Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 102573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“That, my lord,” Greta said, leaning on her staff as she turned, “is for you to find out.”
Bhric wanted to command her to tell him but knew it would do little good. Greta was a respected and wise healer and not one to take to commands, and he would not disrespect her position in the tribe. Hertha, however, was under his command. He turned to her.
“I gave my word, my lord,” Hertha said, knowing what he would ask having heard snippets of his and Greta’s conversation. “Besides, it is best Lady Tavia tells you herself… in her own time.”
Hume nodded when Tavia entered the cottage. “My lady.”
“She is here?” Lath called out anxiously from the bed.
“I am, Lath,” Tavia said and went to him.
Lath reached out his hand. “I owe you far more than I can ever repay you.”
Tavia took hold of his hand. “Nonsense. I did nothing more than help family.”
Lath smiled. “Aye, you are family now, part of the Clan MacShane and we are lucky and grateful to have you.”
He winced as he spoke, bearing the pain as best as he could, though with help from one of Hume’s mixtures. Tavia knew such pain, but unfortunately there had been no mixture to help ease it.
“Healing will take time, the pain easing more and more each day,” she said, the memory of her own healing still fresh in her mind.
“If the young, brave lass in your tale was able to do it when her leg wound was far worse than mine, then so can I,” Lath whispered, keeping true to his word that he would not utter a word of what he had heard.
“I am confident you will,” Tavia said. “Now I leave you to rest. It is the best thing for you and will help you heal fast.”
“Then rest I shall,” Lath assured her.
“I will visit again,” Tavia said.
Lath sent her a weak smile. “I appreciate that, my lady.”
“You saved him and his leg,” Hume whispered, walking with her to the door.
“I gave him a chance. He does the rest,” Tavia said and greeted her husband with a smile after leaving the cottage. “Now I am hungry.”
Bhric found himself smiling as well. “As am I.”
Their hands joined. Bhric was not sure who had reached out first or if they both had reached out together. But it mattered little since he found himself eager to hold her hand again, to connect with her, to feel her small hand disappear into his large one, to feel close to her.
Close.
Why suddenly did he wish to be close to her? Granted he wanted to learn about her, see what he may have failed to see in her, but close? Exactly how close did he wish to be with her?
Several barks and a squeal of delight had them turning their heads to see Uta running around playfully with Bones, the large hound.
Bhric shook his head. “That hound is ruined.”
“They make a happy pair,” Tavia said with a brief chuckle.
“He is a war hound, bred for battle, bred to kill,” Bhric argued.
Tavia fought back the laughter that wished to erupt, seeing what fun the pair were having together. “Maybe one time, but no more, perhaps he never was. Perhaps Uta freed him.”
Harald approached them shaking his head. “I do not know what it is, my lord. It is as if a spell has been cast on the hound. He wants nothing more than to be with Uta.”
“Whatever it is do not let it spread to the other hounds,” Bhric ordered.
“Aye, my lord. Bones no longer resides with the other hounds,” Harald said.
“Where does he reside?” Bhric asked.
Harald cringed fearful to speak.
“Never mind I do not want to know,” Bhric said, shaking his head.
Harald looked relieved and hurried off, Uta and Bones trailing after him, laughing and barking in play.
They barely took a few steps when Wilona approached them.
“My lady,” Wilona said with a respectful nod. “My sister is most grateful that you saved her son’s leg. She makes food now for him and Hertha and Hume in appreciation and she has begun stitching garments to gift your first born.”
“That is generous of her. Please tell her I am most grateful,” Tavia said, wondering what everyone would think when she failed to get with child as soon as everyone believed she would.
Bhric still wondered if a woman as petite as Tavia could carry and deliver a bairn safely. Or would she be like her mum and die in childbirth? The thought unexpectedly sent an ache to his heart. He would not want to lose her, yet he feared it could be her fate.
“I go to visit Lath. Again, thank you, my lady,” Wilona said and left them to continue walking.
They walked in silence both lost in thoughts until a Northman warrior approached them.
“An old couple seek rest and shelter here, the husband is not well,” the warrior said.