Bliss grabbed his arm to rest her head against it and steady herself. “What happened?”
“One of the two men we failed to capture attacked. I caught a glimpse of him as he lunged for us from a low hanging branch and threw us off the horse.”
Bliss felt something sticky on her face and her nose gave a sniff. She was familiar with the scent. “Blood.”
“What?” Rannick said, easing her away from him and his gut twisted when he saw the blood on her cheek. “You’ve been hurt.”
“Nay, you have,” she said, her eyes following the trail of blood up his sleeve to the larger pool of blood on his shoulder. “Let me see,” she urged, trying to hurry to her feet and being struck fast and hard with dizziness that sent her falling back against her husband.
“You will stay put,” he ordered. “You took a hard hit.”
“But you’re bleeding,” she argued.
“It is a scratch, nothing more,” he insisted.
“The blood tells me differently,” she continued to argue as the dizziness faded.
“You can look at it once we’re home,” he said. “I am going to ease you up in my arms.”
“To my feet,” she corrected, but of course he did as he pleased, and she found herself snug in his arms.
She was relieved when they were traveling once again, anxious to get home and tend his shoulder. She reassured him repeatedly that she felt much better when he asked how she was feeling.
“I will take you at your word, wife, since you promised to be truthful to me,” he said.
“I am glad you believe me, for I speak the truth to you,” she said and was relieved to see the village come into sight.
Torches were lit throughout the village and people mulled about, whispers circulating, and surprised eyes greeting Rannick and Bliss as they rode to the keep.
Rannick knew why they lingered and what they thought. They expected him to return home with a dead wife. They believed it was only a matter time before the curse claimed her and he feared the same.
“I am good to walk on my own,” Bliss said when they stopped in front of the keep. “And I will see to that wound of yours right away and do not try to dissuade me.”
He rubbed at the blood that had dried on her face, but it stubbornly refused to come off. “Giving orders, wife?”
“Aye, when it comes to wounds, I know best, and you will pay heed.”
He lowered his head bringing his lips close to hers. “I will give you this one, wife, but be warned I do not take well to orders.”
“Even orders given out of love?” she asked and kissed his lips lightly.
It was on his lips to tell her that he loved her, but not here on the horse with others about. He not only wanted to tell her, but also show her how much he loved her.
While Rannick wanted to rush her off the horse, into the keep, and up to their bedchamber, he managed to contain his impatience and tempered their steps worried Bliss might grow dizzy again.
“Oh, my lord!” Helice cried out upon seeing them. “You have both been injured.”
“Nay, Mum,” Rannick was quick to explain. “The blood on Bliss’s face is from the small wound on my shoulder.”
“Which I intend to see to right away,” Bliss said.
“Have whatever Bliss needs sent to our bedchamber, Mum, while I take a moment to speak with Da,” he ordered, giving no one a chance to say otherwise and, leaving his wife’s side, followed his father to the hearth where they could talk more privately.
“The warriors are being held in a pen behind the keep,” his father informed him.
“They are from various small clans,” Rannick said, “though I cannot say for sure if their clan chieftains ordered them to gather. There is more we need to find out from those we imprisoned.”
“It will do them good to worry what awaits them. Now go and let your wife tend your wound and get some rest. You both have had a long, tiring day,” his father ordered with concern.
Rannick nodded and went to turn away.
“Rannick,” his father said gently and Rannick looked back at him. “I am glad you both returned home safely, and your wife is far more courageous than I had thought. She does the clan proud.”
Rannick smiled. “Did Mum have a talk with you?”
His father’s eyes went wide, startled at seeing his son smile, then he smiled himself. “She made me see reason as she usually does but no one had to tell me how courageous your wife is, that is there for all to see.”
“That it is, Da,” he agreed with pride. “I will see you in the morning.”
Rannick hurried his steps to his wife.
“Do not worry, my order trumps his when it comes to healing.”