Tarass turned heated eyes on Slatter. “You’ll hang for this.”
Willow went to step in front of her husband, but he pushed her behind him. “Do you want the truth of what happened to Rhodes or would you hang an innocent man and let the one who took Rhodes’s life walk free?”
“You lie, you coward,” Owen yelled. “You set a trap, lured him here, and killed him.”
“I never asked to meet Rhodes, and watch who you call coward,” Slatter threatened with a snarl.
“Liar,” Owen yelled and took quick steps toward Slatter.
Slatter didn’t hesitate, his hand went to the hilt of his dagger.
Tarass’s hand shot out stopping Owen from taking another step toward Slatter. “You deserve to die.”
“The one who did this deserves to die,” Slatter corrected.
“You gave your word we’d have until the end of winter to prove Slatter innocent,” Willow reminded, stepping from behind her husband and wishing he had been beside her in bed when she woke this morning. Then no one could dispute his innocence.
“My word I gave you concerned his other deeds, not killing one of my warriors,” Tarass argued.
“This can easily be settled,” James said, stepping forward. “Dawn, the time of the meeting, would find Slatter in bed with his wife. Willow need only confirm that.”
“His wife would lie for him,” Owen accused.
“My wife does not lie,” Slatter said, defending her. “She would speak the truth and tell you she woke alone this morning.”
Her husband was right. She wouldn’t have lied for him. There would be no reason, since she believed him innocent. Her husband knew her well, just as she did him. He didn’t do this, but would anyone but her believe him?
“Where were you around sunrise?” James asked.
Willow didn’t draw a breath waiting for her husband to answer.
“With Snow,” Slatter said. “I met her in the Great Hall after having looked in on my grandmother.” He gave a nod to James. “I saw that you and Eleanor had fallen asleep in chairs beside each other and, so I left, not wanting to disturb you or my grandmother who slept peacefully.”
Willow let a quiet breath out, knowing the truth of his explanation since she had come upon the same scene with James and Eleanor.
“Snow was alone when I came upon her,” Tarass said.
“I left her, knowing my wife probably had woken and would be seeing to my grandmother. The servant watching her told me that Willow was with James in his solar and I went there. Snow can confirm it for you.”
“You will hide behind a blind woman?” Owen accused.
Slatter turned harsh eyes on him. “Is it the truth you want or blame you seek for failing to protect your fellow warrior?”
Tarass’s arm once again stopped Owen from lunging forward and none failed to see the strength it took to stop him, Owen stumbling back from the impact.
“You lead the troop now, Owen. Return to the warriors and assure them that Rhodes’s death will be revenged and appoint men to come and get Rhodes and see him taken home for a proper burial,” Tarass ordered and Owen obeyed, though not before sending Slatter a nasty look.
“I’ll hear what Snow has to say and will decide then what to do,” Tarass said.
“What is there to do but find the culprit responsible for killing Rhodes,” Willow said, worrying that Tarass would forcibly take Slatter and see him hanged.
Tarass turned to head back to the keep, saying as he went, “Maybe your husband didn’t kill Rhodes, but I have no doubt he was someway involved with his death, and I intend to see him hang.”
Snow confirmed what Slatter had said and was quickly dismissed from James’s solar along with Willow who protested vigorously until her husband ordered her to leave to her surprise.
Leave now, wife.
His words still rang in her head as she sat with Snow in their mum’s solar.
“Let the men do what they will,” Snow said, petting Thaw, asleep in her lap. “And we will do what we will, search for the truth ourselves.”
Willow snapped out of her musings. “You’re right. I know the man who resembles Slatter exists.” Willow sat up straighter in the chair. “So does Devin, a longtime friend of Slatter’s and so does Walcott, another friend, though often pessimistic, but faithful to Slatter. Then there are all the people he has helped who would defend him.”
“They need to be here to help him. No one believes another like Slatter exists and, therefore, will not bother to search for him. But he must be close if he convinced Rhodes to meet him in the woods.”
Willow gasped. “I never thought of that, but you’re right. That man must be close by if he met with Rhodes under the pretense of being Slatter.”
“Have James send a small troop of men to escort them here. At least then you’ll have some who will defend Slatter,” Snow explained.