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“Nay! Nay!” the crowd shouted. “He left us in peace, let him be.”

Noble got to his feet and turned slowly and saw to it that his glare fell on everyone there. “Would you have surrendered your mistress to him to save yourself? Because I know it was not even a thought for my warriors.”

Heads hung low and no one would meet his angry eyes.

“Would you have surrendered Robert?” Noble pointed at the lad, then at a woman. “Or Glenna?” He pointed again. “Or Brenda?”

The young woman gasped and gripped her apron, stepping closer to Calla.

“Who would you surrender to save yourself? The Gallowglass are one. Surrender one of us and you surrender us all, which is why the Gallowglass will never surrender one of their own. They would die first. My wife faced death rather than see any of you, her family, die, and not one of you would have done the same for her.” His voice grew stronger, angrier. “If something like this ever happens again, you will not have to worry about a warrior returning and making sure everyone was dead and the village burned… I will see to it myself. Return to your chores, NOW!”

Everyone hurried to disperse, though whispers of Mistress Leora’s bravery continued to be shared.

Finley got to his feet with only a minor struggle.

“You need to send word to Lord Slayer right away,” Leora said anxiously.

“Lord Slayer will be notified of the incident,” Noble said, intending to do just that, but he was also eager to speak with his wife alone and let her know she was never to do something so foolish again.

“It must be done immediately,” Leora insisted.

“Why?” Noble asked, seeing how anxious she had become.

“I know who he searches for… it is my sister Sky.”

CHAPTER14

Noble thought he would have to pry his wife’s hand off her tunic, she gripped it so tightly, but when he reached for her hand, she hurried to take hold of it and to tuck herself firmly against him.

After issuing orders for Finley to dispatch warriors to Clan Ravinsher with a message, Noble walked to the keep with his wife. Silence reigned as they walked, though he knew his wife would have much to say once they reached his solar. For now, she seemed to take comfort planted against him.

Chief ran to Leora, barking, as soon as she entered the Great Hall as if admonishing her for not letting him protect her.

She scooped him up and as if understanding his annoyance, said, “You are too little to do anyone any damage. Once you grow strong, you can protect me.”

The pup licked her face before tucking himself in the crook of her arm.

Noble snatched the pup from her hands when they entered his solar. He held him with one hand and pointed to Leora with the other. “Guard her well, Chief, and you will be rewarded.”

The pup’s head went up and though he intended a strong bark, his size only allowed for a small woof, and after Noble praised him again, he set him on the floor. The pup ran to where Leora sat at the table, his one leg going out from under him, he was in such a hurry, but he righted himself and rushed to curl up on the hem of Leora’s garment, his little head up and alert to all around him.

Noble made haste to the table, his hands going around his wife’s hand as she lifted the tankard waiting there for her and helped her to raise it to her lips to sip the hot brew, her hands trembled so much.

“I know you are angry with me. I saw the anger flare in your eyes when all was explained,” Leora said after her husband took the tankard from her once she had taken several sips. “But many would have died if I had hidden away like a coward.”

“Having grown to know you, I would say you never gave it a second thought. You stepped forward without hesitation,” he said and sat beside her.

“I had no other option,” she insisted.

“My warriors would have—”

“Fought and some would have died and that I could not live with.”

“And what if those warriors were the ones who meant to see you dead?” he snapped abruptly.

“Wouldn’t they had simply attacked and seen the deed done? Why stop and announce their reason for being there? I understand their roars and why they rushed at the village, it was to intimidate, frighten, so when they stopped and gave the clan a chance to avoid an attack and possible death—”

“It made for an easy surrender,” Noble finished.