“Walcott was telling me about everyone. It is good Devin waits until all are rested and well before traveling here. And I’m glad Walcott can take back news of what a fine home they are all coming to.”
“They will be pleased,” Walcott said.
“You need to get a good night sleep yourself and leave in the morning,” she said. “I’ll have a cottage prepared for you.”
“I should leave after I eat,” Walcott said.
“Nonsense,” Willow said, shaking her head. “You’ll do better with food and rest. Morning is time enough for you to leave. Besides, nightfall is not far off.” She turned to her husband. “Right, Slatter?”
“My wife does make sense. A good sleep will see you more fit for your journey.”
“Then it’s settled. I will leave you two to talk while I see a cottage made ready for you.” Willow gave her husband a quick kiss on the cheek.
“I don’t like you going off on your own,” Slatter said, cupping his wife’s waist with his arm so she couldn’t rush off.
“Snow waits outside for me along with Thaw who favors the freshly fallen snow.”
“Good, and don’t take long. It’s cold out there.” He kissed her lips and reluctantly let her go.
Willow turned and gave a wave to him before hurrying out.
Snow was falling again. It had fallen periodically over the last few days. There was no great accumulation, but most feared it was a promise of a large snowfall to come.
She laughed when she saw the young bairns throwing snow in the air for Thaw to catch, the pup jumping up with delight and vigor to catch the flakes that melted as soon as they touched him. Snow laughed and looked as if she watched them, her head turning toward the different squealing bairns. But all she saw were shadows and when there were that many they often became a blur to Snow from what she had told Willow.
Willow prayed every day for her sister’s sight to return and she hoped one day soon her prayers would be answered.
“Snow,” she called out and her sister turned her head. “I’m in need of some help.”
“He’s here. He killed one of the Lord of Fire’s warriors.” Slatter said after making sure no one was close enough to hear him. “And I’ve been blamed for it.”
The piece of meat Walcott had jabbed with his knife and was about to put in his mouth halted near his lips.
“He’ll strike again and see that it’s blamed on me.”
Walcott shook his head. “Why?”
“I wish I knew and I wish I knew how he avoids being discovered. I have no trouble locating someone I wish to find, but he has evaded all my efforts in finding him and it puzzles me.”
“Have you searched the woods for him?” Walcott asked and finally popped the piece of meat into his mouth.
“The woods are too vast of a place to search. It would be senseless to try.”
“What will you do?”
“Keep my wife safe and bide my time until you return with Devin. Then I’ll set a trap for him and make sure it’s one he can’t escape.”
“What if he leaves before you can set the trap?”
“He won’t,” Slatter said with confidence. “He’s a fool. He believes he has me trapped and that he’ll finish me here. That will never happen.”
“What kind of trap could capture such a devious man?”
“One that’s more devious than him.”
It was a quiet night in the Great Hall, most remaining settled in their cottages. Walcott had gone to the cottage Willow had made ready for him after eating and gone directly to sleep, wanting to leave with the dawn on the morrow.
“I’ll leave you to talk with your sister, while I go spend time with my grandmother. I’ll meet you in our bedchamber after that.” Slatter winked and planted a quick kiss on his wife’s lips, leaving his wife with Snow.
He was gone only a few moments when a woman entered the Great Hall, her cloak dusted heavily with snow.
“Teresa, is there something wrong?” Willow asked, seeing the worried look in her pinched expression.
“It’s Brent, he gashed his leg today and didn’t tell me until it pained him so bad tonight he finally showed me the wound and it looks awful. Can you help him, Willow?” she all but begged.
“I’ll get my things and meet you at your cottage.”
“You are a generous woman, thank you.” Teresa turned, her steps quick as she left the Great Hall.
“Don’t wait for me, Snow, go and sleep. Slatter will probably be in our bedchamber by the time I return.”
The two women hugged and Willow went and fetched her healing basket and cloak, and stepped out of the keep.
The night was eerily quiet as she made her way to Teresa’s cottage. Her footfalls didn’t even make a sound in the soft snow. The night shadows seemed to appear larger than usual, making one wonder if someone was actually lurking there watching. Willow thought, too late, that she might have been wise to let Slatter know where she was going. Normally, she wouldn’t think anything of being summoned to someone’s cottage late, bairns often choosing the late hours to arrive. And she had never felt the slightest bit fearful of walking through the village at night, but the incident in the woods had her thinking differently. She hurried along. The cottage sat more toward the middle of the village and she was relieved when she reached it, and Teresa answered her quick rap at the door, feeling foolish once inside.