would want, but she was not like other women. She wanted to look with love upon the man she wed and feel it deep within her heart. She wanted to ache to touch her husband and feel content when she cuddled in his arms. She wanted her babes conceived from love for she did not know if she could submit to a man out of mere duty.
“Your thoughts are deep.”
He attempted to step closer to her, but she placed a distance between them with the sudden thought that if she foolishly began to feel for this man and he did not return her affection, she would suffer for it.
“My thoughts are private.”
“I will share them with no other.”
“True enough, for I will not speak of them.” She walked on ahead of him and intended not to glance back to see if he followed. Then she realized that he might return to the keep, visit with Aliss and learn of her deception regarding Raynor.
She turned in a hurry and collided with Tarr. His arms wrapped around her to steady them both, and his dark eyes caught her in a grip that sent gooseflesh rushing over her. She tugged to free herself, but he held strong.
“Free me,” she demanded in a harsh whisper.
“You are not my prisoner.”
His face was much too close to hers, his breath whispering like a warm breeze against her cheek. It sent another rush of gooseflesh running over her.
He stepped away from her suddenly and she stumbled back. This time he did not offer her help and she steadied herself.
Kirk approached them on a run, stopping at Tarr’s side. “Raynor’s men lurk in the woods to the north.”
“I did not think they would desert him.”
“They could be waiting for a reinforcement of warriors,” Kirk suggested.
Fiona offered her opinion. “Or waiting for the injured to heal and see what they can find out about their leader.”
“His dead body will be returned to them,” Tarr clarified.
“If he should survive his wounds, what then?” Kirk asked.
Tarr shrugged. “It matters not, for his fate remains the same.”
“Will you not question him first? Learn what you can? Learn why he attacked you?” Fiona sounded as though she disputed his decision.
“Raynor will answer many questions before he meets his fate, though his answers will not change his destiny,” Tarr answered confidently. “His capture will, however, end the senseless dispute that has raged between our clans.”
Fiona thought of the man Aliss now healed only to die. Her sister would not be happy with the decision and might very well put herself in danger to help Raynor. She fought hard to save the ill and wounded, and saw only senselessness in executions and torture. Fiona did not always agree with her sister’s opinion, since there were those she felt deserved the hangman’s noose.
“Do what you must,” Fiona said, appearing unconcerned. “I will leave you to discuss the matter.” She did not rush off, though she wished to dash to the keep and alert Aliss to the pending problem. She strolled as if enjoying the day and the sights of an active, thriving village. With measured steps she entered the keep and, once inside, made a dash for the stairs.
“It is difficult to judge her character,” Kirk said, turning to Tarr as the twin entered the keep. “She appears headstrong and demanding one moment and then sweet and pleasant the next.”
“They wish to keep me puzzled.”
“I think they are succeeding.” Kirk coughed away a laugh. “The mighty Tarr has been duped.”
“You know me not if you think that, my friend.”
Kirk wisely let it be and returned to the previous matter at hand. “You will question Raynor if possible, will you not?”
“Aye, I want to know if I had been his intended target or was I merely in his way? I hope to have the chance to ask him.”
“Then his fate has yet to be settled? Yet you told the twin—”
“What I wish her to know. His answers will seal his fate, so let us hope he wakes and answers to my satisfaction.”
Chapter 7
Fiona sat on the steps of the keep bored to death. In the last two days, she had done nothing but trade places with her sister to keep company with Tarr. Not that Aliss wanted to trade places, she was too busy tending the ill and making certain no one discovered that Raynor had woken.
Aliss had been especially worried after Fiona had warned her that Tarr expressed no pity for his prisoner. True to her