“Which meant I probably climbed whatever was necessary for me to get where I wanted to explore,” Raven said, recalling her da’s repeated warnings of punishment if she didn’t pay heed to his word.
“Burnell often remarked how fearless you were, letting nothing stop you, not even several falls that left you with bruises. He thought you a brave and remarkable lass.”
Raven laughed. “My da would dispute that.”
“Burnell said you were a chore to your da that day.”
Memories had Raven smiling. “That would be most days back then.”
“You made a lasting impression on Burnell and he very much enjoyed your one and only visit here.”
“I imagine my actions embarrassed my da and was the reason he never brought me here again.”
“Sometimes it takes only one look to know a person.” Detta’s words softened as she continued, “It’s often that way with love. You look upon someone and you know deep in your heart he is the one for you.”
“You know that from experience?” Raven asked.
“I do,” she said with a soft whisper as if lost in loving memories. Her eyes flickered and the softness that had been there disappeared. “I will tell Lord Wolf that you are in need of gloves.”
“Not necessary, Detta, I have a pair right here for her.”
Raven hadn’t heard her husband enter the room, she’d been too lost in the past and the memories Detta had stirred in her. She planned on visiting her da as soon as the snow allowed and asking him about her visit here. There was something she felt she should remember but she couldn’t quite grasp it.
“Lady Raven traded her gloves and says it was a fair trade,” Detta said as if she didn’t quite believe Raven.
Wolf dropped the gloves on the table and removed his cloak, Detta reaching out to take it from him. He joined his wife, sitting beside her. “And what did you receive in this fair trade?”
Raven grinned wide. “A hug!”
Wolf’s brow creased in annoyance. “A hug from who?”
“A hug from a young lass whose hands were bitter cold and needed the gloves more than I did, but refused to take them without trading something. I told her I missed my friends’ hugs, hadn’t had one in five years, and asked if she would trade a tight hug with me for the gloves. She gladly obliged.” Raven turned a smile on Detta. “A fair trade, would you say?”
“A generous trade, my lady,” Detta said.
Raven thought she caught a glimmer of tears in the old woman’s eyes.
“I’ll fetch more hot cider,” Detta said and hastily hurried away.
“You have a good heart, wife,” Wolf said and went to kiss her.
She pulled back away from him, eyeing him skeptically. “You didn’t come here to just bring me gloves. You made it clear you had duties to see to, so why come find me?”
Wolf shook his head. “You are far too observant, wife.”
“You should keep that in mind, since it will save us time when there is news you wish to tell me but hesitate to do so,” she admonished. “Now tell me, what’s happened?”
“I will tell you if you promise me you will warm yourself with more hot cider before we leave here.”
“Gloves, hot cider, you want me warm against the cold. Where do we go?”
He turned a glare on her and she understood. “All right. I promise to warm myself with more cider.” She hurriedly added. “And I do appreciate the gloves. Now please don’t keep me waiting.”
“We go into the woods. Another body has been found.”
Chapter 19
“Iver found him and returned to alert me. I sent him on, worried for Brother Noble’s safety,” Wolf explained as they walked through the woods, a dozen or more of his warriors spread out around them.
“It’s one of Brynjar’s men?” Raven asked.
“I can’t say for sure, though his garments are those of a Northman,” Wolf confirmed.
They said no more until they reached the spot where Iver had come across the body.
“With no visible wounds, I assume he got caught in the storm and froze to death,” Raven said, staring down at the man. Sadly, she had come across more than one person through the years with bad luck enough to be caught in a snowstorm and freeze to death.
“I’d say that was his fate,” Wolf agreed and watched how his wife drifted off in thought. He waited a bit before asking, “What thoughts simmer in your head?”
“I feel that we miss something. Why does Brynjar risk the death of so many men just to see me dead? What does it matter if he waits? Winter is a time of hibernation. Everything stills from the cold and emptiness of the season. Why rush the task? What does a few months matter?” She shook her head. “What makes him so impatient to see it done?”
“I have bested him many times, perhaps his patience for revenge has come to an end,” Wolf suggested.