Snow was surprised that Nettle thought her courageous and pleased to learn something about Tarass’s mum. But there was no time to linger on those thoughts. She needed to find out what was going on. She was in the dark enough with no sight. She didn’t want to be more in the dark and not aware of what went on in her new home.

Thaw followed the two women down the stairs, Nettle guiding Snow’s steps.

The crisp, cold air stung Snow’s face as soon as she stepped outside and she pulled her hood up over her head to block the wind and snow.

Nettle hooked her arm around Snow’s. “Snow covers the stairs, m’lady, go slow.”

Thaw followed the pair down the steps, keeping watch on Snow until they reached the bottom.

“Thaw runs ahead,” Nettle said, watching the pup rush off. “He heads to the crowd gathered in the middle of the village.”

“Hurry and get us there, Nettle,” Snow urged.

“Much snow has fallen in a short time,” Nettled explained as she kept tight hold of Snow’s arm and headed to the crowd as Thaw had done.

“Fear not, this will be dealt with!”

Snow recognized her husband’s strong, commanding voice ring out and, though he had warned against it, she couldn’t stop a twinge of fear from striking her. What could have driven people from their warm beds in the middle of the night to go outside in the cold and falling snow?

Nettle eased their way through the crowd, though when people saw who she brought with her, they parted leaving a path for Lord Tarass’s new wife.

When they got near to the front of the crowd, Nettle caught sight of what had frightened the people. She came to an abrupt halt, shivered, and gasped, “Oh, Lord, have mercy on us.”

Chapter 18

“What is it?” Snow asked in a whisper.

“Another pool of blood, that devours the snow,” Nettle murmured, tales of the first pool of blood having circulated the clan.

“The dwarfs, Fjalar and Galar, are here. They look for more blood,” someone in the crowd called out.

“They search for knowledge like they did with Kvasir,” another called out.

Rannock’s strong voice rang clear. “Then none of you have anything to worry about since the lot of you lack knowledge.”

“Heads are nodding and smiles are breaking out,” Nettle whispered to Snow. “They are happy to be ignorant.”

Another person spoke up. “Someone here is wise like Kvasir and the dwarfs want his knowledge. What if they choose the wrong person and drain him of his blood by mistake?”

Gasps rushed through the crowd.

“Fear replaces the smiles,” Nettle told Snow.

“I will see to this. You have nothing to fear,” Tarass commanded.

“This danger arrived with your new wife. It is she who the dwarfs want,” someone shouted.

Nettle wrapped her arm around Snow. “We should leave.”