“I am grateful, my lord, and I am forever in your service,” Bram said and was soon off with Damia and the bairn.
Rannick knew he had little time before Jaffee made his wife suffer unspeakable things. He looked to see the raven circle overhead and commanded, “Take me to her.”
“I will have my coins and be on my way before you have your fun with her,” Sheed said, raising his chin, though the slight tremor in his voice betrayed his unease.
“Be gone with you,” Jaffee said, licking his lips as he leered at Bliss. “You are owed nothing. You failed.”
Bliss remained where she was, knowing she would be a fool to get too close to Jaffee. While his features were far from ugly, evil had somehow left its mark on him, and anyone with a sane mind would not go near him.
“I delivered her to you,” Sheed protested.
Jaffee laughed, though it sounded anything but funny. “You got caught. It was that crazy woman of yours that made the capture possible.”
“I did my part,” Sheed protested, anger giving him unwise courage. “Give me what I am owed, or I will see the truth made known.”
Jaffee laughed. “You think that matters to me. I have part of what I’ve hungered for and will soon have it all.”
“I will have what is owed me,” Sheed protested, shaking his fist at Jaffee.
“Aye, you will,” Jaffee said, his laugh gone and with sudden swiftness swung his sword, slicing Sheed’s hand off at the wrist.
Sheed stood staring in shock at the bloody stump and his hand on the ground at his feet.
Lana came rushing out of the woods screaming his name.
Jaffee gave a nod to one of the four men there, and the fellow grabbed Lana and walked off into the woods where her screaming abruptly stopped and the man returned, tucking his dagger back into its sheath.
Sheed paled, his mouth falling open and his eyes staring at Jaffee in desperation.
“You are a fool. You learn the truth and make demands,” Jaffee said, shaking his head. “You should have held your tongue and used what you knew to your advantage once it was all done.”
“I won’t say anything. I swear,” Sheed pleaded.
“Your word on that?” Jaffee asked with a chuckle.
Bliss could see that he was toying with Sheed and between the light falling snow, the cold, no cloak, and fear of what she would face if Rannick did not arrive on time, she began to shiver.
“Aye, I will never speak of it, never!” Sheed begged.
Jaffee handed his sword to one of his men and pulled his dagger from its sheath. “I best make sure of that. Hold out your tongue.”
Sheed backed away, tears beginning to stream down his cheeks. “Nay, I beg. I will keep silent. I will say nothing.”
“Aye, I am going to make sure of that,” Jaffee said and turned to smile at Bliss. “Watch for you will suffer the same fate so I do not have to listen to your endless pleas.”
Sheed took advantage of Jaffee’s distraction and drew his dagger, running the blade across his throat before anyone could stop him.
“He was less of a coward than I thought,” Jaffee said indifferent to the man’s death and snapped his hand for Bliss to approach him. “Come here, I have much planned for you before your husband arrives.”
“Too late. I am already here!”
CHAPTER 32
Bliss thought her legs would give way they trembled so badly with relief upon hearing her husband’s voice. She was not surprised when he was suddenly in front of her, his back to her, shielding her from Jaffee.
“You are unharmed?” he asked without turning to look at her.
She ached for his strong arms to wrap around her tight, feel his strength and determination to keep her safe, but he was wise in keeping his focus on Jaffee. He was not the kind of man you looked away from even for a second.
“I am good,” she assured him, though worry still hung heavy over her. This was far from over… a battle awaited.
“We both know we did not come alone,” Rannick said, his stance confident and his hand on the hilt of his dagger ready to defend. He would let no one get to his wife—no one.
Jaffee grinned, though it did nothing to mask the anger there. “My men are being paid only if victorious. They will not fail.”
“Did you meet with who pays you to see me and the two other cursed lords dead when you stopped at Clan Loudon?”
“You delay with talk in hopes your men are finished with mine in the woods and will come to your rescue.” Jaffee continued to grin. “You will be sorely disappointed.”
A chill ran through Bliss more from his remark than her lack of a cloak in the lightly falling snow. If warriors waited in the woods, why didn’t she hear the clash of swords. Did one side more outnumber the other?