“I’m fine. We’re all fine. Baron Padrick had a carriage brought over and took Ari, Neall, and Merle back to his house. Said he wanted his physician and the midwife—”

“Physician? Midwife?”

Glenn raised his hand in a placating gesture. “Neall’s got that burn on his hip which I think is paining him more than he’ll admit, and he and Padrick both wanted Ari looked over to make sure she and the babe came to no harm because of—Well, because. And the baron said they’d get no rest with the smell of smoke and—” He shifted uneasily as he glanced at the meadow. “Ari doesn’t need to see that. The baron will send men over in the morning to take care of things.”

Morag lifted her chin toward the barn. “Something wrong with the animals?”

“No,” Glenn said quickly. “It’s just…well…some of the Small Folk showed up. Didn’t have anywhere to go for shelter. Too dangerous to try traveling any distance in the woods tonight. Wouldn’t stay in the cottage for anything, but they were glad of the offer of a couple of stalls in the barn. Forrester came back with some blankets and a small keg of ale. Brought some bread and cheese, too, to have with the day soup Ari had simmering on the stove. So they’re snug enough for the night.”

She wanted bread and soup, too—and enough ale to dull the memories of the bodies she’d seen.

“Will you be staying, Morag? There’s plenty of soup left.”

With regret, Morag shook her head. “I’ll go on to Padrick’s house.”

Glenn nodded. “You tell Ari not to worry. Plenty of neighbors have stopped by to say they’d be back in the morning to air out the cottage and put things to right.”

Morag lifted a hand in farewell, then signaled the dark horse to move on. Halfway to Padrick’s house, she wondered why she hadn’t stayed at the cottage. She was almost blind with exhaustion and the dark horse wasn’t in any better condition.

She needed to see Ari. That’s why. She needed the assurance that Neall would recover. She needed to tell Merle he was a wonderful shadow hound. She needed her family.

So she rode on until her dark horse snorted in surprise and a hand closed over her arm. Startled, she tried to pull away—and found herself staring into Padrick’s grim face.

“I thought you wouldn’t have sense to stay at the cottage once you got done gathering,” he said, exasperation making his voice rough. He released her arm and signaled his horse to walk on. “The two of you staggering down the road, asleep on your feet—”

“I’m not on my feet,” Morag protested.

“And your horse is barely staying on his. Damn fool of a woman.”

“Who’s a fool?”