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“I will bide my time until then,” Tavia said.
Greta nodded and smiled. “You are far wiser than I thought.” Her expression grew serious, and she halted her steps and gripped Tavia’s arm. “Know that if you are in need I am here, and you can trust me.” She released her arm and walked away.
Tavia continued through the village, relishing the quiet, though mindful of Greta’s words. She would very much like to trust, truly trust the healer, but she had yet to learn if she could. And now with rumblings of her bringing evil here to Clan MacShane she was not sure if she could trust anyone.
Fen growled again and Tavia turned to see Wilona, her eyes wide with fear. “All is well, Fen. Wilona is a friend.” The hound calmed but remained close to Tavia’s side.
“I saw you speak with the Northmen healer and waited to see if you would like a hot brew, the cold bitter today,” Wilona said.
“That would be most welcome, Wilona, but I would ask that Fen be allowed to rest by your fire.”
Wilona appeared a bit fearful of the prospect of allowing the large hound in her cottage, but she agreed to Tavia’s relief.
Fen settled quietly by the hearth, closing his eyes as soon as he curled in a ball.
Tavia closed her chilled hands around the tankard as soon as Wilona handed it to her and let the heat soak in.
“There is talk, my lady,” Wilona whispered.
“What talk?” Tavia asked anxiously, Greta’s warning already having disturbed her.
“Talk of a Northmen ritual and what it means.”
“Tell me,” Tavia urged.
“Whispers were heard that when a Northman kills a wild boar it is to give him fearlessness.” Wilona shuddered. “The clan fears that the Northmen seek that fearlessness to be rid of the Clan MacShane so the Thrubolt Tribe can reign.”
The thought sent a shiver through Tavia. She knew that was not Bhric’s intention and she sought to ease the woman’s worries. “The Northmen are fearless as it is, they need no ritual to make them more fearless. Lord Bhric is here to keep the Clan MacShane strong so it may survive unlike other clans who have been conquered and swallowed up by more powerful clans. Lord Bhric will not allow that to happen. He will defend Clan MacShane with his life.”
“I pray that is true, my lady,” Wilona said with little resolve.
“Have you been to see your nephew?” Tavia asked to divert attention from Wilona’s worries.
It worked and the next half hour was spent in pleasant talk.
“You bring hope when I feared there was none,” Wilona said when she walked to the door with Tavia.
“There is always hope, Wilona,” she said, something she had once found difficult to believe, and Fen and she left the cottage to continue their walk.
Tavia thought to see how Lath fared as she did at least once a day, but it was still early, and she did not want to disrupt anyone’s sleep. She headed back to the keep planning to return to the warmth of her bedchamber when Fen gave a low growl. She strained to see through the darkness that was beginning to fade and was surprised to spot her husband walking behind a few cottages. She hesitated a moment, though only a moment, then she pressed a finger to her lips to order Fen to remain silent and followed discreetly behind her husband.
She would be discovered easily with the darkness fading away if she were not careful, so she kept to the darkest shadows as she and Fen kept a distance behind her husband. She held back when she heard voices and tucked herself at the edge of a cottage to listen.
“Have you found anything?” Bhric asked.
“Nothing,” Sven said, annoyed. “Which is even more disturbing since tongues already wag and will create something out of nothing.”
“Was that the intention all along?” Bhric asked. “To make the clan worry?”
“I suppose, but what if it was one of ours?” Sven suggested.
Anger sparked in Bhric. “You think anyone from our tribe would dare do such a powerful ritual without my consent?”
“I do not know what to think. This land is foreign to me, and I miss home,” Sven admitted.
“I will not hold you here if this place has yet to feel like home to you. If you wish to return home, I will not stop you nor will I think any less of you. I understand, for there are times I miss home myself.”
“Why not leave another in charge here and return home where our hearts and souls truly belong?”
