Her hand went to her queasy stomach and her smile grew. More time would confirm it, but she was pretty sure she was with child. She had thought it too early for any signs that she carried a bairn to show, then she recalled what her mum had told her one day.

I remember I knew right away you were growing inside me. I got a queasy stomach every morning as soon as my monthly bleeding was late. Then I would get hungry and want to eat and then the queasiness would return again.

Snow was glad her mum had spoken to her about it. She didn’t want her daughters to be ignorant about the way of things for women.

Their mum had taught them well.

Snow turned and snuggled her face against her husband’s pillow. He was usually there when she woke and the one who woke first usually stirred the other awake in an intimately, delightful fashion. This morning, however, Rannock had come for Tarass with an important message he’d been waiting for, and he had left.

All had been quiet since the incident with Lord Polwarth and Abbot Bennett. No other pools of blood had shown up or dead bodies. Runa had examined Cleric Norman’s body and there had been no signs of any injury. The assumption was that the snowstorm had caused him to wander off course and he froze to death. Tarass had a troop of his warriors return the body to the monastery.

While Snow was pleased the problems that had plagued them seemed to have settled, she continued to be concerned over the threat from the supposed creature. Was this lull on purpose? Did someone want Tarass to let his guard down?

Snow sat up and glanced around the room. She was completely alone, Thaw having gone with Tarass and it too early for Nettle to arrive. She recalled how Lord Polwarth had almost whisked her away so easily, but she needn’t worry about that happening again. Tarass had seen that the secret passage was made impassable. He’d also posted sentinels in the area where it was located in case there were others who knew of it.

She was safe in her home, safe with her husband around. She also felt safer with her sight having been almost fully restored. At least, she could see if any danger lurked nearby.

With her stomach settling, she knew what to expect next. She got hungry and couldn’t wait to eat, since she knew the queasiness could return at any time. She got out of bed with a spring to her step, her knee having healed nicely, and began to dress, her stomach grumbling.

Tarass sat with Rannock in his solar. The warriors he had sent to find out what news Finn had learned had finally returned. It hadn’t been easy but they had been successful in their mission, and the news had left him troubled.