stay long at her sister’s beside. It was not necessary. Anya was fussing over Aliss like a mother hen tending a favorite chick. She had cleaned Aliss and combed her hair, tying it to the side away from the wound. A light blanket covered her and she checked her head at least three times for fever while Fiona spoke with her.
That she enjoyed tending her daughter was obvious, and that she intended to let no one interfere was also obvious, so Fiona left her to fuss.
She hurried down the stairs eager to learn why Tarr had been summoned to the great hall and grinning over what had delayed him.
Her grin soon vanished when she entered the hall to see the solemn faces on Tarr, Kirk, and Raynor, the three men present. A shiver ran through her, something was wrong and she worried that it had to do with her and Aliss.
She raced forward and took hold of Tarr’s arm. “What is wrong?”
“The stable lad who took your mare to tend on your arrival has discovered that your saddle strap has been slashed near through to the end.”
Fiona stared at him for a moment, comprehension dawning like a bright rising sun that blinded then shed light.
She nodded slowly. “Then it is so, someone wants Aliss and me dead.”
Chapter 30
The sun was rising though bleak clouds and a cold wind whistled past the window, reminding that the weather this far north was often unpredictable, bright sun one moment, freezing rain the next.
Fiona stood in front of the window watching the fast-moving clouds swallow the debuting sun, and wrapped her shawl more tightly around her naked body. She gave a quick glance over her shoulder to see that Tarr still slept, his large body sprawled across the bed. Of course if she were in the bed he would be wrapped around her. It was now like that when they slept; it was as if they were one, forever entwined.
She sighed and turned to look out the window once again. She had awakened just before sunrise, unable to sleep any longer; her mind heavy with thoughts and her heart weighted with sorrow.
Who could possibly want twin babes dead? They could harm none.
Raynor was in line to inherit the leadership of the Blackshaw clan, while the sisters would be absorbed into other clans once they wed. Perhaps their abduction was a spiteful act against Anya and Oleg?
She shivered and hugged herself as the drafty room took on a decisive chill from the relenting wind. She should return to the warm bed and the heat of Tarr’s body, but she felt restless with her nagging thoughts and would only disturb him.
Normally she would ride her mare when she felt like this and had the need to clear her head. But she had given Tarr her word that she would not ride off on her own, and besides, it would be a foolish thing to do when she knew that someone hunted her.
She closed her eyes and shook her head. At the moment there was little to do but think and worry. She was good at thinking while worry irritated her, it usually set her into action. For this situation, she was not sure what type of action was called for, so she silently recited a prayer for her sister’s speedy recovery.
Aliss could reason better than she, and would know what to do.
Her eyes sprang open as she was suddenly wrapped in strong arms and ensconced with Tarr in a warm wool blanket. He tugged at her shawl and she released it to drop at her feet. He drew her back against him and she welcomed his heat. It drifted through her body, chasing the chill away and toasting her flesh.
“You will make a good husband; you keep me warm.”
He nibbled playfully at her ear. “I prefer you hot.”
“Keep that up and you will ignite me.”
He stopped after placing a kiss on her cheek. “Something bothers you. I can hear it in your voice. You and Aliss are safe, you have my word.”
“How can we be safe when we do not know who pursues us? He could be in this keep right now, planning his next attack.”
“If you believed that, you would be at your sister’s side this instant.”
“Anya would not hesitate to kill anyone who dared to threaten Aliss’s safety. She will not lose her daughter twice. She is the best guard Aliss could have at the moment.”
“You have not considered Anya a threat?”
“Briefly, but I