Highlander Lord of Fire Read online

  Tarass opened the door.

  “James Macardle is here on an urgent matter and must speak to you posthaste,” Rannock rushed to say.

  “What matter?” Tarass asked as he walked to fetch his boots.

  Snow’s eyes went from one gray blur to another, though she turned her head away from both when she thought she caught a flash of color from the flicker of a flame. But it was so brief, she couldn’t be certain. Her brother’s arrival the day after her wedding was more concerning than what had probably been nothing more than her imagination as was Rannock’s hesitation to respond. It sparked alarm in Snow.

  “Tell me, Rannock,” Tarass ordered.

  “Lord Polwarth claims that Lady Snow is not legally your wife.”

  Chapter 20

  “Fetch Nettle,” Tarass ordered Rannock, “and have James wait in my solar.”

  As soon as Snow heard the door close, she was out of bed. “Don’t think you’re leaving me out of this conversation.”

  “This is for me to see to,” he said and grabbed her garments that she fumbled around to find and handed them to her.

  “It involves me,” she insisted, slipping her shift on, her arm getting stuck in the wrong hole.

  Tarass shook his head as his hands stilled her arms. “You’re too stubborn for your own good.”

  He eased her arm out of the one hole and into the correct one. He couldn’t imagine how difficult it must be for her to depend on others to help her with simple things he took for granted. And he didn’t want her worrying about whatever senseless claim Lord Polwarth thought he had. There was no way he’d let anyone take his wife away from him.

  “I can be agreeable and pliable—”

  His laughter interrupted her. “I have yet to see that side of you, wife, though I admit you are pliable in bed.”

  Snow jabbed him in the chest. “This matter concerns me and I will not be left out of it.”

  “I will tell you all that is discussed,” he said to appease her.

  A knock sounded again and Nettle announced herself, and Tarass bid her to enter.

  Snow had asked her mum once how was it that she rarely argued with her husband and yet so often got her way? Or how Sorrell, a handful to say the least when young, had complied so easily to their mum’s orders, but not to others?

  It’s the maneuvers that matter more than the battle, Snow. That’s what her mum had told her and that’s what had her holding her tongue.

  “Help Lady Snow and have her wait in the Great Hall for me,” Tarass ordered Nettle, then kissed his wife’s cheek. “I will join you there as soon as I can.”

  As soon as the door closed, Snow said, “Thaw is impatient to go out, Nettle. Take him to see to his duty while I wait here for you.”

  “Would you not rather enjoy the morning meal in the Great Hall while I see to Thaw?”

  “No, I’m not hungry yet, but Thaw is in need, so please hurry and see to him.”

  Thaw barked as if he agreed.

  “I won’t be long,” Nettle said.

  “Take your time. I’m in no hurry. I’m going to sit by the fire and enjoy the peace and quiet, though I would appreciate it if you could hand me my comb and a strip of cloth.”

  “Aye, m’lady, as you wish,” Nettle said and fetched the comb and cloth to give her before turning to Thaw. “Time for a walk, Thaw.”

  Snow got busy on her hair as soon as Nettle left, giving it a good combing, then braiding it and tying the end with the strip of cloth. She returned to the edge of the bed where her husband had helped her into her shift and felt around, happy to find her tunic. It was easy to get on as were her shoes she had left by the side of the bed.

  The maneuvers she had planned were going well. She didn’t want Nettle to know what she intended for fear she would get the young woman in trouble. This was her own doing and she would be the only one blamed.

  Snow made her way carefully down the stairs, keeping her shoulder to the wall and inching her foot out to feel for the edge of each step. Surprisingly, she made it down the stairs more easily than she had thought she would. When she entered the Great Hall, she stopped and waited to spot a gray blur nearby.

  She stepped forward as soon as she spotted one and bumped with some force into the edge of a table and winced.

  “Are you all right, m’lady,” a female voice asked.

  “Aye, but I do need help to get to Lord Tarass’s solar,” Snow said, making it seem imperative.

  “I’ll take you,” the woman said and Snow held out her arm.

  “Your name?” Snow asked as she followed along with the woman.

  “Maude, m’lady.”

  “You are most gracious to help, Maude. Thank you,” Snow said.

  Maude left Snow at the closed door as directed and she waited until she heard the servant leave, then swung open the door and entered.

  “Snow!” James said in surprise and hurried to her.

  “I suspect my husband told you I wouldn’t be joining in this discussion, but I thought it was best I did,” she said and smiled after James took her hand.

  “Obedience is a difficult lesson for my wife to learn,” Tarass said, annoyed that yet again she disobeyed him, though why did he ever think she would? If nothing else, she was consistent in her disobedience.

  “And punishments can be quite enlightening,” Snow said, her smile spreading and her eyes sparking with a hint of passion as she recalled her husband’s hand on her backside when she’d been tossed over his legs.

  She was suddenly yanked away from James and felt herself tucked against her husband’s side.

  “Punishments?” James asked, concerned. “You don’t harm my sister, do you, Tarass?”

  “Tarass would never harm me, James,” Snow said and patted her husband’s chest. “He loves me and I love him.”

  She almost laughed when she felt a growling rumble in his chest.

  “He loves you and you love him?” James asked, shaking his head. “I thought you hated each other? How did you two ever fall in love in one night?”

  “He’s loved me for ages,” Snow said with a ring of joy in her voice.

  “That’s right, Father mentioned visiting here with Tarass’s father,” James said. “So you met when you were younger.”

  “And she was just as stubborn then as she is now and still not good at holding her tongue when she should,” Tarass said and gave the side of her waist a squeeze.

  “I am happy and relieved to hear this. I’ve so wanted Snow to find love as her two sisters have done and as I have done with Eleanor. But I worry over this claim Lord Polwarth has made.”

  “What claim?” Snow asked, her stomach roiling with worry, recalling what Rannock had said about her not being Tarass’s lawful wife, and she hurried her hand along her husband’s arm to reach for his hand.

  He took hold of her hand before her hand reached his elbow, and he closed his fingers around hers locking them together, making it clear they wouldn’t be separated.

  “Explain it, James,” Tarass said.

  James cleared his throat, a habit Snow had noticed he’d do when he had unfavorable news to deliver.

  “Lord Polwarth claims that your marriage is invalid because when the cleric wed you, he didn’t know that even though Tarass’s father was Christian, Tarass wasn’t raised one. He was predominately raised with his mum’s barbarian beliefs. Polwarth believes that completely invalidates the marriage, since the vows were meaningless to you.”

  “Why did he not address this when Tarass claimed I belonged to him? Why wait and say it now?” Snow asked.

  “Questions I asked him myself,” James said, “He claims he was shocked and upset by it all and didn’t realize your marriage would be invalid until this morning. He arrived at the keep shortly after dawn, insisting I amend this dreadful mistake and have you returned home so that he could honor the marriage agreement.”

  “He’s a fool if he thinks that will happen,” Tarass said. “Our marriage is lawful, o
ur vows sealed, and no doubt the cleric will agree.”

  James nodded. “I thought the same myself until I recalled that Lord Polwarth is the largest benefactor of the monastery the cleric belongs to. Without his support, the monastery would not survive.”

  “The cleric would lie for him?” Snow asked.

  “The cleric doesn’t matter,” James said.

  “It’s the Abbot who decides,” Tarass said.

  Snow recalled the tales Eleanor had told her about the abbey she had been a postulant at and the things that Mother Abbess had done. How Ruddock’s father’s generous support helped the abbey, allowing anyone from his clan to seek shelter there when necessary and without question.

  “The monasteries depend on the nobles to support them and in turn, the nobles count on the monastery’s support when necessary… no matter what that support may entail,” Tarass said.

  “So the abbot will agree with Lord Polwarth?” Snow asked, her worry growing.

  “There’s a good chance of it,” Tarass said.

  James cleared his throat again.

  “There is something else, James?” Snow asked worry creasing her brow.

  “I was going to have Eleanor speak to you about it so you could decide for yourself, but now that I know you love each other, that changes everything. It is something you both should know,” James said and cleared his throat again. “Polwarth made it known to me that if by chance you were with child, his healer could easily dispose of the problem.”

  Snow gasped, her hand going to rest protectively against her stomach as if Tarass’s child already nested there. She snuggled closer to her husband, his arm growing tighter around her as his body tensed with anger.

  “If Polwarth dares to come near my wife, I’ll crucify him for all to see,” Tarass said, his words fueled with fury.

  “Polwarth left me to go directly to the abbot to speak with him. I rushed here as soon as he was gone,” James said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you received a message from the abbot later tonight or tomorrow. Polwarth was eager to see this done.”

  “I appreciate you alerting us to this situation,” Tarass said.

  “I caution you to be careful. Polwarth is a man on a mission. He was adamant about seeing this done and appalled that he hadn’t been wise enough to stop your wedding and protect his friend’s daughter from what he claimed would be a horrible fate. I fear he will do anything to see Snow taken from you.”

  “That will never happen,” Tarass snapped. “Snow and I are husband and wife and nothing will change that. Not now. Not ever.”

  “I am glad to know you feel that way out of love for my sister and that what started as a forced marriage never truly was one,” James said. “Now I must take my leave before the heavily gray skies dump more snow on us.”

  “I’ll see you out,” Snow said and reached her hand out.

  Tarass reluctantly let her go, knowing she probably wanted a few moments alone with her brother.

  “I am overjoyed for you, Snow,” James said when they entered the Great Hall, then laughed softly. “Though, I never would have expected it to be the Lord of Fire you fell in love with or he you.”

  “I know. It’s strange, and yet it feels so right.”

  “That’s all that matters,” James said and patted her arm. “Remember, though, I’m always here if you need me.”

  Thaw’s barking was heard before he was seen and when the pup spotted James he made a mad dash for him, his tailing wagging like crazy.

  James leaned down to greet the pup.

  “Oh, m’lady, tongues are wagging furiously with that body being drained of blood last night,” Nettle said, hurrying into the Great Hall, her cloak dusted with snow.

  James stood straight, his eyes wide. “Body? Blood drained? What goes on here?”

  Nettle gasped. “I’m sorry, m’lady, I didn’t see him there.”

  “Learn to hold that tongue, woman,” Rannock ordered, appearing behind her. “No need upsetting Lady Snow with gossip.”

  “It’s not gossip. It’s truth,” Nettle argued. “And Lady Snow has the right to know.”

  “What gossip? What truth? What body? What blood?” James asked, anxious to know what was going on.

  “That’s not for you to decide, Nettle,” Rannock said.

  “What isn’t for Nettle to decide,” Tarass asked, entering the Great Hall.

  James hurried to speak up before anyone else could. “What is this about a body and drained blood? This does not bode well with the other problem you face.”

  “What other problem?” Rannock asked.

  “There’s another problem, m’lady,” Nettle whispered to Snow, having stepped closer to her, though Nettle’s whisper wasn’t much of a whisper.

  “That does not concern you,” Rannock said.

  “Anything that concerns, Lady Snow, concerns me,” Nettle argued.

  “Enough! I’ll hear no more about it,” Tarass snapped. “If I wish you to know, you will be told.” He turned to James. “This is best discussed in private.” He leaned down and whispered in his wife’s ear. “I suppose there’s no point in telling you to wait here.”

  Snow whispered back, “Not if you don’t want me to disobey you again.”

  She caught his muffled oath as he straightened and took her arm, and she smiled.

  Snow sat after entering the solar again and Thaw planted himself next to her leg. She reached down to pet him while her husband wasted no time in detailing what had happened last night.

  “Good Lord,” James said when he was done. “This is terrible and bodes worse than I thought for you both. When Polwarth learns of this, and he will learn of this—wagging tongues spreading news fast—he will claim it some barbaric ritual to prove Tarass practices a heathen belief and have further proof to invalidate your marriage.”

  Snow’s stomach churned with worry. Her brother was right. This did not bode well for them at all.

  “Perhaps I should take Finn’s body home,” James said. “It’s obvious someone is out to cause you harm, Tarass, and at least with Finn’s body gone, he can’t be used to cause more distress.”

  “You’re probably right, James,” Tarass agreed. “I’ll have a cart prepared that will make it easier for you to transport Finn’s body in the snow. While I see to it, why don’t you join Snow for some food and drink, since her grumbling stomach tells me she’s hungry.”

  “Be careful, Tarass,” James cautioned as he took Snow’s arm, “Polwarth is a powerful man with many friends.”

  “I’ll heed your warning, James,” Tarass said and kept his eye on the door after James and his wife left. It wasn’t long before Rannock entered the solar, closing the door behind him. Still, Tarass kept his voice low, taking no chance anyone would hear him. “I have a matter that needs immediate attention.”

  “What are you doing here? You have a bedchamber,” Tarass said, finding his wife in the room, sitting by the hearth her bare feet stretched out to the flames, she had occupied when she had been a guest.

  “I wanted a quiet place where I wouldn’t be disturbed,” she explained.

  “No one would dare disturb you in our bedchamber.”

  “Even you?” she asked with a smile and stretched her hand out to him.

  “You got me on that one,” he said with a brief chuckle and scooped her up in his arms.

  He carried her to the small bed and sat, bracing his back against the wood headboard and positioning her comfortably on his lap, making sure to tuck a blanket over her bare feet.

  Thaw joined them on the bed to cuddle at her feet and Tarass didn’t chase him away.

  “Are you troubled over what brought James here that you seek solitude?”

  “It’s more than that,” she admitted. “I feel like I’m suddenly in a giant puzzle with pieces that don’t seem to fit, which means there are pieces missing, but where are those pieces? How do I find them?”

  “That is how I feel about the murder of my parents. I have some pie
ces but not near enough to see the clear picture.”

  “Why did your father leave here suddenly and leave you and your mum behind? I recall people talking about it, and my da shaking his head over it. Then one day you and your mum were suddenly gone. What happened?”

  “That’s another mystery I’m trying to solve.”

  Chapter 21

  Snow gazed at him in confusion and for a brief moment, thought she caught sight of the outline of his chin, but it was gone so quickly she believed it her imagination.

  “You were never told of the reason for your hasty departure from your home?” Snow asked.

  “Or the reason for my da’s sudden departure,” Tarass said. “I was told he’d been called away on an important matter, but I never learned what that matter entailed, though not for lack of trying. I often asked my parents about it and was told it was nothing to be concerned about.” Tarass shook his head. “I knew it wasn’t the truth, but I thought one day they would finally tell me. That day never came and I believe it has something to do with why my parents were killed.”

  “Do you think they were trying to protect you from something?”

  “Why not tell me?” He shook his head. “It makes no sense.”

  “I recall my parents mentioning something about your family leaving because of the way your mum was treated. That many in your clan didn’t like that she was of barbarian descent.”

  “I’ve heard the same, but the problem with that explanation is that I don’t recall anyone in the clan treating my mum poorly. Besides, my da would have never allowed it and my da wasn’t one to run from a problem.”

  “But your family did run, so perhaps the problem was too much for your father to handle,” Snow suggested.

  “My da was a strong and skillful warrior. I never knew him to run from anything and my mum was the same. I saw her brandish a weapon with skill and ease. It doesn’t make sense that they were so fearful they would run.”

  “I know why parents would run,” Snow said, “for I would do it as well.”

  “Tell me, wife,” he said, his eyes falling on her with curiosity, still trying to comprehend how lucky he was that she loved him and she was there snug in his arms.