Tarass had listened intently to the two warriors tell him what they had learned. It was a brief message.

A man with markings is on his way to you. He knows the truth about your parents’ deaths and he knows the one responsible. There is also one in your clan who knows the truth.

“Someone in the clan knows the truth,” Rannock said, repeating part of the news. “If only the man with the markings had made it here alive. This all would be solved.” Rannock shook his head. “How do you find out now about your parents’ deaths?”

“I find the one in the clan who knows the truth,” Tarass said. “The traitor among us. The one who poses as a dwarf and brings fright to the clan. Though, I doubt this person works alone.”

“How do we find this person? It’s not like anyone is going to step forward and admit it.”

“Unless forced to,” Tarass said.

Rannock went to question again, but stopped a moment his brow shooting up. “Well-placed rumors certainly can have people speaking up.”

“Precisely, and you can get that rumor started now,” Tarass said, standing. “Go find Nettle and tell her to make sure she starts it as a whisper, as if no one is to know about it. That will spread it faster. Tell her that I search for someone who harbors information vital to the clan’s safety. That should get people questioning things they see or hear.”

Rannock’s smile spread wide. “Nettle will have the rumor spread in no time with her never-ending chatter.”

“That’s what I’m counting on,” Tarass said. standing. “I’m going to wake my wife, so make certain to keep Nettle occupied and away from my bedchamber for a while.”

Snow was slipping her shift over her head when she heard the door open. She turned hastily, suddenly fearful from her experience with Lord Polwarth of who it might be, and got her face tangled in the shift.

Tarass smiled at his wife’s predicament, though was glad for it, his hands eager to roam her naked body.

“You’ll not be needing that, wife, at least not yet,” Tarass said as he approached her.

Snow sighed with relief and smiled, and she stopped fighting the garment. She wasn’t surprised when it was yanked off her.

Her husband’s face was still fuzzy, though not the blue of his eyes, so bright and bold. They were clear when he was this close to her, and seeing them always sent a tingle through her.

Tarass settled his hands on her waist and was about to kiss her when her hand suddenly went to her stomach and she paled. He lifted her gently in his arms and went to the bed to sit with her on his lap.

“Not feeling well?” he asked, concerned since this had been happening each morning when she woke.