Chapter 27

CHAPTER 27

S hade saw the opportunity a short distance ahead of her. A sizeable stone. This might be her only chance. She had to take it. She kept her eyes on the stone and when the time was right, she made it appear that her foot caught on something, and she went down.

"Get up!" Brother Peter ordered. "You'll not pretend with me with useless delay tactics. Get up and get moving."

Shade pretended to fall again as she tried to stand while gripping the rock in her hand. "My ankle. It twisted and now pains me."

"Foolish woman," Brother Peter grumbled and leaned down to grab her arm and yank her up.

He never got to touch her. She swung hard and caught him in the brow and realizing quickly it was not enough, she struck him again in the temple. He collapsed to his knees, disoriented, and she took off running. A pain in her side had her pressing her hand to it and that was when she felt it… blood. He had stabbed her.

She heard him roar, an angry vicious roar that sent a chill through her. Horses. Were those horses she heard? Good, Lord, she would never be able to outrun horses. She had to hide. She cast a wide glance around the area. She spotted a cropping of large rocks but that would be too obvious of a place to hide. She saw it then, a large pine tree whose lower branches swept along the ground. She stopped, grabbed a fallen pine branch and dusted away her footprints as she hurried to the tree, then she rolled underneath it, dusting away the last trace of her.

She managed to crawl to the base of the tree where she was able to stretch out on her back. She immediately rested her hand against her wound to see what damage was done. It was deeper than she hoped, but at least it hadn't hit any vital organs inside her. But she had to get the bleeding to stop. She struggled but managed to slip off her tunic and tear a strip off the hem that she folded and pressed against the wound. She cringed from the pain, but it couldn't be helped. It took some doing but she was able to wrap her tunic around her middle and pull it as snugly around her as she could. She prayed it was enough to stop the bleeding.

Between not having gotten any sleep last night, running through the woods, and her wound, she was exhausted and as much as she wanted to keep her eyes open, she couldn't. She fell into a much-needed sleep.

Her nightmare took her back into the abbey and the dead monks and Brother Emmett warned her again and again to run. She felt hands grab her and lift her and she swung fisted hands trying to fight, trying to save herself.

"It's Quint, Shade. I've got you. You're safe," Quint said, as the pine branches were pulled back so he could get his wife out from under the tree. "I'll get you to Ena. She will help you. It won't take long. You didn't get far from the village."

"Quint," she whispered and slumped in relief in his arms.

The ride back to the village was not an easy one and Shade feared her wound would start bleeding again, unless it had yet to stop. She prayed it had.

"I've got you. I've got you. You're safe," Quint kept repeating to her to reassure her, though he also needed to reassure himself.

He almost allowed his revenge to be more important than his wife's safety. It took what Dru said to make him realize what he already knew and what the thirst for revenge almost managed to take from him, that Shade was more important to him than capturing Asher himself. He sent Nug and his warriors to capture him and focused on finding his wife. He only wished he'd found her sooner.

"Take her to Ryland's quarters," Ula urged when Quint carried her into the Great Hall. "Her herbs are there. She can tell us what is needed and how to prepare them."

Quint hurried up the steps but slowed down when his wife groaned in pain. "I'll have you in the bed soon."

"If only I wasn't wounded, I would look forward to it," she said with a forced smile.

That she could be humorous given the dire situation offered him some hope, but his fear had him saying, "You will not leave me. You will heal and we will share a bed for the rest of our days."

"Aye, husband. We will never be alone again," she said and groaned softly, trying not to let him know how much pain she was in.

But Quint knew. It was almost as if he could feel her pain and he blamed himself for her suffering.

"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."

"We think alike, wife, since that was my intention. Asher will set me free."

"And Brother Peter? He is a vile man."

"His day will come. But right now, the only thing that matters to me is you."

"You should rest," Quint chastised, seeing his wife at her mixing table in the chieftain's bedchamber when he entered and stepped behind her to wrap his arms around her.

"It's been a full moon cycle, and I have healed well. A twinge reminds me if I need to slow down or rest, but the wound has healed and soon the only thing I have that will remind me of it is the scar."

"Appease your poor husband and come and share a drink with me in the Great Hall," he cajoled with a kiss to her cheek, then enticed. "Cook has just made oat cakes."

She chuckled. "How can I resist oat cakes."

Nug hurried toward Quint when he entered the Great Hall with Shade. "A message has arrived from Ryland."

Quint's arm went around his wife's waist to escort her to the solar, though he shouted for drinks and oat cakes to be brought there before they left the Great Hall.

Before the servants brought the food and drink, Quint quickly asked, "Who brought this message and how do you know it was from Ryland?"

"A traveling merchant said a man in the woods stopped him and offered generous coins to deliver the message. Ryland knows you are here which means he must be in the area. He must be watching."

Quint shook his head. "It could be a ruse. Word could have gotten out that Ryland is not here at Clan MacLeish and Lord Torrance may have heard and sets a trap. We need to be cautious. We don't know for sure if the message is from Ryland."

All talk ceased when servants brought the food and drink.

Quint spoke as soon as the door closed behind the servants. "Tell me the message."

"Ryland asked that The Monk remains here and watches over the clan until he arrives and secures it. He also repeated part of what he had said to Caleb. ‘We have won the battle.'"

"He sounds confident, claiming victory," Shade said, "and I wonder if there is a message within the message he sends since he repeated part of his last message."

"Quint recently asked me that about the last message, but I can't say I see anything hiding within it," Nug said. "Ryland makes it clear that he will return, and we will be victorious. How, I don't know. I only know I trust him."

"Perhaps," Quint said. "But this cannot go on indefinitely. My wife and I wish to return home and preferably before winter sets in."

"I agree. I am most eager to see it settled, and before winter sets in as well," Nug said. "But you will stay with us longer if needed, won't you?"

Quint looked to his wife to make the decision.

"If we must spend the winter here, then I must return home for a short time before the snow falls to see if anyone requires healing and to see my mum and explain all that has gone on and assure her that I am safe and well," Shade explained.

"The clan will assist you in whatever you need, Shade," Nug said.

The door opened without a knock and Dru walked in.

"Of course, it would be you since you respect no one's privacy," Nug said.

"Important news can't wait for permission to enter," Dru said.

"Need I remind you of the last warning I gave you concerning Dru?" Quint cautioned.

Nug bobbed his head. "Please, share your important news."

Dru rocked on her feet and smiled. "It's for Quint's ears only."

Nug got up and muttered as he left the room.

Shade went to leave, but her husband took hold of her arm. "You don't need to go."

"I am not sure if I want to stay and hear what Dru has to tell you, or perhaps it is your response I fear."

Quint rested his brow against hers. "Stay. Whatever is meant for my ears is meant for yours as well. I don't want us keeping anything from each other, no secrets, nothing. We speak the truth whether we want to hear it or not."

"Aye, you're right," she said and kissed his cheek then settled herself in the crook of his arm after turning to face Dru.

"I didn't think love was real. I thought it was something men told women to get women to spread their legs for them. But you can truly see the love you both have for each other, and it gives me hope."

"Love will find you one day, Dru," Shade said.

"Nay. I will never trust a man enough to love him."

Quint laughed. "You won't have a choice. Love decides for you."

"Love is not dictating to me. I make my own decisions," Dru insisted. "Enough about love. You need to know about Brother Peter. He spoke with the powers that be in the church and expressed his sorrow for what he did. He convinced them that evil had taken hold of him and the only way to repent was in prayer and solitude. A decision was made to send him to an isolated monastery far north of here where he can repent properly." She shook her head. "They are fools. He'll gather another crew and take over a clan up there somewhere."

"Has he left for this monastery already and do you know what road he travels?" Quint asked.

Dru nodded. "I know of it, but I never traveled it, too many thieves that will cut your throat for nothing more than the cloak you wear."

Shade gripped her husband's arm when she heard that.

"I appreciate the information, Dru. Now settle down and enjoy the coming winter's rest," Quint said.

Dru smiled. "I'm looking forward to it. I know I'll be safe since you rule the clan." She grabbed an oat cake off the table and hurried to the door. "If you need anything else let me know." She swung the door open to see Nug standing there. "Spying?"

Nug rolled his eyes and shook his head. "I meant to tell you something."

Dru stepped aside to let him pass.

"It's for you, Dru, not Quint," Nug said. "And the possibility couldn't make me any happier. The traveling merchant mentioned that a fellow called Knox was inquiring about you. He heard how good you were in gathering information and he is hoping to hire you to help him find Lord Torrance's half-sister."

Dru turned to Quint. "There is not a bloody chance in hell I would help that fool to find a woman who Lord Torrance intends to enslave to husband after husband to gain power and wealth. Keep him away from me or I will make sure his search ends here." She pushed past Nug and hurried off.

Nug stared helplessly at Quint. "If she harms this fellow Knox, Lord Torrance would punish us."

"Don't worry, Nug. I will take care of it," Quint said.

Nug nodded and closed the door.

Shade rested her hand on her husband's chest but before she could say anything, Quint spoke. "I will leave the decision to you."

Shade looked puzzled for a moment. "Are you saying that if I tell you not to go and have your revenge against Brother Peter, you will abide by my word?"

"Aye, that is what I am saying. The choice is yours."

A heavy sigh escaped Shade as she stepped away from her husband. "This is not my decision to make."

"It is as much your decision as it is mine. You once told me that the tentacles of revenge spread wide and far and that is what happened with my revenge. It spread and affected people I never knew and never meant for it to touch. I cannot help but think… will my revenge end with Brother Peter's death or will it continue to reach out and cause more harm?"

Shade stepped closer to him to once again rest her hand on his chest. "You think of that, and I think of Amara's words that came well before mine, that you would revenge her brutal death. This decision isn't ours. It was already made by Amara, and it is her word that sealed Brother Peter's fate, no other." She kissed him lightly. "Just promise me that you will come home to me."