Highlander Oath of the Beast (Highland Promise Trilogy 3)

“Tell me what happened,” he said, filling two tankards with ale and placing one in front of her.

“I heard the leper was here and it’s been some time since I’ve spoken with him, so I went to look for him.”

“Alone,” he accused.

She ignored him and continued, offering somewhat of an explanation. “I knew he’d be close to the village, seeking shelter or food. There was no reason for me to think it unsafe. After all, you have many warriors still combing the woods since the attack earlier. I was barely in the woods when something struck me. I was hit hard and I had little time to take shelter. Unfortunately, I passed out behind a cropping of rocks which is why your men never spotted me when searching. As soon as I came to and gathered my wits about me, I made my way into the village, ordered word be sent to you, and sought Greta’s help.”

His eyes had been on her wound the whole time she spoke. “That is no wound from a missed arrow. A rock perhaps, but why throw a rock at you?”

“It puzzles me as well,” she said and gripped his forearm as if needing to feel his strength. “George told me what happened to Brother Noble. He rests in the cottage you provided for him and is grateful for your care. Do you know what happened to him?”

Wolf thought on it a moment. “Since he is a leper, no one would get close to him, so I would think the same happened to him that happened to you. He was hit with something that knocked him out.”

“Why though?” she asked, contemplating her own question.

“A warning perhaps, since if it was meant to harm then you would both be dead.”

“Warn us from what?”

“We came across what we thought was another dead man, but when I pulled the knife out of him, he had enough breath left in him to say… ‘He knows.’ I assume he meant Brynjar.”

“It sounds like a warning for someone. Could it mean he knows Eria is here?”

“I wish I knew. The puzzle accumulates more pieces when the ones we have already collected have yet to link.”

“If Brynjar was responsible for his death, then he had to have done something to displease the man,” Raven said.

“Brynjar punishes those who fail him,” Wolf reminded.

Raven was eager to share a thought with him. “Could the archers have been a diversion? Could the man have been tasked with doing someone harm during the attack and chose not to carry out the deed? His punishment for failure—death?”

“Why not at least try?” Wolf questioned. “If it was freedom in death he sought, he could have easily gotten that by trying to carry out his task. He had to have known he’d be followed and swift punishment measured if he didn’t succeed.”

“Maybe he wasn’t part of Brynjar’s crew at all. Maybe we see it wrong.”

Wolf gave it a moment of thought. “Yet who else could he be referring to when he said he knows? Brynjar is the most likely person.”

“I suppose,” she admitted reluctantly.

“You still feel we’re missing something.”

Raven nodded. “The most important piece to the puzzle. The one that connects all the other pieces. It’s right here in front of us. I know it is.”

“Whatever it is, it must hold great value to Brynjar to send men after men to see the task done.”

Her eyes went wide. “Then why come here himself?”

“To finish it, to see firsthand what chaos he has caused, what pain he believes he’s made me and others suffer.”

“But he hasn’t been successful, so why come here until his mission has proven at least somewhat fruitful?” It was a question more to herself, and she continued, “Did you have the man who spoke to you brought back to the village? I’d like to see him.”

“Why?”

She shrugged. “Maybe I’d recognize him.”

“He’s being brought back to join the dead archers.” He held up his hand when his wife went to protest. “I’ll have him put in the shed with the dead man we have yet to identify.”

She smiled, pleased.

Her smile was like a bright ray of sunshine to his soul. It chased away any darkness that lingered there and replaced it with joy. He reached out, his hand gripping the back of her neck and his eyes focused intently on hers.

“Will I constantly have to warn you never to frighten me like that again?” he whispered harshly, just the thought of the pain of losing her feeling like a vicious blow to his gut.

“I wish I could promise you otherwise, Wolf, but I am who I am, and that will never change. What I can promise you is something that I never thought possible.” She kissed his lips gently. “I promise I will never stop loving you. Even after I take my last breath, know that I still and always will love you.”