Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 102573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“You will do no such thing, I forbid it,” he commanded with a biting snap.
“Instinct is a higher commander than you, my lord. It forces one to respond without thought, therefore, I cannot obey when I know instinct will force me to do otherwise.” Tavia continued before her husband could respond. “I speak what you ask of me… the truth.”
Bhric glared at her. “Then hear my truth. Disobey me again and suffer the consequences.” He turned and stormed off. His wife could be vexing at times. Or was it that she strived to do exactly what he had wanted… speak the truth to him? Once again leaving him wondering if she might make him a good wife after all.
Tavia stood watching him walk away, his strides so powerful they left deep tracks in the snow.
“How did you command that hound to do your bidding?”
Tavia turned to see Ingrid approach her. She was beginning to feel that she lived amongst giants, Northwomen almost as tall as their men. Ingrid also had lovely features making Tavia think that Bhric’s da and mum were exceptionally fine-looking people.
“I do not know. I simply responded to the situation,” Tavia said.
“Foolish when you did not know what the hound would do.”
“I knew what I would do. I would not let him reach the bairn,” Tavia said, feeling the need to defend herself.
“Foolish courage,” Ingrid said with a grin. “Be careful the next time you might not be so lucky. And be wise when it comes to my brother. He will tolerate only so much.”
“Ingrid!” a woman shouted and waved her over.
She hurried off without another word to Tavia. She watched the two women bend their heads in talk and glance her way a couple of times. That they spoke about her was obvious and that they did not hide it hurt. She had thought Ingrid and her might become friends but since the evening of the celebration when they first met, her sister-in-law had not spoken to her or made any effort to seek her out. Others seemed to ignore her as well. Every walk she took through the village had been met with stares, sometimes a bob of a head, but rarely did anyone speak with her.
“Are you all right, my lady?”
A sigh of relief welled up in Tavia, though she contained it, she was so happy to see a familiar face. “Hertha, I am pleased to see you.”
“Hume hurried to tell me what happened, then I saw Lord Bhric talking with you, then his sister, and well, you look a bit dazed, standing here alone.”
“I feel alone, Hertha. It has not been easy to get to know people here,” she admitted. “They seem to shy away from me.”
“We should walk and talk so you can stretch your leg,” Hertha said and hooked her arm out for Tavia to take.
Tavia took the young woman’s arm, her leg feeling stiff. She stumbled two steps before righting herself and caught the disapproving glances from those around her.
“They think me not fit to be Lord Bhric’s wife,” Tavia said softly as they fell into a slow stroll.
“They do not understand that your limp is a badge of honor you carry for your bravery.”
“Our clan did not think so. They avoided me after the accident.”
“Because of guilt,” Hertha said. “You did what none of them would, what none of them could. And you did not hesitate to do it just as you did not hesitate today to help the lass. Do not do what you did at our clan because you believed people shunned you. Do not lock yourself away no matter what people think, or they will never get to truly come to know you, see your strength, and be touched by your kindness just as you touched that hound with kindness today.”
“The North people think I am not a strong enough wife for their leader,” Tavia said.
“In the few days we have been here, I have come to realize the Northmen and women revere strength and courage. At first I feared they might view Hume as weak since he appears as if he has a meek nature, but when they learned that he went searching for me in a snowstorm, they accepted him as a fine warrior and they treat him with respect.”
“Yet I am thought foolish for helping the lass,” Tavia said, shaking her head.
“Or are they embarrassed because no one responded as fast as you did?” Hertha suggested.
“I wish we could talk more often, Hertha. It does me good to talk with someone from home, someone I trust.”
“I request daily to see you, but Greta denies me time to slip away. When Hume came and told me what had happened, I slipped away since Greta was not at the healing cottage to stop me. I feel as though Greta and Marta conspire to keep me away from you.”