“She thinks herself important, demeans others, and demands as if she’s lady of the keep. She believes Lord Tarass favors her bed and has tried to convince others that he’s shared it several times, but none believe her tales. They all know Lord Tarass has no interest in her. He pays her no special attention. She is a servant like all the other servants.” Nettle smiled. “Except me. Others have told me she’s jealous of my new and important position in the keep, and that she can’t dictate to me anymore.”

Snow was relieved to hear that, though it didn’t mean she wouldn’t bring it up to her husband. She wanted to hear his thoughts on Fasta.

“She can’t dictate to you anymore, Nettle,” Snow confirmed. “And if she causes you any grief, you are to tell me immediately.”

“I will, m’lady,” Nettle assured her.

“Now let’s enjoy the morning fare before it turns cold,” Snow said and Thaw stopped scoffing down his food, set by the hearth, long enough to bark in agreement.

“People are already looking to blame and you know what that means,” Rannock said as he stood with Tarass staring at the pool of blood held as if in a goblet of snow.

“Fear will reign and innocent people will suffer,” Tarass said, having seen it and the results of something worrisome left too long unexplained to fester and spread fear. “Besides taking count of the people, see if any animals are missing. This blood had to have come from somewhere.”

Rannock shook his head. “Why? Why the pools of blood? What do they mean?” He lowered his voice. “Could the tales be true? Are the dwarfs seeking knowledge?”

“Someone is seeking something and, whether dwarfs or human, they will pay for what’s been done here. Like the others, this had to have been done when no one was about, which means the person or persons had knowledge of our sentinels.”

Rannock’s eyes went wide. “You think someone in the clan is responsible?”

“It’s a possibility to consider.”

“But why would anyone in the clan do something like this?”

“I don’t know, but we need to keep the thought in mind and keep our eyes and ears alert,” Tarass said.

“If you want to know all that goes on in the clan just ask Nettle, she seems to know everything,” Rannock said with a disgruntled huff.

“What is it about that woman that annoys you?”