Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

S hade looked pleadingly at her husband, and he understood. There was no way he would be able to speak with Dru. Her head bobbed as she ate, snapping up before she fell completely asleep. She was exhausted and she would be no good to him until she got some sleep.

"Let me help you to your quarters, Dru, and we'll talk in the morning," Quint said.

"I don't need no help," Dru protested, her eyes fighting to remain open. "I can take care of myself."

"If anyone knows that about you, I do, but it doesn't hurt to accept a helping hand from a friend every now and then."

Dru's eyes got teary. "I appreciate it, Quint, but I can get myself to my quarters. I'll talk with you tomorrow." She slid off the bench, yawning all the way out the door and a servant entering as she left.

"Excuse me, sir," the servant lass said with a bob of her head, "but the healer is needed. Ena has collapsed in her cottage."

Shade flew out of the room and Quint followed shaking his head. His wife would never learn to be cautious when dealing with any given situation. She ran straight into them as she had done with Dru. Witley's fist was meaty enough to leave more than a mere bruise. Now that he thought about it, he should have done more than just punch him.

When he spotted Witley eating and drinking and appearing to be enjoying himself in the Great Hall as he passed through it, he called out, "We're not finished." He was glad to see the man pale.

He kept close behind his wife as he followed her to Ena's cottage and hurried around her once they reached it to enter first and make certain no harm awaited her. Once he saw that only two women, he recognized as clan members, were there tending to Ena, he moved, unblocking the door so his wife could enter.

He grabbed her arm as she moved past him. "No more rushing into situations."

Shade scrunched her face. "It's a habit."

"One that needs to be broken." He nodded toward Ena. "Go. We'll talk later."

Shade hurried to Ena's aid as Quint closed the door.

"Stop fussing, I'm tired, that's all," Ena said as Shade approached the bed.

"Begone with you now, Shade is here and will tend to me. You have supper and bairns to see to," Ena said to the two women and after a quick word with Shade, the two women left.

"You have been their healer for a long time. They worry about you. They don't want to lose you," Shade said, running her hand down Ena's arm in a comforting touch so she could see if there was anything inside her that needed attention. Thankfully all appeared well, and, like Dru, what she needed was rest.

"A good sleep will do me well," Ena said.

"I agree. So, I will brew some chamomile for you, and you will enjoy a gentle sleep."

"I would like that," Ena said. "I heard Dru returned and a cleric along with her."

Shade explained what happened while she set the leaves to brewing.

"We are all exhausted from this endless and unnecessary discord. Lord Torrance was once friends with Ryland and Nug." Ena shook her head. "If only it had remained that way."

"What happened to that friendship?"

"It died."

"Why?" Shade asked and helped Ena to sit up, bracing a pillow behind her back.

"Most believe it to be jealousy. Ryland came by skills and wisdom naturally, not so Torrance. He had to work hard to achieve what Ryland achieved with ease. Ryland also had patience, something he inherited from his mum, Lady Delecia, a good woman, while Torrance inherited his father's impatience and demanding manner. Then, of course, there continues to be the speculation that Torrance and Ryland are half-brothers."

"Is there a possibility that it could be true?" Shade asked curiously.

"It was something one heard now and again until they reached about ten and two years. That was when their similar features became even more obvious. Anyone who looked at them standing side by side would believe them brothers."

Shade handed the tankard to Ena. "There was no distinction between them at all?"

"None that anyone could see," Ena said, then took a sip.

Shade moved a small bench over by the bed and sat. "Did you deliver Ryland?"

"Aye, I did. It was the easiest birth I ever attended. I wish they all were like that."

"But Ryland's mum never had another child after that?" Shade asked.

"Nay, which I fear is what sparked the gossip. Whispers circulated that Lady Delecia was with child when she wed Ryland's father, Chieftain Orrick. Rumors also say that the chieftain was aware of Delecia's condition and wed her anyway." Ena sighed and shook her head. "Stories abound when people have nothing better to do than speculate. It's all nonsense. Besides, seeing the pair together, I believe they loved each other and there was no doubt Lord Orrick loved his son."

"But rumors could have fueled Lord Torrance's feelings toward Ryland, creating and building animosity," Shade suggested.

"True enough," Ena said and yawned.

Shade took the tankard from the woman. "You need to sleep. I will see you tomorrow."

"I worry if Lord Torrance discovers what a skilled healer you are he will demand that you serve him," Ena said as she settled herself comfortably in the bed.

Shade tucked the wool blanket around her. "Fear not, Ena, all will be well." She hoped her words would find truth since she feared what The Monk would do if Lord Torrance made demands of his wife.

Quint entered the bedchamber to find his wife standing in front of the hearth, her head bent, staring at the flickering flames. He hadn't gotten a chance to speak with her since leaving her at Ena's cottage. He had spent time with Nug to discuss some things that needed to be done, and he also needed to see that things he had ordered done were finished. He stationed guards by the dungeon so that Witley or Monty could not speak with James. He refrained from hitting Witley again, though he gave him a warning, and he doubted he would even look Shade's way now.

She had been in his thoughts the whole time. He missed her when she wasn't near, missed her smile, the touch of her hand, the way she would drift into his arms, how she would lay her head on his chest, and how her soft hair would tickle his nose.

He went to her, easing against her slowly and running his hand down her arm in a loving caress. He nibbled softly at her neck when she leaned back against him and tipped her head to the side inviting his lips. He wrapped his arms around her locking her against him and continued to playfully nibble at her neck.

Shade relaxed in her husband's arms, glad he held her locked against him or otherwise she might collapse, his nibbles sending such a delicious sensation through her and turning her body malleable.

"I have a need for you," he whispered.

"Not as great as mine," she said softly and wiggled her bottom against him until it settled on his hard shaft. "Though maybe you do."

His hand slipped down to rub between her legs. "Then it is best I make sure you're ready for me."

Shade moaned, his touch, though through her garments, more than pleasurable.

Soon his hand found its way beneath her garment, and she spread her legs enough for his finger to find its way inside her.

"I'm ready," she said on a grasping whisper.

"Not yet, wife. Tonightt, I enjoy every inch of you."

"I won't last."

"Then I'll bring you to climax again," he whispered, his nibbles turning to bites of love along her neck.

His hand left her, and she moaned disappointed, but not for long. His hands deftly stripped her of everything she wore, then he rid himself of his garments. She soon was back in the same position, braced back against him. Only this time, his hand explored her breasts, squeezing and pinching gently while he returned to feast along her neck and shoulder, his swollen shaft poking at her from behind.

His hand once again returned to tease her between her legs and his other hand gripped beneath her chin and forced her head back to look at him. "Climax for me."

Gooseflesh prickled her body, his voice tender but a command, nonetheless.

"Now, Shade, now," he commanded, his touch working magic and his hard manhood pressing urgently against her.

She couldn't resist. Her body and her passion surrendered, and she cried out as a wave of pleasure completely devoured her. She fell limp against him when suddenly she was scooped up into his arms and laid on the bed and he was inside her, his powerful thrusts bringing her to life once again.

She locked her hands on his muscled arms and held on as tight as she could, letting the mounting pleasure sweep her away until it exploded in blinding pleasure, and she called out his name at the same moment he let loose with a loud groan as he emptied his seed into her.

They soon were wrapped around each other, Quint drifting off to sleep and she rested her hand on her stomach to see if his seed had taken root. She felt nothing just as she did the few times she had tried before now. She was barren or past childbearing age. She should accept it and not worry over something she could not change.

You are all I need.

He loved her and that was all that mattered.

"So, is it true? Asher is on a mission for Lord Torrance and will not show up here until he completes it?" Nug asked after he settled at the table in the solar with Quint and Dru the next morning. "Or is it a ruse and he is on a far different mission for Lord Torrance? And one that should concern us."

"Asher is angry that Lord Torrance has assigned another to a task he believed was meant for him alone. Lord Torrance wants his half-sister found so he can secure a marriage that would benefit the clan, though more so him. There is speculation that he's searching for a wealthy, elderly lord who he can do away with right after the marriage so he can rule the clan and marry his sister off yet again to the next wealthy, elderly lord. He intends to use her to claim more and more land. Asher had no luck in locating the woman, so Lord Torrance assigned the task to a mercenary called Knox."

"I know him, not well, but we fought in a battle together. He is a large man with much strength to him and he is skilled with most weapons. He's a quiet man, not saying much."

"And a man whose fine features have women often pining over him from what I heard the women say about him," Dru said. "And he prefers them tall and hefty since he is such a large man."

"Now there's a man who would ignore you whether you stink or not," Nug said with a chuckle.

"One less man you have to battle to win me, Nug." Dru laughed when he lacked a quick response. "Go on, I'll wait. You're bound to think of a snappy reply by the end of the day."

"Don't bother, Nug. Dru is far too quick with her mouth," Quint cautioned.

Dru continued. "Lord Torrance had promised Asher a sizeable plot of land for finding his half-sister. From what's being speculated, Asher's failure to find her fast enough, had Lord Torrance assigning the task to Knox, but Asher refuses to give up. He wants that land."

"Or it could be a lie to keep secret what Asher is really doing for Lord Torrance," Nug said. "Torrance always lied and manipulated when he was young. Ryland and I learned that time and again. He's no different today than he was back then."

"There may very well be something to that," Dru said, filling her tankard with more cider. "Lord Torrance could be keeping a secret, but I believe Asher is as well."

"What makes you say that?" Nug asked.

"Whispers overheard, rumors circulating that since after the battle Asher is not pleased with the orders Lord Torrance has given him. They are at odds. I also overheard Asher's man yelling at Brother Peter. It had something to do with Lord Torrance, but I couldn't hear it clearly. Brother Peter spoke softly; I assume trying to calm the man down since I couldn't hear what he was saying. Then the man's anger exploded, and he punched Brother Peter knocking him to the ground. That was when Brother Peter started begging for mercy. But the man showed him none."

"What did you do, Dru?" Quint asked.

"I launched myself at him."

"That wasn't a very wise thing to do," Quint admonished.

"Maybe, but I'm quick on my feet. I figured the distraction would create enough time for the cleric to escape, then I could take off."

"After suffering some hits that left you bruised and bloody," Quint reminded.

"The reason I was about to take my leave when Brother Peter suddenly clobbered the man in the head with a stone, knocking him out. We both got out of there fast enough."

"Maybe the cleric knows more than he's saying," Nug suggested.

"I'm more concerned with why one of Asher's men is in the area, and if there could possibly be more of his men lurking nearby," Quint said.

"Lord Torrance could be planning a surprise attack on the clan," Nug said, worry filling his eyes at the mere thought.

"But if that were so he would still have mercenaries hunting down any MacLeish warriors who may not have made it home yet," Quint said.

"Knowing Torrance, he's up to something," Nug said.

"If he is, he's keeping it quiet and that's not an easy task. One word to one person is all it takes for secrets to be revealed," Dru said. "Maybe Brother Peter knows something since he may have spoken with Lord Torrance."

"I intend to speak with him after we're done here," Quint said. "What we know so far is that Lord Torrance sent word that Clan MacLeish and its warriors and people are to come to no harm. Lord Torrance and Asher are at odds. Asher has, supposedly, gone in search of Torrance's half-sister, yet one of his men, maybe more, are in the area. And one attacked Brother Peter. We will see what Rufus has to say when he returns with a response to the message I sent."

"What message?" Dru asked.

"You were gone before we devised a plan," Nug said.

Quint went to explain when a rapid knock sounded at the door and a servant called out, "Rufus has returned home… alone."