“You are too generous, Lord Tarass. I should at least be in the stocks for what I did.”

“I agree and would oblige you, but my wife would come to your rescue and free you even if she had to sneak out of the keep in the middle of the night, paying no heed to her blindness, to do so. On that, I am certain.”

Polwarth smiled. “I can see Snow doing that and succeeding.”

Fear poked at Tarass at the thought of his wife doing such a dangerous thing.

“There is food and drink in the Great Hall for you and your men.”

“My two men who followed my orders. What will happen to them?” Polwarth asked.

“While again, I would see them at least suffer the stocks for a few days, they brought no harm to my wife so I will let them go unpunished, not something I would usually do. Though, know this, Lord Polwarth. You owe me and some day you will repay me.”

“On that you have my word,” Lord Polwarth said.

Tarass ordered the evening meal brought to his bedchamber. It arrived well before he did, a few matters delaying his return to his wife. However, he was glad to see Snow sitting at the small table, big enough for him and her alone, and piled with food that Snow was enjoying.

“You’re hungry tonight,” he said and chuckled, since she couldn’t see him smile.

“Very hungry,” she admitted, her cheeks turning pink at how much food she had put in her bowl.

“I’m pleased to hear that, since I’m feeling the same and look forward to stuffing myself,” he said and leaned over her to kiss her lips. He came away, licking them. “Meat pie, a favorite of mine.”

“Hurry. Sit and tell me all,” Snow urged impatient to hear what had been discussed.

“First you will tell me how your knee does,” he said.

“It feels much better, and the pain is not as bad when I stand, and the swelling has gone down quite a bit.”

Tarass lifted her and the chair with ease, turning it away from the table. “I’ll see for myself.”

Snow lifted her nightdress, Nettle had helped her into, exposing her knee.

Tarass flinched, seeing the bruise that had deepened considerably, though she’d been right about the swelling. It had gone down. It made him want to go and beat Polwarth senseless.

“His kick wasn’t meant for me, and I would suffer anything to protect Thaw,” she said, able to see, fuzzy though it was, his brow narrow in anger since he was so close to her.

“Thaw is there to protect you,” Tarass scolded.

“He’s only a pup,” she reminded.

“And he will never grow into a warrior if you don’t let him,” Tarass said and kissed her before she could respond, then lifted her and the chair to settle her at the table.