“I’m pleased to meet you, Thor. You’re a handsome one with that chestnut colored hair and those black paws.”

Thaw gave a bark as if appreciating the compliment.

“It’s so nice to meet you, Snow,” Nettle continued. “I’ll take good care of you. You are so beautiful and—”

“That’s enough, Nettle,” Fasta scolded. “Keep hold of your tongue and serve Snow well. I imagine she requires help feeding herself so see to feeding her.”

Snow stared after the shadow that retreated.

“She’s off to torment some other poor soul,” Nettle whispered as she sat across from Snow at the trestle table. “There’s a bowl in front of you and food on platters. Shall I help you?”

“Thank you, Nettle, but I can feed myself,” Snow said and wondered over the woman. Curiosity always had her wondering what people, she’d only met since blind, looked like.

“Let me know what you need help with and I’ll see to it,” Nettle said.

With this stranger given the chore of helping her, Snow felt the need to know more about her. “You have a Scottish tongue while other tongues I hear are unfamiliar to my ear.”

“Lord Tarass found me along the way home, starving and grubby I was. My mum threw me out after my da died. Told me she never wanted me and named me Nettle, after the stinging Nettle plant, because I stung her so badly when she birthed me. She was a mean one, never wanted bairns. My da did, though, and he was a good da.” She laughed softly. “We often talked about running away but my da was too honorable a man to do such a thing. Not so my mum. She had a man in her bed a week after she buried my da and put me out a couple days after that. Though, not before she told me that I was like my da too ugly for anyone to ever love me.”

“That’s terrible,” Snow said, appalled that any mum could do or say such horrible things to their child.

“I’m lucky Lord Tarass offered me a home and barbarian or not, I accepted it.”

“Lord Tarass is a Scot as well,” Snow clarified.

“Aye, but he mostly has barbarians with him,” Nettle said softly as if she didn’t want anyone to hear her.

“Are you telling tales again, lass?”

Snow smiled, recognizing the voice. “Twilla.”

“It’s wonderful to see you again, Snow,” Twilla said and gave her a hug. “How are you doing? And who is this fine looking pup?” She reached down and gave Thaw a rub behind his ear.

Thaw gave the old woman a quick look and accepted her attention graciously, then plopped his head down and closed his eyes, deciding the woman posed no threat.