Highlander Oath of the Beast (Highland Promise Trilogy 3)

“Brynjar sends a strong message,” Lars said.

“And an obvious one,” Wolf said. “He doesn’t intend to stop until he gets what he wants and he is willing to sacrifice endless men to achieve his goal.”

“Don’t even think of meeting with Brynjar anywhere but here surrounded by your warriors,” Raven warned as they left the group and made their way back to the longhouse. “His actions prove he has no intentions of negotiating.”

“Brynjar never truly negotiates. He uses it as a ploy, so you have no worry of me doing that.” An urge to feel her close had him reaching out to take a strong hold of her hand.

Raven responded, clutching his hand in return. “You can’t still think this is all to see me dead?”

“No, there is definitely more to his intentions, though he plays the game as he usually does. He instills fear in people, making them wonder and worry of what’s to come next, who’s to suffer next, or who’s to die next. Fear can make people do foolish things and that’s what Brynjar counts on.”

Raven laughed. “Then he has failed miserably since his men have been the only ones to die and the captive you took is willing to cooperate.”

“A humorous conclusion,” he said though didn’t smile, “that once he realizes is bound to cause great anger.”

A thought she had considered but hadn’t voiced. She did, however, speak of another concern. “The snowstorm didn’t seem to slow his men down.”

“When the snow melts, I wouldn’t be surprised to find numerous bodies frozen dead from the cold. As you’ve seen for yourself, Brynjar’s warriors’ lives mean nothing to him. They live and die to serve him. He paces his men, sending the weakest or least dependable in first. Men like Sten and Toke. He limits how many he sends to accomplish a task, sending the more talented and reliable warriors later so by the time he arrives his target is worn down or left with little to defend. There is one thing your brother Arran realized that I believe Brynjar once again has failed to consider—”

“He’s on foreign soil,” Raven finished. “Not knowing the land and its people can prove disastrous.”

“You know this—”

“From experience and from what Charles taught me,” she finished again. “Even when on your own soil, people, customs, languages are different in various areas of the country. To learn other tongues, at least some words, could prove beneficial.”

Wolf stopped, his glance curious. “What other tongues do you know?”

She shrugged as if it didn’t matter any longer that he knew. “George taught me Latin and French. Brod is well-versed, knowing Latin and French as well, but he taught me your language and some Germanic.”

“You know more tongues than me. You’ll have to teach me,” he said, giving her hand a light tug to continue walking. “Don’t let anyone know how many different tongues you speak.”

“I would say you do that because you are jealous, but since I know you so well, I know that’s not the reason.”

He turned a smile on her. “I assumed you would understand.”

“You want it kept a secret thinking someday it might prove beneficial when dealing with someone who doesn’t know I understand their language.” She grinned. “A secret weapon of sorts.”

Seeing her husband’s smile vanish when his eyes left hers briefly had her following where he looked. Detta stood in the doorway of the longhouse, with her arms pressed tightly against her chest, and he hurried Raven along to reach the woman.

“Are you hurt?’ Wolf asked, releasing Raven’s hand and going to Detta.

“No, and it’s all thanks to Raven,” Detta said with a nod toward her. “I suffered no injury at all, but I am concerned for others.”

Wolf hurried to reassure her. “We suffered no casualties or injures, not so the men who thought to harm us.”

Raven watched the caring exchange with interest. Her husband had been unable to contain his worry for the old woman. She also had taken more notice of late how Detta looked at Wolf with more than caring eyes. There was also the way Gorm treated her, as if she was more than a mere servant. And in all the time Raven had been here, she hadn’t once seen Detta serve anyone.

It struck her then and the thought seemed more than plausible. It actually made sense and explained a few things. She decided the only way to confirm it was to test her sudden thought.

She approached her husband and Detta. “Let’s go inside and have a hot brew, then you can explain, husband, why you haven’t told me that Detta is your grandmother.”

Detta smiled and hooked her arm around Wolf’s. “I warned you she would figure it out.”

Wolf waited until they were seated at one of the tables before he asked, “How long have you known?”

“I’ve been suspicious of her since we met, but truthfully, the thought only struck me after seeing how worried you were for her.” Raven looked from her husband to Detta. “If I had looked more closely, I would have seen the resemblance.”