“Many years away,” Bhric said, not ready to lose Greta.
“Hertha believes that with the blow to the back of Marta’s head that she did not see her attacker.”
“The culprit came up behind her so she could not see who it was which could possibly mean she would have known the person. Someone is purposely trying to turn the tribe against my wife but for what reason?” The troubling thought deeply disturbed Bhric and made him even more anxious to return to his wife.
“Dig deeply,” Greta advised. “I believe more goes on here than you suspect.”
Bhric nodded and could not help but ask, “You have seen much in your many years as a healer. What is your opinion on how Marta will fare?”
“She will wake, or she will die. It is up to fate,” Greta said. “Now go to your wife. She is in need of you.”
Bhric rushed back to the keep glad for the late hour, glad that he and Tavia could be alone together, glad they had each other.
He found her halfway up the stairs, leaning against the wall, giving her leg time to rest. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her the remainder of the way.
Tavia’s arms instinctively went around his neck, and he was not surprised by what she asked, “What did Greta say?”
“That you are not responsible for Marta’s attack, and she doubted Marta herself would know since she was struck from behind.”
“I wondered over that when you mentioned that Marta would be able to identify her attacker. With having been struck in the back of the head that would be unlikely.”
“I purposely said that in hopes that the culprit would reveal himself,” Bhric explained, though had not expected any satisfying results. He did not believe the true culprit was that foolish.
“It was worth a try,” Tavia said, “and still might prove successful.”
Bhric hurried out of his own garments before helping his wife with hers once in their bedchamber. “Greta advises that there is more going on here and I agree with her. Something is not right about this. Someone drives a wedge between my tribe and clan while making you appear the culprit. But why?”
“If we discover that, then most likely it will be easier to discover the culprit,” Tavia said, snuggling against her husband after they both slipped beneath the blankets.
They exchanged opinions and possibilities until sleep could not be avoided and they drifted off, Tavia a bit disappointed her husband had not kept his promise to make love to her since she yearned to feel his love tonight more than ever. But she understood that he must have a lot on his mind and let it be.
Sometime in the night she woke, her husband’s hands roaming intimately over her, stoking her passion and she easily responded to the pleasure. He was familiar with every inch of her now, knowing exactly where to touch that would have her respond eagerly. But she knew the same of him, knowing those special spots to touch, to kiss, to hug with tender care.
They shared, his hands going where she enjoyed them the most and her touches that elicited moans of pleasure. Their touches were slow and lazy, enjoying every intimate touch, kiss, or nip of a sensitive spot.
“I love you, wife,” he whispered in her ear as he slipped over and into her.
“And I you,” she said on a pleasurable sigh and wrapped her legs around him to tuck him deeper inside her.
He moaned and it was not long before they both exploded together more satisfied than ever then wrapped themselves around each other to drop into sleep once again.
* * *
Two days later a woman was heard running through the village, “She wakes! She wakes! Marta wakes!”
Bhric was quick to go see her, his wife having settled into a nap after they had made love, his need for her overwhelming him at times. That she never denied him made him think that she felt the same and how much they enjoyed each other only seemed to prove that. He was growing more and more comfortable with her and far more comfortable with the intimacy they shared than he had ever expected. They had a chance of having a good life together and he did not want to lose that chance.
He entered Greta’s cottage to see Marta sitting up in bed, her face pale and a bit gaunt.
“My lord,” she said with a bob of her head.
“I am relieved you have woken,” Bhric said. “It would upset me to lose you.”
Marta got teary-eyed. “I hope to serve your children as I served you.”
Bhric did not respond to that since he knew Tavia would not want her tending their bairns. “Do you recall what happened, Marta?”
She shook her head and winced, remaining silent for a moment. “I recall hearing about a fight and hurried to see for myself what it was all about. I do not recall anything after that except waking here. Though I wonder if Lady Tavia practices her evil against me.”