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)
The venom Marta spewed at her stung and confused her as did the questioning look on Ingrid’s face.
She turned to leave, run, cry, but something stopped her, and she drew her shoulders back and glared at Marta. “You are a vicious, bitter woman who knows nothing of the truth, and you are a blight on the Clan MacShane.”
“I am of the Thrubolt Tribe and proud of it,” Marta said.
“Aye, that you are and that is where you will return to,” Tavia said, raising her chin with a tenacious lift, then turned and walked out the door. Tears stung her eyes as soon as she stepped outside and Fen, sensing her distress, hurried to her side. “We go to the keep, Fen.”
The hound whined seeing Tavia upset, and he stayed close at her side.
Bhric did not think he saw the last of Ivan when he watched him depart and he suspected the man had no intentions of heading home. It was why he sent a troop of warriors to escort him off MacShane land. At least that would put some distance between them. He also had given orders to one of his tribe’s trackers and a MacShane tracker, an exceptional one, to follow them once the troop left them. Ivan had come here for a reason, and it bothered Bhric that he had yet to discover what that reason was.
He was headed to Greta’s cottage when he spotted her not far from it. He hurried his steps wanting to talk with her. He was worried about his wife. Seeing her ill each morning, so pale and weak after a bout of retching, had gotten him thinking about when her time came to deliver the bairn. Would she have the strength to deliver the bairn or meet her mum’s fate?
“You look worried,” Greta said and lowered her voice. “Give it time, her morning retching may stop.”
Though her remark stunned him, he did not let it show. “How did you know?”
“Tavia has been pale the last few times I have seen her in the morning, and I noticed that she cringes at certain odors. The bairn plays havoc with her stomach. But what worries you more is her delivery time.” She shook her head. “Sadly, I cannot help you with that. It will not be known until her time comes. She is strong and a fighter or she would have never survived her leg injury.”
“Aye, that she is, and I regret misjudging her instead of seeing her worth.”
“It is better you learned for yourself,” Greta advised. “You will respect and admire her more for it and love her all the more for it.”
“I had hoped in time I would come to love the wife chosen for me. Never though, did I imagine I would lose my heart completely to her,” Bhric said amazed that he had.
Greta rested her hand on Bhric’s arm. “Your strength gives her strength, keep her strong and perhaps fate will reward you.”
Bhric caught sight of his wife and the way she swiped at her eyes as she walked. She was crying and it not only upset him, but it also angered him that someone or something had brought her to tears. He walked away from Greta without saying a word, though Greta smiled as she saw where he was headed and turned and entered her cottage.
“TAVIA!”
Bhric not only got his wife’s attention with his powerful shout but those around them as well.
Tavia sniffled back her tears. She did not want her husband to see her crying.
“Who made you cry?” he demanded when he caught up with her.
“I did,” she said truthfully, for she had allowed what Marta said to disturb her.
“I do not believe that for one minute,” he said and took hold of her chin to turn her face up to look at him. “You will tell me whose words made you cry.”
“I would prefer not to discuss it in front of the whole village,” she said softly.
Bhric did not keep his voice low, though he did not shout. “Everyone should know I will not tolerate anyone who brings my wife to tears.”
“Now that they will spread the word on that can we talk in private?” she asked and took his arm and began to walk, giving him no chance to deny her.
Bhric shouted for a hot brew in his solar before escorting his wife there and seeing her seated comfortably, Fen curled up beside her/
“Now you will tell me,” he ordered.
“I had a thought after you mentioned how you recalled your mum being ill when with child that might shed some light on what my own mum may have suffered.”
“Who here could possibly know anything about your mum?” he asked perplexed.
“Strange as it may seem… Marta.”
Bhric’s brow wrinkled for only a moment before it spread wide. “Of course, there would be a good chance that Marta would have accompanied my mother on a few visits to see your mother.” Why hadn’t he thought of that? A sudden thought hit him, and he grew worried. “Marta told you something that upset you. What is it?”