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)
Habit had him clasping her hand firmly and keeping her tucked at his side. “You will hold your tongue.”
Sven started laughing. “You forget what all men agreed to the other night… there is no woman alive who holds her tongue.”
Tavia had to smile thinking of her cousin, Flora and how well she proved Sven right.
Lord Ivan and the man who accompanied him dismounted, the man remaining behind Lord Ivan as he stopped at the bottom of the stairs.
“We will talk and not in your wife’s presence,” Lord Ivan demanded.
Lord Bhric’s powerful voice carried out toward the village and a strong winter wind scooped it up and carried even farther. “You do not come to my home and rudely make demands, nor do you arrive here without forewarning.”
“It is a matter of urgency,” Lord Ivan argued annoyed at being reprimanded.
Bhric did not trust the man nor whatever he came here to tell him. But it was wiser for him to hear what he had to say in private than to remain where many could hear.
“You will speak your piece and take your leave,” Bhric ordered.
“It is a three-day journey back home. I would appreciate shelter for at least the night,” Lord Ivan argued.
“You and your men may camp on the outskirts of the village,” Lord Bhric informed him. “And I will see that you are provided with food. Now come inside and have your say.”
Lord Ivan’s glance kept going to Fen once inside the Great Hall, Fen not having taken his eyes off the man.
“The hound follows her faithfully… she command’s it?” Lord Ivan asked, keeping a distance from the animal.
“He is faithful to her and,” —Bhric sent a hasty glance to his wife— “obeys her without question.”
Tavia smiled softly, understanding her husband was reminding her that the hound was more obedient than she was.
“So, it is true,” Lord Ivan said, shaking his head.
“What is?” Lord Bhric snapped.
“I thought it nothing but gossip, uncontrollable wagging tongues who want you gone from here and returned to your homeland.”
“This is my homeland. I was born on this soil in the bedchamber where my mother was once born. I am a MacShane, and I will let no one take that from me.”
“Then you need to beware for there are those who whisper that evil resides within your clan,” Lord Ivan warned.
“You spew nonsense and lies,” Bhric accused harshly.
“Not I,” Lord Ivan defended. “It reached my ears by way of others. Talk of war hounds that became docile and now obey a new master. How a MacShane warrior avoided a death that should have claimed him and now obeys a new master. How truth tries to surface and is punished for it.” His eyes turned accusingly on Tavia. “And how a mighty warrior suddenly claims to love a wife he thought not fit for him and had had second thoughts of honoring the marriage agreement.”
Bhric lunged forward and grabbed Ivan by the throat with such a strong grip that the man started choking. “Are you accusing my wife of being evil?”
Lord Ivan clamped his hand on Bhric’s wrist, struggling to get his hand off him.
“Let him at least answer you,” Sven advised.
Bhric let go of the man with a shove that sent Ivan stumbling back. “Be cautious of what you say about my wife.”
Ivan rubbed at his throat and coughed a few times. “I say what I hear and what many fear.”
“And what do many fear?” Bhric demanded.
“That evil followed you home,” Lord Ivan said.
“Again, I tell you that is nonsense,” Bhric argued.
“Then what say you about the animals that have been killed and their hearts removed?” Lord Ivan asked.
Bhric wondered how the man could know so much of what had gone on here. Gossip could spread quickly, but mostly in pieces that always ended up being a mixture of truth and tale. It was as if someone here, from tribe or clan, had whispered in Ivan’s ear.
“Who told you about the two dead animals?” Bhric demanded.
Ivan scrunched his brow as if not quite understanding. “Two? There were four dead animals and all on a direct path to your home, dead weeks now, their hearts missing, killed or sacrificed for some evil purpose. Evil followed you home, Lord Bhric, perhaps unknowingly to you, but it followed you home.”
Bhric had no doubt that Lord Ivan’s claims would spread soon enough, the man would make certain of it. Though, it would not take much since Bhric saw that the servants were already huddled in whispers.
“It was the witch,” Lord Ivan said and guzzled down half the tankard of ale a servant had handed him before he continued. “You know not what spell the witch could have cast on your wife each time she went to visit the witch in the dungeon. What better way to have her evil deeds carried out?”