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)
“Your cloak,” he said and walked her over the bench where she had dropped it.
“Much better. It will conceal the dagger.”
They walked at a normal pace through the village, Brother Peter smiling and talking to her, appearing as if they were enjoying a walk through the village. People called out greetings and smiled, though most were too busy to pay them any mind. She was disappointed but also relieved. No one would die because of her.
They entered the woods with more ease than she expected, no one taking note of them.
“Move,” Brother Peter ordered, giving her a shove when they were out of sight. “I have men to meet.”
“You’re not a monk?” Shade asked worried her marriage to Quint was not valid.
“Worry not, your marriage is official. I am a monk but not for long. I have planned long and hard and suffered too many delays, but the time is finally here. I will finally have the power and wealth I’ve craved. Now shut up and keep moving.”
Quint dropped down to examine the area. “Two camped here.”
“And kept their campfire small to go unnoticed,” Nug said. “These two must be the ones who waited for word from the culprit who wounded our sentinel.”
“What word, though?” Quint asked more to himself than Nug as he stood. “What were they waiting to hear and why leave after word was received?”
“I’ve been watching, and I haven’t spotted Dru since yesterday when you told her to take me with her when she searched those hiding spots, she mentioned to you. All signs point to her as the culprit. She is probably here spying on Clan MacLeish and passing whatever she learns to those who wait to hear word from her,” Nug said with a nod to the extinguished campfire.
“I was hoping you teased me, out of friendship, but now I see how little you think of me. I may be a thief, but I thieve to survive. What’s your excuse for being an arsehole?”
Nug turned to glare at Dru. “And what’s your excuse for being here where the culprits camped?”
“Enough, Nug. I know Dru far better than I know you. Are you trying to shift the blame, so no one notices that you’re the culprit?” Quint accused.
Anger flared on Nug’s face. “How dare you accuse me. I would never betray my clan, my chieftain, my friend.”
“Dru and I are friends and just as you would not betray your friend, Dru would not betray me. So, you will accuse her no more.”
“Then why is she here,” Nug demanded.
“To give us important information,” Quint said and looked to Dru.
“I followed them. I know where they’re waiting,” Dru said. “Asher is with them.”
“Who are they waiting for?” Nug asked.
“Sir! Sir!” Heath shouted as he ran toward them, his breath labored when he stopped in front of Quint. “Ula says something happened to Shade that when she went to see what was keeping her, she found the bedchamber empty, and the letter p traced into a mixture of blood and crushed herbs.”
“Brother Peter,” Quint and Dru said in unison.
“Aye,” Heath said. “The last anyone saw of Shade was her walking with Brother Peter through the village.”
“He’s taking her to meet up with Asher,” Dru said, “and no doubt they are going to prepare a trap for you, Quint.”
“Gather warriors, Heath,” Quint said, and he turned, raising his fist to deliver a hard blow to Nug’s jaw and knocking him off his feet. “Don’t ever accuse Dru of betrayal again or the next time—” He rested his hand on the handle of one of his daggers. He turned to Dru. “Asher is about to get a surprise visit from us, and we will be ready when Brother Peter arrives with my wife.”
Dru stepped aside with a nod for Quint to join her. “Don’t you want to find Shade first?”
“She faces no harm until she arrives where Asher waits, and we’ll get there first and be waiting for her and Brother Peter.”
“Are you sure about that?” Dru asked, “Or is it that your thirst for revenge is close to being quenched that makes you forsake your wife so you can capture Asher?”
“Watch what you accuse me of, Dru?’ Quint warned.
“Don’t be blind like Nug and fail to see the truth in front of you,” Dru said and walked away.
Shade shook her head. “So, all the killing is for greed and power. How does brutally killing eight monks bring you power?” she asked, wanting to learn what she could before she attempted an escape. Even if it wasn’t successful, it would give Quint time to find her before Brother Peter took her too far away from the village.
“They were pawns in my plan, they mattered not. I set the temperature to boil between Torrance and Ryland, knowing the animosity Torrance felt toward Ryland. And I readied countless mercenaries so they would be prepared to fight for Torrance when they actually fought for me. I sent Asher to gain his trust, and he did.”