Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 98745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
The lass paled, worry filling her eyes.
“Speak up, you have nothing to fear,” Noble urged.
Her hands gripped her apron as she hurried to speak. “I heard her tell Calla that she hoped to see Wendell today.”
“Did anyone see Wendell?” Noble asked.
They all shook their heads.
Emma finally got the courage to ask, “Is Adele all right, sir?”
“Unfortunately, she isn’t, Emma,” Noble said. “Adele was attacked and left badly wounded in one of the barns. She now fights for her life.”
“Good Lord,” Emma gasped while most cried out in shock and others froze at the terrible news.
“Mother Abbess and the novice are with Adele and doing the best they can to save her life,” Leora said, hoping it would help them to know that everything that could be done was being done to help save their friend.
“That is a relief to know, mistress,” Emma said through her tears, and the others nodded.
“If any of you recall anything Adele may have said to you this morning or yesterday that you feel may help us find out who did this to her, come to me or Mistress Leora immediately,” Noble ordered, knowing they would more likely be willing to talk with Leora than with him.
His hand went to his wife’s back to nudge her out of the kitchen, eager to find Calla and discover what she knew. It didn’t take a nudge since her steps were quick. Chief, having finished eating, hurried alongside her.
“We need to find Calla,” Leora said.
It should no longer amaze him that they thought so much alike, but it did. He never felt such a strong connection to anyone as he did to Leora. It was as if a part of himself that he had not even realized had been missing had returned to him.
“There she is,” Leora said with a gentle poke of her elbow at her husband as they entered the Great Hall.
“Calla,” Noble called out and she turned and hurried toward them.
Noble intended to seat his wife and himself at the dais to speak with Calla, but his wife thought differently and followed Chief to the table by the hearth. She sat while the pup went and curled up in the bed kept there for him. He noticed she hugged herself as if chilled and realized that what had happened had finally taken its toll on her.
He tossed two logs into the hot embers left in the hearth and it did not take long for them to spark with flames.
“You are chilled, mistress,” Calla said when she reached the table. “I will bring you a hot brew.”
“Nay,” Noble said, stopping her from rushing off. “I wish to speak with you. Have another servant bring a brew for my wife.”
“Aye, sir,” Calla said and turned, calling out orders to a lass. When she turned back to see that Noble had remained standing, she quickly asked, “Is something wrong, sir?”
Noble had no patience left, he wanted answers. “Adele spoke with you about meeting Wendell today.”
Calla didn’t hide her surprise. “She hoped he would visit, sir, though she was not certain of it.”
“What made her think he would visit with her today?”
“He had not visited her in a while, and she believed he missed her as much she missed him and would find his way here today. It was probably why she volunteered to gather wild onions, a chore she doesn’t favor. It would take her into the woods, and she could go to the spot where they usually meet.”
“Do you know where that is?” Noble asked.
“Adele never said, sir, but she would tell you if asked.”
Hearing her husband’s impatience in his short, rapid questions, Leora spoke before he delivered the harsh news too bluntly. “Adele has suffered a heinous attack and fights for her life.”
Calla gasped.
“We are trying to find out all we can so we can catch the culprit and see that he pays for what he did,” Leora said.
“Adele was so happy when I spoke with her, so sure Wendell would come see her today. She was sure he loved her as much as she loved him.”
The servant returned with tears in her eyes and placed a tankard in front of Leora. A jug of ale and a tankard was carried in by another servant who was teary-eyed as well, the sad news beginning to spread.
Seeing that Calla was anxious to leave and go speak with the other servants, Leora dismissed her and was glad her husband didn’t object.
Noble sat beside his wife on the bench. “I do not like that the morning brought such sorrow after a night of pure happiness, though the memory will live long in my heart and mind, and I look forward to the memories we have yet to make.”
Leora kissed his lips gently. “Words I appreciate hearing from you, and I too will long cherish the memories we made last night, and I am eager for the ones we have yet to make. And as much as I want to dwell only on that, we have a duty to the clan and to Adele to discover what happened.”