Annis sniffled back her tears after he kissed her. “Aye, you are most fortunate to have me as your wife and I will see that good fortune stays with you.”
“As long as I have you, I will always have good fortune,” he said and kissed her cheek.
She tried to sniff back her tears again, but his remark touched her heart too deeply and tears streamed down her cheeks. “I am a strong woman and yet I cry easily. It is most baffling and annoying.”
He wiped at her tears again. “I love that you cry with ease. It proves what a truly loving and caring heart you have. It means even more to me now that you have given your heart to me.”
She smiled and sniffled again. “You best take care of my heart.”
He kissed her quick again. “It is as safe as you are tucked in my arms and where I intend to keep you until we reach the village.”
“I will not argue with that since it is where I want to be and where I love to be,” she said and settled comfortably against him. “Now tell me more about this village.”
“You will remain by my side at all times,” Brogan reminded with a quick glance to Annis on her horse that meandered alongside his.
Annis nodded, having no problem in heeding his words after seeing the people who frequented the place. There was not a beggar or unfortunate among them. They were hardy men and women who knew exactly what they were doing and why they were there.
“How much for the fiery-haired one?” a large man whose beard reached to his sizeable stomach called out.
“Your life if you dare touch my woman, Grendel!” Brogan threatened with a yell.
Annis shivered as whispers rushed around the area. “Let’s hurry and be done here.”
“I should not have brought you here. I should have come myself,” Brogan said, voicing his thoughts and annoyed he had not given it prior consideration.
“I would not let you come alone here,” she said with a fierceness that had Brogan’s brow going up. “And I do not care if you have come here alone before now. It is different now. You are my husband, and I will see you kept safe.”
The woman stole his heart over and over again. Never had he felt so cared for and so loved.
“You do warm my heart, wife,” he whispered, not wanting anyone to hear, fearful of what might happen if it was known they were wed.
Annis kept her voice low. “Then let’s be done here so we can find a secluded spot for the night, and I can warm something else of yours.”
Brogan had to keep his mouth from falling open. She delivered her remark without a smile or a wink, as if it was the most natural thing to say. Unfortunately, her suggestions aroused his shaft, and this was not the time or place for it. Brogan silently let loose with several curses while forcing his thoughts on anything but her intentions.
He directed them to a spot where other horses were left grazing.
“The horses will not be stolen?” Annis whispered once off the horse.
“An unspoken code among all here. Anyone steals one of the horses and they die,” Brogan said and took her hand. “You are going to hold your tongue and let me talk. I want us gone from here as soon as possible.”
“Aye, as soon as possible,” she repeated, wishing they were already on their way and voiced a thought that came to her. “I do not think the woman with the limp would have stopped here.”
“You never know. If it was information she was seeking, this was a good place to find it,” Brogan said. “And with the extent of travel all here do, there is a good chance one may have come across her.”
Brogan spoke with a few men and women, but none had seen a woman with a limp.
“Let me see if Grendel knows anything,” Brogan said. “You do well with your silence, though I know it is not easy for you. We will be finished soon and be on our way.”
Annis nodded, pleased that he acknowledged how difficult this was for her and, keeping hold of his hand, walked with him to the fire pit where Grendel and two women stood.
Annis listened while the two men talked. She had hoped the large man would reveal news that would help them but when their conversation was nothing but mundane, she turned her head to cast an eye about.
Her attention quickly settled on a young lad, maybe ten years, though no more than twelve years. His garments had seen better days and it had been more than days that he looked to have washed. He was talking to a few men and looked to be pleading. From what she could hear, the lad seemed to be asking about work, any kind of work. Something about his mum being ill and he needed to help her. The men laughed at him and accused him of telling tales.