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)
“She has more courage than you thought,” Sven said with a laugh and heard his wife chuckle as well.
Several Norse oaths flew from Bhric’s mouth as he swiped his fur cloak off the bench and chased after his wife.
Snow had fallen during the night leaving several inches on the ground which caused Tavia to be more cautious with her gait. She heard her husband shout her name and while she could pretend not to hear him, she did not think it wise. She stopped and turned.
She did not wait until he was upon her, she kept her voice strong for him to hear as he approached. “If I wait to see how Lath does until after the meal, I may have no stomach to eat. A quick visit and I will be done.”
Bhric stopped directly in front of her. “Continue to disobey me and we will have a problem.”
“A problem that can be solved easily enough,” she said with a sweet smile.
“And how is that?”
“Stop expecting me to obey your every word.” Did that just come out of her mouth? What was she thinking? Again, she spoke. “I but speak the truth, my lord. There are times I fear I will disobey you, fail to agree with you, and follow what I feel is the right thing to do. I am not a foolish woman, and I am not prone to foolish ways. A brief visit with an injured man I stitched should not require your permission, unless circumstances warrant it.”
There she was making sense again which of course annoyed Bhric.
“Permission is mine to determine and notifying me of your intentions is your wifely duty,” he reprimanded.
Tavia winced. “You are right. I should not have left without speaking with you. There is no excuse for such rudeness, and I am sorry.”
Her quick and sincere apology caught him off guard. He thought she might argue, but he was beginning to see that his wife had no difficulty in accepting her wrongdoing and apologizing for it. Something he never did.
“I will go with you to see Lath, then we will share the morning meal,” Bhric said and took hold of her hand.
His large hand engulfed her small one. His grip was strong and determined, letting her know he would not let her go until he chose to. It was a possessive hold as well as a protective one, but then he was her husband, and she should expect no less. What she could not grasp was why her body seemed to flutter all over as if in anticipation.
“With no word from Hertha or Hume, I would assume Lath does well,” Bhric said.
She was relieved he disrupted her thoughts, concerned where they may have taken her. “True, but I would like to see for myself how the wound does.”
“Your leg gives you no trouble?” he asked, her limp not as pronounced as he had expected.
There was no point in evading the truth. She had a limp, and it was not going away. “As long as I pay my leg heed, it gives me little difficulty, though the winter’s cold can trouble it if I am not careful.”
He wanted to know more about the accident that caused her limp but not now. There was time enough for that. He also decided there was no point in making constant reference to it. He could remind her to pay her leg heed at given times, but no more. If she was not prone to foolishness as she claimed, then she would be wise to tend her limp properly.
Seeing Greta speaking with Hertha outside the cottage was not unexpected. Whether she prayed for Lath to live, or die was another matter since Tavia was not sure if the woman would take offense if proven wrong and Lath survived. But if she were a true healer it would not trouble her. She would want Lath to live.
Greta nodded to Tavia as she and Bhric drew close. “Lath does well.”
“Surprisingly, he had a most restful night and bears the healing pain well,” Hertha said.
Tavia felt hopeful with the news. “I am so pleased to hear that.”
“He asks for you,” Hertha said. “He says he owes you much.”
“You both are the healers,” Tavia said, including Greta to the older woman’s surprise. “You do far more for him than I did.”
“Your skilled hand saved him,” Greta said. “The stitched wound is tender and red but looks to be healing well.”
“More good news,” Tavia said, relieved that so far things were going well for Lath. “I will take but a moment to speak with him, then let him continue to rest.”
“I will wait here,” Bhric said, releasing her hand slowly.
As soon as Tavia entered the cottage, Bhric waved Hertha away and spoke in a whisper to Greta. “What did you mean yesterday when you said there is more to my wife than I know?”