Temptress Read Free

missed Morwenna’s brother Tadd? Then there had been the mysterious death of a merchant’s wife. Isa had sworn the woman had been poisoned, and when all was said and done, it was proved that her husband had, indeed, forced the poor woman to drink hemlock because he’d discovered that she’d been bedding the miller. For most of her sixty-seven years Isa had been able to see things others could not.
    “Fine,” Morwenna said. “See that the man is brought into the great hall, where it’s warm, and have someone . . . Gladdys, open the hermit’s cell in the north tower. ’Tis large enough for a pallet and has a grate for a small fire. Get the fire started and sweep out the vermin. Then make certain that the man’s wounds are cleaned and that the physician examines him before he’s moved into the tower.”
    Morwenna pretended not to notice the shadow of distrust that passed through Isa’s clear eyes at the mention of Nygyll, the castle’s physician. Isa and Nygyll had never gotten along and barely tolerated each other. Nygyll considered himself a man of reason, a practical if God-fearing man, while Isa believed in spirits and the Great Mother. Nygyll had been with Castle Calon for years, while Isa had moved here with Morwenna less than a year ago.
    “It may be too late to save the injured man,” Isa reminded Morwenna.
    “Then send someone for the priest.”
    There was another nearly imperceptible tightening of the corners of Isa’s mouth. “The priest will not be able to help—”
    “Did you not say the wounded man was near death?” Morwenna reminded her. “He may be a man of faith. Should he not have a priest’s blessing and prayers if he’s about to die?” Morwenna didn’t wait for an answer. “Send someone to find Father Daniel. Have the priest meet us in the great hall.”
    “If you wish.”
    “I do!” Morwenna snapped.
    The hunter took off at a fast clip and Isa, too, hurried away, presumably to carry out Morwenna’s orders. Her long cape billowed behind her as she hastened to the stairway, where, before she disappeared, she glanced over her shoulder at Morwenna, her old face knotted in worry. She appeared to want to argue further, but she reluctantly descended.
    “By the saints,” Morwenna whispered once she was alone again.
    Sometimes Isa seemed more trouble than she was worth. Considered odd by most who met her, she had helped raise Morwenna and her siblings. A faithful servant to Morwenna’s mother, Lenore, during her lifetime, Isa was now steadfastly at Morwenna’s side.
    “Fie and feathers,” Morwenna muttered as she walked deeper into her room, tossed a mantle over her head, and stepped into her shoes. She’d just made her way out of her chamber, Mort at her heels, when a door creaked open and Bryanna poked her head into the hallway. Sleep lingered in her blue eyes and her curls were a tousled dark red mass around her head. “What’s happening?” her sister asked around a yawn. Though sixteen and nearly four years younger than Morwenna, the girl often seemed a child.
    “A wounded man was found near the keep. ’Tis nothing,” Morwenna said, hoping to stop the tide of Bryanna’s ever-rampant curiosity. “Go back to bed.”
    Bryanna wasn’t to be easily deterred. “Then why all the noise?”
    “Because of Isa. She is certain the man is a spy or enemy or something.” Morwenna rolled her eyes. “You know how she is.”
    “Aye.” Bryanna stretched one arm over her head, but she seemed no longer to have slumber on her mind. “So what is to be done with him?”
    “What do you think?”
    “Questioned and fed. Mayhap cleaned a bit.”
    Morwenna nodded and kept the news to herself that the man was about to expire. What purpose would it serve to tell Bryanna about his condition? Until Morwenna had seen the man herself, she decided she would seal her lips. As it was, gossip about the wounded warrior would travel lightning fast through the keep and Bryanna wasn’t known for her