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)
Tavia took a needed deep breath before she cleansed her hands with snow and began to gently stroke the hound’s side, talking soothingly to him once again.
“I will have to keep a watch on you to make sure the wound heals properly and that you rest.”
How she would accomplish that she did not know. Her husband would be sure to object since no doubt the hound was one of his war hounds and he would not want her near the animal. But surely he would not object to her checking on him to make sure he healed, would he?
She devised a plan while continuing to stroke the hound who had dozed off to sleep. She would take him to Harald and tell him what happened and explain that she would check on the hound each day to make sure he was healing well. Surely, her husband would see the wisdom in that.
Bhric knew little fear. He never took it into battle with him, rage was his companion there. He had no use for fear and yet it struck him now not knowing where his wife was while his most vicious hound was on the loose.
“Maybe she can command Fen as she did Bones,” Sven said.
Bhric turned such a ferocious glare on Sven that he took a hasty step back and hurried to say, “I did not mean it humorously. She commanded Bones easily enough perhaps she can do the same with Fen.”
“He snarls and growls at anyone who goes near him, and you think my wee wife can command him?”
“Not if he lost his soul, and if he did, he needs to be put down,” Sven said.
“I will tear him to pieces if he has hurt Tavia,” Bhric said with a snarl of his own. “We go into the woods.”
Sven stood staring past Bhric and fearing what had turned his friend wide-eyed and speechless, he swerved around, his own shock freezing him.
His wife stood at the edge of the woods her undergarment torn at the hem, blood coating her tunic and some on her hands while Fen walked calmly beside her, a bandage around his furry neck.
Tavia hurried to speak before her husband could issue a command. “He came looking for help. A shard was embedded in his neck, no doubt from a weapon of some kind. His flesh had closed around it leaving him in pain. I removed it, but he will need to rest and heal. I was going to take him to Harald.”
“Step away from him,” Bhric demanded.
Tavia did as he said but the hound followed her, keeping at her side. “Please let me take him to Harald and see that he rests. I helped him. He will not harm me.” She was surprised by her husband’s quick and agreeable response.
“We will follow you,” Bhric said, seeing the hound remained calm beside his wife and wanting to get him in a pen safely away from her and others.
Bhric went to approach his wife and the hound growled, stepping protectively in front of Tavia.
Tavia hurried a soothing touch to the hound’s head. “Lord Bhric means me no harm.”
“She commands him with her magic touch,” Sven whispered.
“His name?” Tavia asked, her hand remaining on the hound.
“Fen,” Bhric said, and the hound’s eyes went to him.
“Fen, it is time to go home,” Tavia said, and the hound kept to her side as they walked.
Warriors stopped and stared when they saw their leader’s petite wife walking with the large hound close at her side, and whispers started.
“Pay no one mind, Fen,” Tavia said softly. “They know not the power of a gentle touch.”
Sven stepped close to Bhric as they followed a distance behind Tavia and Fen, and whispered jokingly, “I would be careful of her touch, or she will be commanding you.”
Bhric’s anger flared in his eyes when he turned to look at his friend, and Sven grinned.
“If the hound was suffering with pain it is no wonder he had turned vicious,” Sven said. “He will be a good war dog again, once healed.”
Bhric held his tongue. He did not think the hound would go into battle again, not with the memory of lingering pain caused by the last one. And now that he knew a loving and caring touch, he would not want to surrender it.
He certainly would not. He would want to feel it again and again, and he would never want to be far from it. He would want to keep it as close as possible, never let it go, cherish it.
“Go see that Harald is ready for our arrival,” Bhric ordered Sven and he took off. He raised his voice enough for his wife to hear him. “Fen stays with Harald.”
“As you say, my lord,” Tavia said.
Why did he have his doubts?
Harald waited with shackle and chain, and Bhric mumbled an oath beneath his breath when he saw it, knowing his wife’s reaction when she spotted it.