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)
“Fen,” Tavia said. “Bhric. Get Bhric.”
His heart swelled with relief and was glad her first thought was to fetch him. “I am here, my love.” He took hold of her hand and squeezed it, and he was pleased and further relieved when she returned his squeeze.
“Uta?” she cried out worried for the lass.
“She is fine. You kept her safe,” Bhric said, looking to the lass still in her father’s arms to see tears running down her cheeks. “Do you feel any pain anywhere?”
“Nay,” she said, shaking her head. “I recall turning to avoid the thick portion of the branch, knowing the smaller branches would not harm us and could very well protect us.”
“A quick and wise decision. I am going to sit you up,” Bhric cautioned. “Tell me if you feel pain anywhere.” He eased her up after she nodded.
“No pain,” she said with a smile.
Hertha moved aside as did Fen when Bhric announced he would get her to her feet.
“Aye,” Tavia agreed. “The cold feels as if it has seeped into my bones.”
Bhric stood, leaving his wife sitting, then reached down and slowly brought her to her feet.
Tavia smiled until she went to stand on her own and a pain shot through her leg that had her gasping and gripping her husband’s arm before she dropped in a dead faint.
“You are never to do that again. Do you understand me, wife?” Bhric ordered, his pounding heart calming now that his wife was tucked safely in their bed, her scarred leg resting on a pillow and warm wet cloths covering it.
“Will you please stop pacing, you are making my stomach churn,” she said and patted a spot on the bed beside her. “Come sit by me.”
Bhric shook his head as he went to her and sat. “I have known a fright I have never known when I took what I thought was your lifeless body in my arms. I have grown accustomed to having you close. I would feel like a part of me is missing if I lost you. So, you will not place yourself in such a dangerous position again.”
“I will do my best,” she said, not wanting to cause him worry, but happy to hear he felt her such a strong part of him.
He leaned over to rest his brow to hers. “I cannot lose you. We need time to love each other.”
“Lots of time,” Tavia said and pressed her cheek to his before kissing his lips gently.
“Endless time, wife, endless time,” he whispered in her ear after the kiss ended. He reached down to feel the cloths on her leg. “They have chilled.” He stood and began removing them. “Hertha and Greta both agree the cloths must be heated to help ease the pain.”
“You do not need to tend my leg, Bhric. Hertha would gladly do it,” Tavia said.
“Nay, I will do it, so that I can make certain you stay put in that bed,” he said with a scowl at his wife. “And you will not leave that bed until your leg heals.”
“I cannot stay abed too long, or my leg will worsen. The rest of the day will do, then I must walk, though with caution, and my leg will heal fine.” She was glad he wished to tend her. She felt safe with him especially since old memories were creeping up to haunt her after today’s incident and with him there he would keep her busy with talk and later when she slept she hoped his strong arms would keep her nightmares at bay.
Bhric trusted she told him the truth about her leg, but that would not stop him from seeking Hertha’s advice just to be certain.
“How is Uta?” she asked as he dropped the cool cloths in a bucket by the hearth and brought the other bucket that sat there over by the bed.
“She is being punished,” Bhric said and continued before his wife could protest. “Her father’s choice and I agree. Uta must learn to listen when she is told. All have been forbidden to go into the woods alone, since the incidents with the animals, not even a short distance as she did. And her father has repeatedly warned her not to climb trees, especially in the winter. She could have suffered serious injuries if it had not been for your help. Or worse, the both of you could have died. She must learn to obey my edicts and her father’s word.”
Bhric’s hand roamed gently over the wide scar on the front of her leg. He had avoided it before now and had made no mention of it to her, thinking she would tell him about it in her own good time. However, he did not want to wait any longer.
“Tell me how you got this, wife,” he ordered, leaving no doubt that this time he would have an answer.