He stepped toward her, keeping his voice low but with an abrupt command to it. “This is not the time nor place to discuss this. You have my word we will talk later.”
“Your word?” She shook her head, far too dazed from all that had happened to make sense of anything. “You are not my husband.” She turned to run but not fast enough. He grabbed her arm, stopping her. She glared at him. “The wounded need me more than you do.”
He glared at her a moment. “I think not, but I will allow you to go to them.” He released her arm and she ran off. He looked to Finch who approached. “See she is watched.”
The man nodded and went to do as ordered.
Odran watched his wife run away from him and it tore at his heart. This day was inevitable, but that didn’t make it less painful. He couldn’t blame Elysia for feeling as she did. He would be furious himself if he learned she was not who he thought she was. But that wouldn’t happen. Elysia was honest to a fault and far too kind to think otherwise of her.
He hadn’t wanted to let her go. Seeing she wore no cloak, her garment torn, and that she was thinner than last he saw her, worried him. He had wanted to take her in his arms, hold her tight, kiss her, tell her how he had barely survived without her, then take her to the croft and make love to her. But that would not happen. They would never make love in the croft again. He would never make love to her as Saber again, and the thought pained his heart.
He had wanted to tell her the truth, but he hadn’t known how and now… it didn’t matter. He didn’t intend to lose his wife. Damn the damnable curse. He would not be robbed of her love. If anything, her love might just save him.
When Elysia entered the cottage, Kevin was sitting at the table with Brit and their daughter was sound asleep in a cradle beside the bed, the bairn having survived a battle she would know only through tales.
“How are you feeling?” Elysia asked Kevin.
“A pain is all that lingers,” Kevin said and stood, a bit unsteady, to offer his chair.
“Stay as you are. You need the rest,” Elysia insisted and Kevin sat, grabbing onto the table as he did. “I’ve come to apply some salve and a clean strip of cloth to your wound.”
Brit rested a hand on Elysia’s shoulder. “We heard. Is it true? Are you Lord Odran’s, one of the cursed ones, wife?”
Elysia shook her head as she had been doing to all who had asked her that question and answered honestly. “I don’t know.”
“Everyone prays for you, Elysia,” Brit said.
“You were beyond brave today,” Kevin said. “We are all proud of you.”
“And grateful. You saved Kevin’s life and others as well,” Brit said.
Elysia wasn’t comfortable with praise. She had done what was necessary. She quickly took her leave once she knew Kevin was good. She had no wont to discuss her situation. The village had been cleared of the remnants of battle more quickly than she had expected, Lord Odran’s men and villagers alike seeing to the task. The enemy, even the wounded ones, had been collected and cordoned off in an area that was heavily guarded. Lord Odran’s men had treated many of the wounded, though they had sought her help for more serious wounds and for those people who had insisted she heal them, no other.
More enemy lives were lost than villagers, thankfully, and after administering to the many wounded, Elysia realized that most of the village was glad that Lord Odran was here. He might be a vicious warrior, but he was not their enemy. They had seen for themselves how he had protected them, and they were glad for his presence.
Lendra was waiting for Elysia when she stepped outside Clyde’s cottage. He had suffered another wound that would keep him abed for a few days, but otherwise he was relieved to learn he would live. She had also been pleased to learn for Lendra’s sake that Bram had survived the battle.
Lendra fell in step with Elysia and whispered, “You do realize you are being followed, don’t you?”
Elysia’s steps faltered briefly at the news.
“The two are good at concealing themselves, but I heard the one called Finch, who seems to be Lord Odran’s right-hand man, say that two warriors had been assigned the task of seeing you kept safe,” Lendra explained, keeping her voice low.
Elysia sighed. “This is a nightmare and I fear I will never wake from it.”
“Lord Odran saved us. More would have died and the clan could have been lost if it wasn’t for him. The people are grateful.”