Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
She squared her shoulders, lifted her chin, and turned to face the biggest dilemma of them all. Words failed her as she stared at her husband. He stood tall, defiantly so, as though he was waiting for her to accuse him. But there was no stormy color in his blue eyes, only concern. She realized then that her thought had been of her husband not The Monk.
She surprised herself when she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him and lay her head on his chest.
Quint hadn’t expected her to embrace him. He expected harsh words, endless accusations, and copious tears, the news of who he was finally sinking in. He closed his arms around her to ease her against him and rested his head on the top of hers.
She loved him. That was his only saving grace… that she loved him.
A cold wind swooped around them stirring up the leaves at their feet and sending them swirling in the air around them.
Quint felt her shiver and, keeping an arm around her, hurried them into the cottage.
After hanging her cloak on a peg, Shade went to warm herself in front of the hearth, keeping her back to Quint, uncertain what to say, where to start, or what to do. It didn’t help that she loved him deeply and didn’t want to lose him or maybe it did. Maybe it was what would make the difference.
“We will remain wed,” he said as if there was no debating it.
Though she had no plans of ending their marriage before it even began, she said, “I need to know more before I agree to that. You owe me that much, Quint, since I wed one man and got another. Who is The Monk?”
“A ruthless warrior born out of revenge,” he said as he walked toward her.
She shook her head slowly. “I don’t know him.”
“I would prefer it to remain that way, but I can’t promise you that you will never meet him.”
Shade felt as though a heavy weight suddenly rested on her and she went to the bed and sat. “I have no idea what to do about this.”
He went and sat close beside her, their arms and legs brushing. “There is nothing to do. We are wed and we will stay wed.”
“I need to know more. What brought you to the abbey, Quint?”
He preferred not to dredge up the past, but he owed her the truth. “Anger, sorrow, heartache, rage.”
“All of it due to the death of your wife?”
“Aye. My wife, Amara. We were wed only a few months when I was called to battle. In my absence, three men brutally killed her. I swore revenge. I killed two. I am still searching for the third. “
“Why did they kill her?” Shade asked, her heart aching for him.
He shook his head. “I don’t know. I have yet to find out which makes it even more frustrating and makes me that much angrier, but I plan to find out and have my revenge.”
She couldn’t blame him for wanting revenge, but it frightened her. He could easily lose his life in his quest for it.
“So, your rage and heartbreak brought you to Coggshall Abbey,” she said, wanting to learn more.
“My rage was out of control. I needed to rein it in, tame it, use it only when necessary before I continued my mission.”
She had to ask. “What happened to the monks?”
“After spending many moon cycles with them, my rage began to calm to the point I had more control over it. Since I was skilled at hunting and fishing, I was assigned the task of supplying food for the abbey. I was out hunting when the monks were murdered, absent when needed just as I was with Amara.”
He paused and Shade could see in his eyes that he was reliving not only the guilt of not being there for the monks but his wife as well. She could not imagine the weight of such guilt.
Quint continued. “I returned to find them dead, all but Brother Emmett. I was covered in blood in my effort to help him.”
“Did he say anything to you?”
“Aye,” Quint hesitated, his hand drifting to take hold of hers. “He begged me to get you. He believed you could save him, but I could see it was too late. Nothing would save him.”
She squeezed his hand, relieved to feel his strength as tears gathered in her eyes and her heart filled with sorrow that she had not been there to help her friend.
“Not daring to mention you to the other monks, he often spoke about you to me. He praised your healing skills, referred to you as an exceptional healer, and that if I was ever in need of healing, I should seek your help.”
“So, Brother Emmett brought you to me,” she said, thinking fondly of her friend and wishing she could have helped him.