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)
“That he did, and I am grateful to him.”
“And you want to avenge his and the other monks’ deaths as well.”
“I owe it to them. My time spent with them helped me to contain my rage and only unleash it when necessary.”
“Have you found any of the men and did they tell you why they murdered the monks?”
Quint nodded. “There were six men in all, and I found four. Two more and it is done. From what I’ve gathered so far, the men believed that there was a large number of coins kept secretly at the abbey and I can only assume they brutally murdered the monks in a fury of finding no treasure.”
“It is well known that Coggshall Abbey survived because of its benefactors. There was never any talk of treasure at the abbey. It makes no sense.”
“I thought the same, but nothing else makes sense,” Quint said.
“And when you were found covered in blood you appeared guilty. So, you left that day to prove your innocence?” she asked, though that made more sense than anything else.
“That and I didn’t want to wait and lose any tracks they left, or chance being hung for something I didn’t do.”
“Rawlin said that everyone who helped with the burial of the monks feared going near you.”
“I believe my rage returned stronger than before I arrived at the abbey. I was blind with fury when I came upon the brutal murders of such pious men. That I had not been there to prevent it just as I had not been there for Amara enraged me even more. Revenge was foremost in my mind.”
“You could have died along with them,” she said, the thought so dreadful she pushed it away.
“Not likely, just like you are an exceptional healer, I am an exceptional warrior. If I had been there, I could have saved them, or at least most of them, depending on how the attack happened.”
“So, you need to find three more men, one concerning Amara and two concerning the monks, to complete your revenge,” she said, considering what that would mean. “It could take you years.”
“Nay, it will be done soon enough.”
“How can you be sure?”
“The men I search for are mercenaries and they go where the coins take them. Lord Torrance pays warriors well to fight for him. They will be in this area.”
“But the battle is done. Won’t they take their leave?”
“Not yet. They will linger to see what other work Lord Torrance has for them and to spend their coins on women and drink. With Lord Torrance sending mercenaries to hunt MacLeish warriors, then oversee Clan MacLeish until his arrival, it will give me time to find out if who I search for is among them.”
“So, revenge is why you could not stay with me.”
“Aye, I need my revenge, and I need to prove I did not kill the monks.”
“What then, Quint?” she asked.
“Then there is only Quint. The Monk is no more.”
CHAPTER 12
Shade, at one time, had given thought to her wedding day. Naturally, they were the fanciful thoughts of a young lass wishing to fall in love. The passing years had her thinking not of love but of at least a man who would treat her kindly and as the years continued to pass, she held little to no hope that she would wed at all.
That was why she thought of Quint as a gift, and the love she had for him, and she believed he had for her, as a miracle. The benefactor of it all, Brother Emmett. While Quint wished to avenge his death, she wished to make sure that Brother Emmett’s death was not for naught. She wanted to make sure that Quint conquered his rage and sorrow, healing his soul as Brother Emmett would want for him. She intended to see that done, even though it was a hefty challenge.
Shade looked out the cottage window at the gray skies. “I don’t wish to disturb you, Brother Emmett, but I might need another miracle.”
The sun briefly peeked between the dark clouds, and she could not help but believe that Brother Emmett had acknowledged her, and Quint as well. She saw that he stopped what he was doing and glanced up at the sky just as the sun popped through for a moment. He returned to his chore of gathering tools, baskets, and anything that needed to be stored away while they were gone.
After they finished talking earlier, Quint had suggested that with little time left to them to prepare for departure in the morn and with dark clouds gathering, it would be best if they got started, and she had agreed. There was much she had to take with her, not knowing the extent of Chieftain Ryland’s wounds or others who may need help. And while Clan MacLeish might have a healer, if Ula sent for her help, it meant that Ula did not find her as skilled as Shade.