to help my brethren.”
She kept her eyes on her husband and, therefore, did not see the swell of pride on the faces of the clan members that she should beg for one of them, but Bhric saw it. And bloody hell if he did not admire the bravery it had taken her to do so. Was there more to his petite wife than he first believed?
“Greta says either way he will die, so I will allow you to try while we prepare a grave for him,” Bhric said, appeasing his wife and his tribesmen who believed Greta knew better.
“Thank you, my lord,” Tavia said with a slight bob of her head.
Clansmen stepped forward ready to move Lath.
Tavia looked to her husband. “An empty cottage, my lord?”
He nodded and looked to Marta. “Take him to one closest to Hertha and Hume’s cottage.
After nodding to Lord Bhric, Marta looked to the men. “Follow me.”
Tavia took hold of Lath’s hand. “Stay strong.”
“Your courage gives me courage,” Lath said, and their hands parted as one of the men handed him a stick to bite down on to keep him from crying out as they lifted him.
Bhric walked over to his wife and kept his voice low for her ears alone. “Never challenge me again.”
“Even if you need to be challenged.” Again, the words slipped from her mouth before she could stop them. She shook her head. “Forgive me, my lord, you were gracious enough to grant my request. I mean no disrespect, but you are not only a Northman but a Highlander as well. If you wish to succeed here, have your heirs accepted and respected, then you and your fellow tribesmen need to become part of this clan and not simply rule over it.”
She offered sage advice and that she did, annoyed him. But didn’t he want a wife that could help guide him when necessary? A wife who would speak up to him without fear as his mother did with his father.
“I cannot linger, my lord. I must go see to Lath,” Tavia said when he did not respond to her.
“I will go with you,” Bhric said and took hold of her arm.
“It is not necessary, my lord,” she said, unnerved by the task ahead and his presence would only make it that more unnerving.
“Necessary or not, I go with you,” Bhric said, making it clear she had no choice.
The cottage was two cottages down from Hertha and Hume’s home. Lath had been settled on a table, Hertha preparing him for the stitching.
Bhric left his wife at the door, seeing the cottage was too small to hold them all. “Hume, you will keep me abreast of what goes on.”
Hume bobbed his head. “Aye, my lord.”
“I will watch,” Greta said, making her way past Bhric.
“I will have no interference from you,” Tavia snapped and bit her tongue too late after seeing her husband turn an angry glance on her. But she had had enough of the healer’s commanding way, and she certainly did not need her interfering now.
“A fool fails to listen to wise words,” Greta said.
“On that we agree,” Tavia said and turned her attention to Lath.
Bhric had enough. He would leave the two women to battle it out. “I will be outside.”
Tavia did not acknowledge his departure. She set her mind on the task ahead, combing through Hertha’s healing basket to gather what she needed.
