Fortunately for Enid, the rain had decreased to a drizzle. She hesitated at the doorway to Kane's hut upon hearing his voice, not certain she should interrupt.

"They had lain in wait for us, Eaton," Kane was saying, his voice filled with anger and frustration. "By what means are they aware of my every move?" Kane had his suspicions; nevertheless, he wished to hear Eaton's answer.

"I know not, lord Kane," Eaton's voice carried a suppressed anger that frightened Enid. But, in whatever tone he spoke, it always brought the memory of a stinging whip to her. Enid fought the sickness sweeping over her and the temptation to return to her hut and let Beth deliver the meal. She decided that she had nothing to fear from Eaton as long as Kane was near.

"I need more time, my lord," Eaton's words sounded as though they were spoken through clenched teeth and they brought a quick response from Kane.

"I can give you no more! Every hour that the traitor walks freely among us, we are in peril."

In her mind's eye, Enid could see Kane's muscles flex with his movements as he spoke.

"All battles are lost so long as I am unable to keep my plans from my enemy!"

The pause that followed was Enid's cue to enter. Two pairs of burning eyes fastened their gazes on her when she passed through the doorway, causing her to freeze where she stood. Kane's visage softened somewhat, giving Enid great relief. He stretched out a hand toward the table to his right and nodded his head as a sign for her to approach. Trying to ignore Eaton's glare, Enid walked to the table and set the plate on a clear spot.

Kane had turned his gaze to Eaton, awaiting the comment Eaton had been set to make when Enid had entered.

"I shall not speak of this in the presence of a witch."

In an instant, Kane crossed the distance between them, his brow dark with rage and his frame towering over Eaton.

"Say it but once more and I shall smite your head from your shoulders." Though his voice was low it bore the thunder of his wrath.

Enid watched in awed silence as the two men stood facing each other, Eaton struggling to contain his own anger.

"Now take your leave," Kane's face was as stone and he watched as Eaton remained and met his stare for a challenging moment. When Kane began to think that he would be forced to bodily remove the man, Eaton turned and left.

Enid sighed audibly, not realizing that she had been holding her breath. Kane turned, his burning eyes bearing down upon her wide blue ones, and Enid was suddenly afraid. Deciding that it would be better to leave him alone for now, Enid went for the door. She gasped when she felt Kane's hand on her arm but a quick glance up at his face showed that his anger had vanished.

As if she had just realized it, Enid's heart swelled at the thought of his defense of her against Eaton. She wanted to throw her arms around him and be once more in the security of his embrace. But she knew the danger of that, just as she knew the danger of the caress in his gaze. Still, she braved his stare a few moments more as she spoke.

"Thank you for what you did."

Her low, sweet voice and gently smiling lips gave Kane cause to think that he would face an army of Eatons for her gratitude. A nod of his head was his reply, as one side of his mouth turned in a smile. His hair, now dark with the rainwater hung in damp wisps about his handsome face and clung to his chest. Enid's heart raced and she knew that it was time for her to leave.

"I'll go so you can dry off and eat."

Her words were spoken quickly as she slipped free of his hold and left him standing to watch her dress swish and disappear through the doorway.