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“I don’t think it can,” Trey said firmly. “I remember something the witch said, and I thought Tara would want to hear it.” He didn’t wait for a response from either of them. “I’m not sure if the old hag wanted me to hear it or not, but I did. Though it made no sense to me at the time, after hearing Tara’s tale, it just might fit.”
“Do tell,” Tara said, eagerly slipping away from Reeve to sit in the chair close to the bed.
Trey kept his attention on Tara. “After the old woman finishedadvisingme as she had claimed, she turned to leave and that is when I heard her say, ‘Deserves it she does, stole my son from me.’ ”
Tara gasped, and even Reeve’s eyes turned wide.
“Did you take her son from her?” Trey asked.
Tara retold the tale to Trey from beginning to end.
“Then it seems she is the one you look for,” Trey said.
“Where is she?” Reeve asked.
“Last I saw her, she was traveling north toward Grunnhil.”
“The Norse settlements,” Reeve said. “That’s a distance.”
“Time would be needed for such a journey,” Trey said.
Tara knew by the look in both their eyes that it was time that could not presently be spared.
“This is for you both to discuss,” Trey suggested.
“What discussion?” Tara asked with resignation. “I know that your mission to seat the true king takes priority over everything. And I cannot fault that. I just worry the curse she placed on me could adversely affect your family, your clan, your mission. What then?”
“You said there was another way of ridding yourself of the curse,” Trey reminded.
Tara nodded. “To find someone more powerful than the one who cast the curse and have her or him remove it.”
“Then that is what must be done,” Trey said.
“Reeve has tried that with no success.”
“So far no success,” Reeve said, and gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze. “But we’re not giving up. We’ll find who we need.”
Tara was relieved when she felt Reeve’s reassuring touch. She knew he thought their love could solve everything. And she wanted to believe it herself, but she worried. She couldn’t help it. Too many years spent facing too much heartache to simply think that she could dismiss the curse so easily. And though nothing had happened to Reeve since exchanging vows, there were many hours left before morning.
Trey groaned when he moved, and Reeve went to his side. “Need help?”
“I need to sleep,” Trey reluctantly admitted.
Tara stood. “Lift his head and back some, so I may fix his pillows.”
Reeve did as directed, Trey grabbing hold of his arm to help. When all finished, Trey sighed with comfort as he lay flat, his head resting on one pillow.
Tara was fussing with the soft wool blanket when Willow entered.
“Your father requests your presence in the solar,” she said to Reeve.
Trey reached out and took a firm hold of his brother’s arm. “You’ll tell me what was discussed?”
“All of it,” Reeve assured him, and gave Tara a quick kiss before leaving.
Willow joined Tara at the bed and helped her arrange the blankets over Trey.
“You look familiar,” Trey said, staring at her.
