"Forgive my stupidity, but I do not know as much about your family as you do."
"I will wager that your brother knows of the Peregrine riddle."
He didn't answer her but gave her a look that meant that she was to continue.
She repeated the riddle for him. "Anne said that she had little to do when she was at Moray Castle—I think that Severn was concerned that she might flee, and—"
"Wise of your brother to worry," Tearle said under his breath.
She ignored him, for she didn't like to think of what had gone on between her brother and his unwilling wife while they were away. When the subject was mentioned to some of the men who had been with them, they turned pale and shook their heads in disbelief. There were a few fresh wounds on Severn.
"Anne said it was hair color." When Tearle didn't seem to understand, she continued. "The red and the black. Hair color." She paused. "Rogan and Liana's first child has—"
"The boy whose life I saved?" he asked innocently.
"Their first child has red hair, like his father, but the second son has black hair, as Rogan's mother did."
"So this has to do with the riddle?"
"'When the red and the white make black.' See? Rogan's hair is red, Liana's hair is almost white, and they made a black-haired child."
Tearle smiled, understanding. "And the second line?"
"'When the black and the gold become one.'"
"Severn's gold hair and Anne's black."
Zared looked at him in admiration. He was indeed clever. "You and I are the last line. 'When the one and red unite.' "
He smiled at that, but then he looked at her in seriousness. "I take it that you are the red, so I must be the one. Yet I am not the one, assuming that 'one' means that I am the only Howard child. What is the last line of the riddle?"
" 'Then shall you know.' "
"Know what?"
She took a while before answering. "Anne and Liana think that it means that we shall know who owns the estates." She could not look at him. If her brothers won, then it would mean that her husband lost. It wasn't that she so much wanted to own such a place, but she did not want to see her husband lose it. Nor did she want to see her brothers lose what perhaps should have been theirs.
Tearle looked at her and knew what she was thinking. "A dilemma, is it not?" He didn't tell her that he was glad that it had become a dilemma to her. A few months earlier she would not have had any doubts about who should have owned the estates. Then she had thought they should go to her brothers, and the man she married could go to hell for all she cared. But he was glad to see that she was confused about whom she should give her loyalty to.
He pulled her close to him and held her tightly. "Do not worry, my love. You will know what to do when the time comes."
"I know right from wrong," she said indignantly. "I know what must be done and who must—" She stopped when he kissed her to silence.
It was while he was kissing her that the door to his room burst open and four of his men charged inside. What they saw horrified them. It looked as though their master's brother was kissing a young boy, for all they could see was Zared's short hair above the sheet.
Tearle saw their looks and started to explain, but then he didn't know what to say. He couldn't introduce his Peregrine wife, and he couldn't very well pull the sheet down and show them that she was indeed a female.
For the first time in her life Zared saw her husband at a loss for words. She was not about to allow the opportunity to pass her by. She deepened her voice. "My lord," she said to Tearle, "you will buy me the armor you promised after I have done… this for you?" She motioned toward the bed.
Tearle gave her a quelling look as the men cleared their throats in embarrassment. He looked up at the men. "What do you want?" he snapped at them.
"Lady Jeanne begs you to come to her. Your brother is dying."
Zared didn't say anything as Tearle got out of the bed and began to dress. The riddle said that when the one and red unite then they would know. If Tearle's brother died, then Tearle would be the only Howard son left.
When Tearle was dressed he turned to her. "Remain here. Do not leave this room." He paused. "Can I trust you, or must I leave a guard on you?"
She was smart enough to know what could happen to her