“I can walk,” Tarr insisted, then directed his question to Kirk. “How many lost and wounded?”
“Surprisingly we suffered no losses, but we did suffer many injures. Thanks to—” Kirk looked from one twin to the other—“thanks to one of them, the wounded were removed quickly from the battlefield and their injures attended to. Many are doing well with very few having suffered severely.”
Tarr looked from one twin to the other. “Will I lose any of my men?”
“I think not,” one answered.
“And me?” Tarr asked.
Fiona answered. “I will not let you die.” With that she and Aliss helped him to sit up, then assisted him to stand. The twins supported him with their shoulders, and slowly they walked him to the keep as he attempted to speak with Kirk, who followed along.
“Quiet,” Fiona yelled. “You must save your strength.”
Erin, Kirk’s wife, ran out of the keep as they were about to enter. She rambled on about one of the men who had begun to bleed badly. Aliss slipped out from under Tarr and Kirk took her place.
Once in the room, Tarr refused to seek his bed; he insisted on a chair. He grabbed Kirk’s arm. “Bring Raynor to me now.”
Fiona examined his wound. “There is little blood,” she said with worry.
He stared at her; her vibrant green eyes anxious, her touch uncertain, and fear straining her lovely face. She cared what happened to him and that thought struck his heart like a mighty blow. It made him want to reach out and comfort her, assuage her concern and kiss her until each melted into the other’s arms.
He mentally shook the nonsense from his head. What was the matter with him? His clan had just suffered a fierce attack and he thought of kissing and making love with this woman.
He was not supposed to feel or want her. She was simply to be his wife and the mother of his children. But did he want more? His duty was to his clan and he could not allow love to interfere with that duty.
“Work your magic,” he said gruffly. “The clan speaks of your healing talent; use it.” He purposely challenged her. Why? So that he would know who cared for him?
He was denied an answer when Aliss rushed into the room and hurried to her sister’s side. Suddenly he could not tell one from the other as they shifted positions and worked almost as one.
The sisters consulted in whispers and he grew annoyed.
“What do you discuss?” he snapped.
“The best way to remove the arrow so there would be little or no damage to your arm,” Aliss said.
He was surprised by her candid answer and pleased. “I trust your decision.”
“A wise choice, she is an excellent healer,” Raynor said, entering the room.
“I can see that,” Tarr said. “You have healed well.”
“And sealed my fate?”
“That is a matter to be discussed”—Tarr winced as Aliss gently probed his wound—“at a later time. Do you know anything about the barbarian tribes to the north?”
“That is who attacked you tonight?”
Tarr nodded with effort. “What do you know of them?”
“They fight each other and have no honor.”
“There is unrest among them?”
“Much unrest, and there are those who seek to expand their holdings—”
“This arrow must be removed soon,” Aliss interrupted.
“In a moment,” Tarr said. “There is one; he is large and powerful—”
“Like few men you have ever seen, and he wears a wolf’s headdress?” Raynor asked.
“Like none I have ever seen, and aye, he wears the head of a wolf,” Tarr said. “With a single blow he pierced my arm with an arrow.”
“He is the leader of the clan Wolf, not only because of the headpiece he wears, but because his attacks are vicious and he leaves few of his enemy unscathed. He rules his land and people with a strong hand, and none dare oppose him.”
“I can understand why. When he lanced me with his arrow, the wolf’s eyes in the headdress glowed like an animal set to devour his prey. I was lucky he caught only my arm.”
Raynor grinned. “You were lucky, his weapon hit his mark. He speared your arm to let you know of his skill and intentions. He will return and the next time his aim will prove deadly.”
“No more talk,” Aliss said with a forcefulness that turned everyone silent. “This arrow needs removing now.” She turned to Kirk before anyone could protest. “I will need your strength.” She looked to Raynor. “And yours as well.”