Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

" I can do it. I want to do it," Dru said.

"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."

"Are you sure he said nothing of where he was going?" Nug asked.

"Nay. He just kept repeating those words to me and I am glad he did, or I may never have remembered them, my pain was so bad." He cringed, a pain striking him and reminding him he had yet to fully heal.

"Caleb needs to rest," Shade said, seeing the pain he still suffered. "You can speak with him again tomorrow."

Ula hurried to the bed, urging Nug out of the chair and when he got up and moved away, she hurried to sit and take her husband's hand. "Sleep some, so you continue to heal," she urged, and his eyes closed at her command. She sent Shade a worried glance.

Shade was quick to reassure her. "He still has much healing to do, and rest is what he needs right now. It takes effort to speak, so too much talk will not help him." She looked from Nug to her husband. "Once a day and not for long periods. Once he grows stronger, we can change that."

"If that is all Ryland conveyed to him, then we have all we need," Nug said, "though I will visit him the time you allotted me in case he recalls more. Besides, we want the clan to continue to believe that Chieftain Ryland is recovering nicely and my daily visits to his bedchamber will confirm that."

Shade placed her hand on Ula's shoulder as Nug and Quint walked to the door. "I will leave you alone with your husband. Make sure he gets the brew and eats, and you may talk but keep his talk brief."

"I will do whatever you say, Shade. You saved his life."

"He still has healing to do," Shade said, aware that Caleb was not sufficiently healed so that death could no longer claim him.

"I understand, but he does well and that is what matters," Ula said.

As soon as Shade closed the door to the bedchamber, Nug said, "He is so pale, and you can see the pain he suffers. Will he survive?"

"I have seen worse wounded men survive. I learned that in the end, fate decides," Shade said.

Nug hurried down the stairs ahead of them while Quint pulled Shade into a gentle hug.

"You need to take your own advice and rest some or you will be of no help to anyone," he said and nibbled at her neck.

She scrunched her shoulders at the desirous sensation his nibbling sent through her body. "A nap would be refreshing but I believe you would follow me, and I would leave our bedchamber more tired than when I entered it."

He brushed his lips faintly across hers. "On that you would be right."

"The thought is enticing, but I must go check on Liam and a few other warriors who require my attention. But later tonight?—"

"You are all mine," he said.

"Do you think there may be a secret message within the message Chieftain Ryland gave Caleb?" Shade asked, waiting until they stepped outside the keep so no one would hear her.

"I suppose it is possible, but we need to remember that Caleb was in tremendous pain at the time. He could have gotten the message wrong."

"But he repeated the message over and over so that Caleb would recall it correctly. Surely, Chieftain Ryland wanted Caleb to recall it word for word, leaving one to think there was something of importance included in the message."

"You make a wise point. I will speak to Nug about it," Quint said suddenly curious himself, wondering if Nug knew the message contained a message and said nothing.

Shouts and a scream had Quint warning his wife, "You will not rush to help anyone, and you will remain behind me."

She waved him ahead of her. "Hurry! Be off. I will follow."

Quint shook his head, knowing she might think that but if someone needed healing, she would rush right ahead to give aid. But it wasn't his wife he needed to worry about. As soon as they stepped outside, he saw a man who had good girth to him dangling a young lass who could be no more than five years in front of him, anger twisted his face while a storm raged in his blue eyes.

A woman, who appeared worn to the bone she was so thin, was helping another lass who appeared to be of at least eight years get to her feet and both were begging the girthy man to let the little lass go. The little lass herself appeared terrified and tears ran down her cheeks as she looked to her mum for help.

Two men stood nearby laughing. None were from Clan MacLeish, except for Heath who Nug was supporting. His face was bruised, and he favored his one side. He obviously had taken a beating, which meant the woman and two young lasses were Rufus's wife and daughters who Heath had been sent to collect.

"Where is James?" the big man demanded. "We're here to help him keep rein on this place for Lord Torrance."

"PUT THE LASS DOWN!"

Shade had hurried to follow her husband and hearing his warning, she knew it was The Monk the unsuspecting men were about to meet.

The man shook the little lass. "I'll do what I please with her. Now one of you fools go get me James, and where are his men?"

The lass stretched her arms out to her mum, tears now streaming down her cheeks that should be round and full but weren't from lack of food. Rufus had told him the truth.

The Monk hurried toward the man.

The two other men rushed at him.

"Which one of you wants to die first?" The Monk shouted, reaching for one of the daggers at his waist.

That's when tongues started wagging, none too quietly, and the two men heard the chatter clearly.

"The Monk."

"The Monk."

"The Monk will end it."

The two men instantly retreated, hurrying behind the big man, one of them saying, "He's The Monk."

"I'm not afraid of The Monk," the large man said, watching his men retreat behind him and when he turned, he was met with a powerful fist to his jaw.

"You should be," The Monk said as the man went stumbling back.

He yanked the little lass out of the man's meaty hand and swung another forceful punch that knocked the man out, his big body landing flat on his back so hard that it sent dirt flying up and cascading down around him.

"Grab those two!" The Monk ordered and several men descended on them, stripping them of their weapons and using them to hold them at bay.

Shade hurried forward and took the little lass from her husband and rushed her to her mum. The woman's arms circled her daughter in a tight hug. The other little lass clung to her mum's side and the mum was quick to shift the lass to one arm and wrap her other arm around the daughter that clung to her.

"This has been a terrible ordeal for you all, but you are safe now," Shade assured them.

"I pray that is so," the woman said. "I am Corrine, and these are my two daughters, Bethy and Anne. My husband sent word that we were to come here and meet him, that this is our new home."

"Aye, it is," The Monk said. "You are safe here and my wife, Shade, will see to you and your daughters care, and your husband will join you shortly."

The little lass's tears had barely stopped, and her breathing was labored but she looked at The Monk and shouted, "THANK YOU."

"Please forgive her shouting. Bethy has trouble hearing and to her she is speaking softly," Corrine said, worry in her yes.

"YOU ARE MOST WELCOME," The Monk shouted, and Bethy smiled.

Shade smiled as well. The little lass had touched the notorious Monk's heart which proved he had one and was not a madman after all. Some others must have agreed since smiles and chuckles could be seen and heard as well.

"Come with me," Shade said. "You must be hungry and thirsty after your journey."

The two lasses' eyes turned wide at the mention of food and tears filled their mum's eyes. "Aye, we could use some food and drink."

"This way," Shade said, pointing to the keep and Corrine and her daughters hurried their steps. Before Shade followed, she looked at her husband. "Have someone help Heath to the keep and I will see to his wounds. You will release Rufus from the cell?"

"Aye. He spoke the truth, and it is no wonder why he wanted to return home with the coins he earned. They will not go hungry here."

"You are a good man," Shade whispered.

"Shush, woman," he ordered with a playful wink. "You will ruin my infamous reputation."

She hurried and kissed his cheek. "You have managed to do that on your own, husband."

He watched her hurry to catch up to Corrine and her daughters. He didn't think he could love her any more than he already did, but his love for her was growing daily as was his desire to see his task done and this matter with Chieftain Ryland settled so they could return to her cottage and make a home as husband and wife.

"Quint."

He shook his head, clearing it, and turned to Nug. "We have much to find out from these men… to the dungeon with them."

The joy on the two lasses' faces when food and drink were brought to the table almost brought Shade to tears. It brought Corrine to tears, seeing that her daughters finally had food to eat.

It took Shade's urging when at first Corrine would not touch the food or drink as if she wanted to make sure her daughters would have enough to eat. "There is plenty there for you as well and more if needed. None of you will go hungry here."

Corrine wiped away her tears and reached for a piece of meat and bread, but before she did, she smiled at Shade. "You are more than generous."

Shade said what she had learned about the chieftain's generosity from Ula. "Chieftain Ryland would have it no other way."

Shade excused herself for a few moments to tend to Heath and learned that the men had come upon them as they got near the village. The big man had shouted out to him to stop but he thought for the safety of Corrine and her daughters he was better off getting as close to the village as possible before the men reached them. He stopped just before the village and hurried Corrine and her daughters out of the cart and cautioned them to run to the village. The big man showed him just how much he didn't like that.

Shade was relieved when her eyes scanned his ribs and found none broken, only bruised which would still cause him pain and his facial bruises were minor and would heal. She had a brew prepared for him which he drank along with some ale as he ate.

Laughter was soon heard when Heath had them all laughing with a few tall tales.

Shade noticed how young Bethy tugged frequently at her ears and she suspected that an abundance of earwax impaired the little lass' hearing. She was about to speak with Corrine about it when Bethy not only screeched but Anne did too. They scrambled off the bench and with wide smiles rushed to their da.

"Stay as you are!" Quint ordered, his powerful command halting the young lasses, then he turned a stern look on Rufus. "You have something to say to my wife?"

"Aye. Aye, sir," Rufus said, bobbing his head and walked over to Shade. "I am truly sory for trying to harm you, my lady."

"That's all right, Rufus. You had no choice. You were thinking about your family. I understand."

"Still, my lady, it wasn't right of me to do and I truly apologize, and I will do whatever I can to attone for it."

"I appreciate your apology. Now go be with your family," Shade said.

Rufus looked to Quint and waited and only until he received a nod from him, did Rufus rush to his daughters and wife.

"You made him apologize," Shade said when she came to stand beside her husband.

"I intended to but he apologized to me of his own accord and asked that he be able to offer you an apology as well. That he did so without being forced to made me think more highly of him." He nodded toward Rufus. "And seeing that he spoke the truth about his family makes him even more of an honorable man."

Shade watched with joy as the family cried and hugged, none letting go of the other as if they needed to hold onto each other to make sure they wouldn't be separated again. She also watched the way Quint stared at them. Was he envious of what he saw? Did the loving scene confirm what she would never be able to give him… a true family?

She didn't know for sure if she was too old to bear a child. She had attended births of women her age but not as frequently as younger women. The older women also presented with more problems than the younger women who gave birth. Her grandmother believed that women could go on giving birth until they no longer had their monthly bleed. Shade wondered why then more older women didn't give birth. Her grandmother had laughed and told her that after giving birth most women did not fancy going through the pain again. So, women sought healers to help them prevent getting with child while some women told their husbands to find their pleasure elsewhere.

Never would she want Quint to find pleasure elsewhere but that was not a worry for her since her mum was only able to give birth to one child and never conceived again after that. But that had been when she was young. Shade feared she missed her opportunity and would not be given a second chance.

Quint said it hadn't mattered to him, but did it?

She wished she knew for sure.