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)
“It’s too dangerous a task for a woman,” Nug argued.
“Women are paid no mind unless a man wants something from them and I’m too dirty and smelly for a man to even glance my way. People pay me no mind. I go unnoticed amongst a crowd,” Dru argued.
“Not for long once you start asking questions.”
“Nug’s right, Dru,” Quint said. “Once you start asking questions about Asher people will get suspicious and you could be in serious trouble.”
“I know better than to ask questions outright about someone. You need to know what Asher is up to and I know some people who can provide the information. I can do this. It will take a week at most,” Dru insisted.
Quint considered her offer especially since she was so trustworthy, at least with him, but that was probably because he had saved her from being hanged, accused of stealing a noble’s horse. The noble wanted no argument with The Monk once he claimed that Dru belonged to him and the noose was removed from around her neck. It wasn’t until many moon cycles later that he learned that Dru had actually stolen the horse because the nobleman had mistreated it so badly. She had given it to one of the noble’s warriors who he had also mistreated badly. The young warrior had been seriously wounded and though healed; his wounds had left him unable to fight any longer. Being useless to the nobleman, he ordered him to leave the clan. The mistreated horse and warrior were never seen again. Dru had a good heart, not that she would let anyone know that.
“And why should you care, Nug? You don’t want me here anyway,” Dru said.
“You may be a pain in the arse, but I wouldn’t want to see anything happen to you,” Nug said.
Dru chuckled. “Losing your heart to me, are you?”
Nug glared at her. “Good Lord, woman, there isn’t a man alive that would want you.”
“Only a man who wanted a woman would try to convince her of that.” Dru laughed. “Sorry, Nug, but I’m not interested.”
Nug shook his head. “You’re a menace.”
“Sweet words will get you nowhere,” she said, continuing to laugh.
“Set her to the task, so there will be peace in the village,” Nug said.
Dru couldn’t stop chuckling. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
Quint couldn’t help but laugh as well.
All laughter stopped when Ena entered the Great Hall. “You both are wanted in Chieftain Ryland’s bedchamber right away.”
Nug rushed off, but Quint lingered a moment. “I do not want to put you in harm’s way, but if you could find out what Asher is up to it would be a great help.”
“I can do it,” Dru assured him.
“I will see that you have a few coins to take with you and get food from the kitchen. Take no more than a week whether you succeed or not, or I will come looking for you,” he warned her.
“Aye, I’ll be back by a week’s end,” Dru said.
“Take no chances, Dru,” Quint ordered and hurried off.
Quint took the stairs quickly. It had been several days since the night he and Shade had discovered that Amara actually had visited her. He continued to think over all that Shade had said to him after he discovered that Amara had been with child when he met her. He wondered if Amara’s decision to keep the bairn was what got her killed and the responsibility of her death laid at Shade’s feet. If Amara had purged the bairn, would she still be alive? It annoyed him that he might never know.
The one good thing that came of it all was that Shade was innocent. She had offered healing advice and nothing more. She had done her best to help Amara and that was a relief to Quint. Though it should have never been a worry in the first place and it taught him a lesson to always, without doubt, trust Shade.
Quint approached the bed when he entered the room. Nug was sitting in the chair beside the bed while Ula stood to the side.
Apprehension glinted in Caleb’s eyes at Quint’s approach, and he wondered what Nug had told him so far.
“Nug told me how you have helped the clan and that you keep Chieftain Ryland’s absence a secret. I am grateful to you,” Caleb said, cringing now and again at the pain caused by him shifting his position to gain some comfort.
Shade stepped forward. “Ask, Caleb, what you must, now that he is awake enough to talk with you, but do not take long. He needs to rest if he is to heal well.”
Upon hearing that, Caleb hurried to tell them what he knew. “Chieftain Ryland is alive. He carried me off the battlefield and after leaving me in a safe spot, he gave the signal to retrieve a wounded warrior. I remember what he kept repeating to me. ‘I am alive, Caleb. Make sure everyone knows that I live. Tell all to have patience. I will return when the time is right. We have won the battle.’ He repeated that over and over to me so that I wouldn’t forget it. He is alive and strong, and he will return to us.”