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)
“Tell us what to do, how to help you, Shade,” Ula pleaded after Shade was placed on the bed.
“The wound needs searing. She is losing too much blood,” Ena said, seeing the bloody cloth at Shade’s side.
“Nay,” Shade said, fighting to stay conscious, the pain and exhaustion getting to be too much. “Press a clean, thick cloth to the wound and wrap another cloth tightly around my waist to hold it in place. Do not sear it. It could do more damage than good. Ula, you know the mixture I had you use on Caleb. Prepare it and give it to me just as you did with him. I will not be able to stay awake much longer. Treat my wound as I instructed you to treat Caleb’s wounds.” She paused for a breath. “Quint.” She smiled when she felt him take hold of her hand.
“I’m here, Shade, and here is where I will stay until you are well enough to leave this room.”
She wanted to respond but her body had suffered enough. It could take no more and her eyes closed. She drifted in and out of consciousness and each time she did, she felt her husband’s hand wrapped around hers and heard his prayers and demands.
“Please, I beg you, God, do not let her die.”
“I will not let you take her from me.”
“Let her live or so help me…”
“Don’t leave me, Shade. Don’t leave me.”
“I love you. You’re all I need.”
Shade felt herself escape the heavy fog that had consumed her, though there was still a heaviness in her legs. She smiled when she opened her eyes and saw her husband slumped over them, sleeping. His hand was still wrapped around hers as if it had been seared there.
“Quint,” she whispered, her mouth too dry to speak any louder.
His head shot up. “You’re awake. How do you feel? Are you in pain? What do you need?”
“Drink,” she whispered.
Quint sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and looking around. “The brew?” he asked, reaching for the bowl on the chest next to the bed. He hesitated but held it out to her. “The brew?”
Shade nodded and tried to lift herself to sit.
“Nay, do not move,” Quint ordered. He stood and lifted her head gently as he brought the bowl to her lips, then when she was done drinking, he lowered her head to rest on the pillow.
He sat down on the chair and went to take her hand, but she shook her head.
“I need to see how I heal,” she said, the brew having soothed her dry mouth and throat.
Quint nodded and prayed silently for all to be well.
Shade smiled. “The bleeding has stopped, there is no damage done inside me, and it already begins to heal deep within me. Rest and different brews should see it healed well.”
Quint took hold of her hand and kissed it. “It has been two days since I brought you here. I was so afraid I would lose you. Nothing matters to me but you. You are the most important thing in my life.”
“That does my heart good to hear,” she said, her smile growing.
“I am so sorry, Shade, that I didn’t get to you sooner.”
She shook her head. “Nonsense. I escaped to give you time so you could purposely capture Brother Peter and Asher and have your revenge. Tell me you finally got what you wanted.”
“I did get what I wanted, and it is far more important to me than revenge. I got you and our love.” Quint wiped away the tear that slipped from Shade’s eye. “You’re all I need, Shade, and all I want. I love you and you love me,” —he smiled when she nodded firmly— “that is all that matters.”
“But what of Asher and Brother Peter and you should know that Brother Peter is the one responsible for everything. He was the evil Amara spoke of and he fueled the unrest between Clan MacLeish and Clan Glencairn causing the battle.”
“I know. I know all of it. I sent Nug to capture Asher, and he has been talking nonstop in hopes that we spare his life. I took a troop of men and Dru to find you. Unfortunately, Brother Peter got away along with two of his men who managed to warn him of seeing MacLeish warriors headed Asher’s way. They were gone before we reached the area.”
“Brother Peter is a cleric. Our marriage is valid,” she hurried to tell him.
“I know, but even if he wasn’t, I’d gladly and proudly marry you again.” He kissed her hand again. “We should wed again and have a celebration.”
“Aye,” she agreed. “A celebration of our love and a celebration that you are not the madman or murderer of monks everyone believes you to be. Asher can confirm that, so you should keep him alive for a while, so you have proof.”