“Perhaps you should see if any of your clan knows this man,” Snow suggested. Once again she was reminded that it was moments like these, not being able to see faces of those with her, that troubled her the most. Tones of voices compensated some, but not as much as seeing the expression on a person’s face or in their eyes.

“A wise point,” Rannock said and looked to Tarass, “though the painted markings on his arm does tell us he’s not from around here.”

“Permanent painted markings?” Snow questioned.

She was met with a moment of silence before Rannock responded.

“I could be wrong about them being markings.”

“I’ll take you back to the keep,” Tarass said and took hold of her arm once again.

When they stepped outside, Snow stopped and asked, “Why did you have Rannock lie to me?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m blind, not ignorant,” Snow snapped. “That pause before Rannock answered was obviously due to a silent exchange between you two. What is it you don’t want me to know?”

“You are perceptive,” Tarass said with a bit of annoyance. “Perceptive enough to realize if I didn’t want you to know that I’m not about to tell you, since it doesn’t concern you?”

“If it has anything to do with Finn’s death, I should know,” she argued.

“No, not you, your brother, and I will relay all to him when I return you home.”

“As you say,” Snow said and began walking.

After a moment of hesitation, Tarass fell in step surprised by her agreeable response. Not that he trusted it, nor her silence. Both warned him something was afoot.

“Leave this be, Snow,” he ordered.

“As you say, Lord Tarass,” Snow said.

Her obedience in this matter did not set well with him. “You’re not going to obey me, are you?”

“I will do as you say as a guest in your home,” she said with a pleasant smile.

“And once you leave here?” he asked, but knew what her reply would be.

“That doesn’t concern you,” she said.

His annoyance flared sparking his temper. “If you were my wife—”

“Thankfully, I’m not.”

Thaw agreed with a bark.

They didn’t speak again until they were in the Great Hall and Snow was seated at a table.

Tarass leaned down near her. “You will—”

“Stay put,” she finished.

“I wish I could trust you to do that, but since I can’t, you will have Nettle with you at all times until your departure.” He called out to a servant, cutting off her response. “Bring Fasta and Nettle to me.”

“When will you return me home?” she asked.

“Hopefully tomorrow.”

“I look forward to it,” she said with a generous smile.