Kinnell and the other warriors raised theirs as well, not so Torin.
Flora spoke up, making sure her voice was heard by all. “Be careful who you seek here to warm your bed, for if you lead a clan’s woman astray, I will see that you wed her. And do remember there is only one egress off this isle and it is guarded.”
“You have no power to force me to wed,” Walsh challenged.
Flora smiled. “I never said I would force you. I said I would see that you wed her. And power will not see it done but knowledge will. Now I will leave you gentlemen to talk amongst yourselves.” She stood and winced, her hand going to her side.
Torin looked ready to stand but his wife rested her hand on his shoulder to keep him from doing so.
“I am going to pay Iona a visit. I will not be long,” Flora said.
“Wait there for me,” Torin ordered with a command that was meant to be obeyed without question.
“Aye, my lord,” Flora said.
“Anwen!” Torin called out and the woman hurried to him. “Go with my wife.”
“Aye, my lord,” Anwen said and fetched both their cloaks.
Torin worried that his wife had suffered an injury from the fall that only now made itself known. Then again, it could have been an excuse to leave him with Walsh to ask questions the man would not answer in front of her. He would ask his questions and be done and find out for sure.
* * *
“Iona’s cottageis that way, my lady,” Anwen said, pointing in the opposite direction of where Flora was headed.
“I know and we will go there as soon as we are done elsewhere,” Flora said.
People called out to her as she and Anwen made their way through the village.
“Blessings on you, my lady.”
“Pleased to see you are well, my lady.”
Flora smiled and waved and called out her thanks as she kept a brisk pace leaving no one to question if she had been harmed in the fall.
“My lady, I do not believe Lord Torin would want you leaving the village,” Anwen said as they approached the entrance.
“Then I suppose he will be upset when he discovers I left the isle,” Flora said matter-of-factly. “Hurry, Anwen. It will not take long.”
When they reached the guard post by the bridge two warriors stopped her.
“I wish to see where the dead man was found,” Flora said.
Both warriors glanced at each other not sure what to do.
“It is a simple and easy request. Just escort me over the bridge to where Walsh took you to the dead man,” Flora instructed. “I will not be long.” When the two did not move, she raised her voice with authority. “Now!”
The two warriors jumped and hurried to do as she ordered, Anwen shaking her head as she followed behind her.
Flora glanced around once at the spot. Blood, footfalls, and drag marks covered much of the area. She tilted her head back to look up at the large pine tree.
“Do you climb trees, Anwen?” Flora asked.
“Never, my lady,” Anwen said.
“My cousin, Tavia, did at one time, though no more due to an injury, but I was told it came natural to her. I wonder if it was the same for the dead man… a natural skill.”
“It is starting to snow, my lady, we should return now. The bridge becomes slippery when it snows,” the one warrior said.