"Easy there."

Asher neighed in response, not slowing down. Lord Rivers gritted his teeth. The bloody beast was quick, could jump higher than any horse he'd seen. Lord Rivers was just as anxious to go where Asher wanted to take him, but the bloody beast did not give a care for his comfort.

The astonishing part was he let him ride it, then again, he was most likely the only other person it would allow to ride him besides Tristan.

Asher slowed to a trot as he stood in front of the bush where the arrow was shot from, staring at it with such hatred as if the plant itself had been the shooter.

Lord Rivers dismounted Asher, walking towards the bush, being careful with his steps.

The fool had been sloppy, his footprints remained intact, un disturbed. Lord Rivers smirked as he bent down to examine the footprint. Who would have thought, thank God for the snow!

The show size was average, a man's footprint. Their culprit was a man and that of average built and height.

Lord Rivers carefully traced the footprints, cursing harshly as he came to a dead end. Ten meters or so from the bush, the footprints had been wiped clear, erased. Other than disturbed snow, there was nothing. Their prey had help.

"Damnation!" Lord Rivers swore.

Asher came trotting towards him, watching him expectantly.

"We do not know who attacked. The footprints are gone."

Asher snorted for a horse, agitation rolling off of him in waves. Lord Rivers shook his head as he attempted to mount the horse, but Asher wasn't having any of it. He moved out the way, standing on his hind legs.

"Selfish beast! I can ride you when it is of your benefit but not when it benefits me?" Lord Rivers questioned in wry amusement.

Asher moved further away, beginning his journey back. Lord Rivers blew out a breath in exasperation. The damn beast was just as stubborn as his master, if not more.

"I'm just as worried about Tristan as you are, the faster I can get back, the faster I will be able to see how bad the damage is and hopefully have it taken care of." Lord Rivers said, reminded all too well of a similar conversation in the past, the damn beast was a mother hen!

Asher snorted.

"You trust me now, let me ride you." Lord Rivers said in exasperation.

Asher used his right hind leg to kick lord Rivers warningly.

Lord Rivers grunted in annoyance, but walked beside the horse. He walked twenty or so steps when he slowed to a stop. An arrow covered in blood lay besides a tree. Presumably the weapon Tristan had been attacked with, the still wet blood confirmed his suspicions.

Lord Rivers took the arrow, it would come in handy.

"One day, you will let me ride you." Lord Rivers muttered, not pursuing the matter. At the moment, he was more worried about Tristan. His entire tunic had been soaked with his blood, in his hurry to catch the culprit, he hadn't been able to assess the lad's injuries. A fact he greatly regretted.

"Ye bloody berk!"

Jack scoffed. "I did ye a favor. If he is injured, it makes our task easier."

"Like hell it does!" Andrew ran a hand down his face in frustration. His entire planning, months of scheming, would be destroyed in an instance! No thanks to this fool.

Jack turned red with anger.

"I doona ken why ye are angry. Mistress was growing impatient with ye. If the laird is injured, it will be easier for us to do what we must. I did something in a matter of minutes, something you should have done months ago." Jack sneered.

Mistress could go to hell for all Andrew cared. The bloody git ruined everything! He would have to be more cautious than usual. No doubt laird Knight would have his eye out for him.

"Laird Knight is always cautious, he isna easily bested. Laird Rivers is here with him as well. Ye had luck on yer side, it willna happen again. And ye left yer bloody footprints. I had to have them taken care of, but it will give laird Rivers a lead." Andrew snarled in hatred. The weasel of a man ruined everything! Andrew could snap his scrawny neck in two, but he refrained. The daft fool could be a conniving bastard when he wanted.

Jack paled.

"Ye got rid of the footprints, aye? Tell me ye did!" His earlier euphoria gone.

"Aye, I did. Why did she send ye?" Andrew questioned, he needed to be careful they did not have much time left.

"She said she was growing impatient." Jack answered, a foolish look on his face as he thought of his mistress, smitten with her outer beauty.

"And Fredrick allowed the rash decision?" Andrew asked incredulously.

"Aye, the wench has her wee hands wrapped around him." Jack said slyly.

Andrew was less than amused. Fredrick was never lackadaisical in his planning. The wench would be their bloody destruction!

Andrew seethed, unable to do anything. The sooner he fulfilled his end of the bargain, the sooner he could leave. If laird Knight learned of him.........

Andrew shuddered at the thought, fear clogging his throat. Loathing was quick to follow. He despised fear, he should not have to be afraid of anything! He never feared anything, until now. Knight made him fear. How he hated it!

Fear made room for loathing as his mind concocted a plan.

"Now ye listen to me, Jack. Listen verra carefully."

Sapphire wiped a stray tear as she lifted her trembling hands to her husbands tunic. Removing her dagger from her waist, she cut open the tunic, her teachings making her emotions numb.

Silently she took the scraps of cloth, dipping it in warm water before using them to remove the blood which covered his torso. Sapphire ignored the people around her, studiously concentrating on her task.

Once all the blood was removed, Sapphire dipped her needle in ale, his wound warranted him stitches. She took a deep, steadying breath.

"I can call for the healer." Alexander said softly from somewhere to Sapphire's left.

"There is no need." Her voice sounded hollow, empty, already preparing herself for the worst. Her mind erased the people from the room until it was only her left. Her, the needle, and the flesh which she must sew.

Alexander exchanged anxious looks with Gerald but remained silent. Gerald nodded his head in understanding, his eyes fixed on her ladyship.

In. Out. In. Out. In. Out.

Sapphire stitched evenly, the shaking in her hands long gone to be replaced with .... determination? Hope? Or resignation.

Alexander watched as his ladyship finished stitching the wound and began to look for more injuries, the slight trembling of her hands when she touched the back of his head betraying her stoic expression. Something was amiss, of that he was certain.

Alexander blew out a breath of relief when lord Rivers entered the room, pointing towards Sapphire with his eyes.

Lord Rivers rolled his eyes at Alexander but looked towards Sapphire, noticing the rigid way she held her shoulders, the paleness to her face, the set of her jaw, and the resigned look which occupied her face. Lord Rivers immediately tensed, willing himself to relax.

"How are his injuries?" Lord Rivers asked softly as he stood besides Sapphire, his hand on her shoulders.

"He was shot with an arrow just below his heart, it needed to be stitched. With the bleeding stopped, it did not prove to be fatal. He has a head injury." Her voice was devoid of all emotion, simply relaying facts. No indication of hope or fear.

Lord Rivers tapped Sapphire's shoulder, making her look towards him. The expression he saw on her face was one he came across only once, and vowed to himself he wouldn't let it be repeated.

"His head is not bleeding, and he has no fever." Lord Rivers reasoned, trying to console her.

"Head injuries are tricky, he would need to wake up." Sapphire answered robotically, her eyes a dull shade of blue.

Lord Rivers refused to feel helpless. He knew head injuries were tricky but damn it! Tristan had gone through far worst and came out unscathed. Sapphire needed him to be strong.

"Alexander, have warm water sent up for a bath, as for the rest of you, please step outside the chamber." Lord Rivers said to the few men who were in the room. Everyone dutifully left, leaving lord Rivers alone with his daughter.

"Sapphire, have a bath and wash the blood off. I will sit with Tristan until you're done." Lord Rivers said, leaving no room for argument. Sapphire looked to her hands and clothing, only just now realizing she had blood on herself.

Sapphire mutely got up and walked towards the bathing chamber, mechanically removing her clothing and submerging herself in the scathing water, being pulled into the dark recess of her subconscious.

Lord Rivers pulled a chair besides Tristan and took a seat. The lad looked as if he were asleep. A lad no more than twelve summers sleeping under the stars next to his horse. An unfamiliar ache began in lord Rivers chest.

"Damn you Tristan! Wake up or I will personally have you awakened." Lord Rivers growled.

"Is Tristan alright?" Isabella asked Xavier.

"I do not know, darling. Lord Rivers was sitting with him when I entered the room. He has a head injury, he hadn't regained consciousness." Xavier said quietly as he drew small circles on Isabella's hand. He was worried for his friend, he was usually up within the hour of an attack, never being unconscious.

Isabella frowned.

"And Sapphire?"

"Lord Rivers said she is not to be bothered."

Isabella's frown deepened.

"Surely Sapphire was with Tristan." Her friend loved Tristan, she wouldn't have left his side.

"Your father told her to wash up."

Isabella nodded but remained quiet. The couple lost in their own individual thoughts.

"Will he be alright?" Isabella asked after some time.

Xavier smiled, "Tristan's a survivor. He will not let a measly wound bring him down."

Before Isabella could answer, there was a knock on the door.

"Enter." Xavier called out.

A maid entered the room carrying a covered tray.

"For your ladyship." She did a courtesy before leaving.

"I never requested anything..." Isabella trailed off.

"They probably had it sent for you." Xavier shrugged, looking at her warmly.

Isabella gave Xavier a quick kiss before looking towards the platter. With a slight smile on her face for their thoughtfulness, she lifted the lid and screamed, throwing the platter with its contents flying into the air.

"Bella, darling." Xavier said in alarm.

"Did you not see that!" Isabella screeched, mortified.

Xavier looked towards the floor where a mutated dead vermin lay, failing to hide the smirk on his face.

"It is rather unpleasant looking."

"Xavier!" Isabella screamed.

Xavier leaned in to give Isabella a thorough kiss, one that would leave her senses in frenzy.

"My apologies, darling." He whispered breathlessly against her lips.

Isabella stared at him with a dazed expression before frowning.

"That brute of a man! I will show him! How dare he!" Isabella fumed.

"You can think of revenge later, right now I have something better to occupy your thoughts." Xavier said suggestively as he pulled her against him.

Sapphire sat by the bed, the fire from the hearth giving the room a warm glow, a glow which it's occupants did not recuperate. She stared blankly towards Tristan's charming face, getting up every few seconds to check if a fever would come on or not. Her food lay untouched by her side, her appetite diminished.

There was a soft knock on the door, Sapphire ignored it, not bothering to reply.

Lord Rivers opened the door, entering quietly.

"How is he faring?"

"As you left him."

Lord Rivers frowned at Sapphire's reply. She was optimistic, not a pessimist.

"Honey, he will be alright. Tristan is a fighter, a survivor, you need to have faith."

Sapphire bit her tongue to stop the rude retort. Anger and sadness clashed within her, each trying to over power the other. Where her sadness left her aching and at lost, her anger burned through her veins, begging to be released. Her feelings were deeper for her husband than she realized. Her chest began to ache. Sapphire lifted her hand and rubbed where her heart was, as if the physical gesture would comfort the emotional pain.

Lord Rivers watched as Sapphire stared straight ahead, her jaw taunt. Her face was devoid of emotion, but her eyes were ablaze with them. He stayed quiet, offering his comfort in silence. It was well into the night, Tristan had yet to stir, much less awaken. He would be alright, of that he was certain. He had to be alright.

Sapphire watched as the flames licked the wood, mesmerized. Her uncle sat to her right, his eyes closed as if he were asleep. But she knew better.

Sapphire went to add more wood to the fire before taking her seat once again. She took a sip of water to soothe her parched throat. Her gaze settling on her husband once more, drinking in his handsome features.

She checked his stitches to see they were still intact, no infection. Before she could breathe a sign of relief, her hand made contact to his bare, hot torso. Sapphire hurriedly checked his head, his face, her heart beat quickening. If she was pale before, it was nothing compared to how she looked now, her heart beating at an unhealthy rate.

"Sapphire, what is it?" Lord Rivers questioned. She had moved frantically, checking all over Tristan, as if she was searching for something.

He looked to her face to see a haunted expression twist her features, her eyes filled with fear.

"He has a fever."

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Thank you guys!!! you all are soooo sweet 😘😘😘😘😘😘

Um... this week will be real hectic, so a late update may be in order ..

Love you all

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