“Born of a myth that has a giant protecting all of you, thus making an attack unlikely since as you said there is a mystery to the Highlands that all respect. So, whoever created the legend was wise in doing so.”
Again, he was amazed that she spoke without censure and this time with a hint of admiration. He also realized at that moment that she had involved him in a conversation he had no intention of having with her. He almost scratched his head wondering how she had done that.
He regained charge of the situation that he had lost too easily. “You disobeyed a commend of mine. Verena informed you that I forbid anyone to enter the keep without my permission and yet you entered it anyway.”
Flora shrugged. “I was not raised to be obedient. I was raised to question, to learn, to seek knowledge and gain wisdom. If the keep is to be my responsibility, then I do not wish to waste time in seeing to its care. I meant no disrespect to you, husband, but I was curious to see the keep and when I learned about the ghost my curiosity grew and I could not wait.”
A reasonable explanation and yet… “You need to obey me, wife.”
“Why?” she asked and reached for another piece of cheese and bread.
“You do not question why,” he snapped. “You submit to my wisdom as the cleric advised.”
“What if I am wiser than you, then shouldn’t you submit to me?”
Her response left Torin speechless.
“That would be the logical thing to do, right?” she asked. “The wiser person would know best and, therefore, should rule.”
Torin regained his senses. “I have the knowledge to lead this clan.”
“Of course, you do, and I have the knowledge to solve the mystery,” she said and smiled.
“Only if I allow it,” he commanded, annoyed that to him it felt as if she had set a trap leaving him no choice but to agree that he allow her to solve the mystery, while she simply viewed it as logical.
“Well, you are a wise leader and no doubt see the wisdom of it,” she said.
There was not a hint of sarcasm in her response. He almost shook his head wondering how he ever got into this conversation with her and how he had managed to choose a woman that was the complete opposite of what he wanted in a wife. Had he allowed her beauty to blind him? Had he grown so tired of searching for a wife that he failed to find out more about her? Or did he admit there had been something about her when he first laid eyes on her that tugged at him in a way that no woman ever had?
“When did you abandon the keep?” she asked, continuing her query.
He answered without thinking. “It has been months, the servants too fearful of the place and with the incident—” He stopped abruptly.
“What incident?” Flora asked eagerly.
“A woman was frightened by the giant.”
“Who? I will speak with her. She can tell me all that happened.” Flora’s eagerness grew.
“Nay!” Torin said sharply.
Flora’s eyes turned wide, surprised by his snappish reply. She had realized on the journey here that her husband had a commanding presence and that it was necessary for one who ruled. But he had not had a sharp tongue with her, commanding tongue, aye, but a sharp one, nay.
As was her way, she did not stop from asking, “Why?”
“Because I command it,” he snapped and scowled, annoyed he had offered any explanation at all.
“Why would you not want me to know if it would help solve the mystery of the giant?” She seemed to ask the question more of herself than of him as she stared off toward the fire for a moment and as if suddenly understanding said, “You wish to keep something from me.”
“You ask far too many questions and expect far too many answers.”
“Questions are meant to be answered,” she argued.
“Not all the time and certainly not when a husband tells a wife he has had enough of her questions.”
“Oh, so you do not wish to talk with me any longer?” she asked, disappointed since she had been enjoying their discussion. She had not had such an interesting and challenging conversation in some time. Of course, she went on talking before he could answer. “I thought you might be interested to hear what I know about ghosts.”
“You know about ghosts?” he asked without thinking, but then he was curious.