“Luc chased him.” The truth escapes me after a moment.
“Then the man is already dead.”
My chest squeezes at that reality. Another man is dead because of someone’s desire to hurt me.
But who?
Images of the crow flying from the building and pecking at the man’s face bleed into my vision. I shake my head. Hector would probably think I imagined it.
I sink into a chair at the table. “Do you think this has anything to do with Malachi’s mission to stop my magic?”
A frown tugs at Hector’s mouth. “Maybe.”
“Maybe this doesn’t stop until whoever is behind this gets what they want.” My mouth trembles as I continue. “My death.”
A curse slips from Hector’s lips as he runs his hand through his hair. “We should have questioned your attacker.”
I sigh and clench my fingers together. “We should have questioned the man who attacked me in this bedchamber too.”
Shadows skim Hector’s features as he nods. “I know, but I was so blinded by my anger when I saw him hurting you, I didn’t think.”
“Well, I stabbed him in the throat.” I shake my head. “So, he probably couldn’t speak to us anyway.”
A smile breaks across Hector’s mouth. “That you did, my fierce wife.” He turns to take in my ruined basket. “Did you beat the man today with your basket?”
“I may have,” I say as some of the tension from earlier eases.
“No pottery available?”
“I use whatever is close as a weapon.”
“I see that.” Hector pulls out the ruined cinnamon rolls and flatbread. “I guess we will not be eating those.”
Frustration seizes me as I frown. “I’m sorry, Hector. I wanted you to have something good to eat.”
“It’s all right.” He grabs my hand and guides me to the sofa. “Sit here. I’ll get lunch for us.”
“Are you certain?” I run my fingers against the welt on my cheek and cringe. “I can do it.”
“No, I will, but first, I bought you something.” He disappears into the washroom.
I brush dirt from my surcoat and think about the man smacking me. If I had been quicker, he would have never landed a blow. I trace the welt again. Maybe I should train like I did in the mercenary army.
Hector returns and hands a pale pink ribbon to me. “I saw you using the same one over and over. You seemed to like it so much, I bought you another one.”
A smile pulls at my mouth as I stand and embrace him. “Thank you. It’s perfect.”
His hands span my waist, and he brings me against him. “You’re welcome. Now, let me go to the kitchen and bring food for you.”
ChapterForty-One
Flames lick at the wood in the fireplace as I finish my food and lean back against my chair. “Tell me about your uncles and grandfather.”
“Why?” Hector frowns.
“I want to know you better. Besides, they were a large part of your life. I would like to know about them.”
Hector stares down at his goblet for a while before finding his voice. “I barely remember my grandfather, but I remember enough to know he was a good man, and he cared about his family and people.”
