‘Ahem.’ Brandt cleared his throat loudly as he came back in, his arms laden with branches that he proceeded to drop in the old hearth. ‘These are the driest I could find, which isn’t saying much. We’ll just have to hope they light.’ A look of amusement crossed his features. ‘If it’s not hot enough in here already?’
Fortunately, after several minutes of futile strikes, a small flame flickered into life, accompanied by a growl of satisfaction from Brandt.
‘Come, you need to walk around, get some blood flowing back through your legs.’ Danr grasped hold of her elbows, levering her back to her feet.
‘I know.’ She stood up carefully and stretched up on her toes a few times. ‘But I feel all right.’
‘Are you certain?’ He still looked concerned. ‘Maybe I should take a look?’
‘Truly, I’m all right.’ Sissa smiled reassuringly, surprised by a snorting sound from the other side of the fire.
‘Well, you must still be hungry.’ Danr threw a swift glare at his brother and then reached into his pack for some bread. ‘Here. Eat this.’
* * *
Ten minutes later, they were all gathered around the fire, listening to the rain lashing overhead.
‘I always thought Maerr was bad for rain.’ Brandt peered outside. ‘But this place might be even worse.’
‘Are you going back there?’ Sissa looked towards him with interest. ‘Now that Danr’s told you what we discovered about your aunt.’
‘I’ll get to Maerr eventually. First I’m going to Katanes, to visit her new husband. He has a fortress there.’
‘So you think he’s involved?’
Brandt nodded, lifting a skin of ale to his lips. ‘We’ve exhausted every other possibility. This is the only one that makes sense. I need to travel there before winter sets in.’
‘Just you? You mean you’re going alone?’ She looked at Danr hopefully and he wrapped an arm around her.
‘I’m not going anywhere. My brothers have forgiven me.’
‘So your oath...’
‘Is fulfilled.’ His eyes darkened as they gazed into hers. ‘I’m back for good.’
‘Then that means we can mate now?’
This time the noise sounded like spluttering from the other side of t
he fire.
‘You must be getting old, Brother.’ Danr grinned, though he never moved his eyes from her face. ‘It seems you can’t handle your ale any more.’
‘I’m going to check on the horses.’ Brandt got to his feet, muttering something that sounded suspiciously like he was comparing his brother to sheep dung. ‘I’ll be back in an hour. No more, understand?’
‘Perfectly. Take the ale.’
‘What did you think I was going to do?’
‘It’s still raining,’ Sissa protested as he disappeared through the gap in the wall. ‘What about the storm?’
‘Don’t worry about him.’ Danr sounded unconcerned. ‘He’ll find shelter somewhere.’
‘But—’ She went silent as his lips touched upon hers again, kissing her with a tenderness that left her breathless.
‘What about nothing,’ he murmured against her mouth after a few mind-spinning moments. ‘A man can only endure for so long and I can’t keep my hands off you any longer.’
‘Neither can I.’ She gave a smile of assent and slid her hands up over his forearms, across his broad shoulders and then around his neck, forgetting all about Brandt as they lay back on Danr’s cloak. He made a low rumbling sound in his throat and a familiar quivering sensation took over her body, first in her stomach, then out through the rest of her limbs, heating her blood and sending tremors of excitement like hot sparks shooting along every nerve.