Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

Q uint dismounted, his mare remaining close to him as he approached the line of trees. He peered through the autumn leaves that framed the abbey and made it look as though it had been set ablaze. The place should be burnt and the horrifying memories along with it. He didn't doubt for a moment that the poor souls of the monks who once occupied it still walked the empty halls and rooms unsettled, confused, and searching for peace.

A gust of wind rustled the leaves, causing several to break free, take flight until finally floating to the ground.

"Did you hear that, Dru? The wind carries the anguished cries of the slaughtered monks, letting all know they have yet to rest peacefully."

"If you were busy hearing the ghostly moans, how did you hear me, Quint? I was as quiet as could be."

"I didn't hear you. I smelled you," Quint said and turned around.

He wrinkled his nose at the offensive odor that drifted off the young woman, though at first glance one might mistake her for a lad. Her hair that fell just beneath her ears and was tucked behind them was too dirty to tell its true color. Grime covered her face and garments that appeared too big for her slim frame.

Quint didn't ask her when last she ate. He grabbed a small sack off his saddle and handed it to her. Shade had insisted he take enough food with him so that he did not have to hunt or fish to feed himself concerned such activity would disturb his wounds.

Dru snatched it from his hand, digging into it and shoveling pieces of bread into her mouth.

"You need to stop soaking yourself in that stink," Quint said, waving his hand in front of his face and taking a step back away from her.

"It keeps the men away," Dru said with a mouthful. "Animals too, though there's no difference between the two."

Her sleeve got pushed back to nearly her elbow as she dug for more food and as she pulled out a hunk of cheese, Quint spotted the edge of a dirty cloth wrapped around part of her forearm. "Did you suffer a wound?"

"It's nothing," Dru said.

Quint grabbed her arm and pushed her sleeve back. "The bandage is filthy and no doubt the wound is too. Go see the healer, Shade. She will tend to it. She tended well to my wounds."

"Maybe," Dru said with a shrug.

Quint, let it be. It wasn't up to him to tell Dru what to do, the choice was hers to make, though he did caution her when necessary.

"Will you winter again at Clan MacLeish?" he asked.

"Aye. Chieftain Ryland lets me winter there. I'm headed there soon since winter is showing its impatience with the nights far too chilly than they should be and I worry the cold may arrive early."

"You might want to search for another place to shelter for the winter. News spreads that Lord Torrance of Clan Glencairn intends to go to battle with Clan MacLeish."

"I've heard and I'm staying abreast of the situation."

"Lord Torrance has a good number of warriors, not to mention the mercenaries he's gathered, and if he wins, he'll claim Clan MacLeish. He is not a kind man nor is he as generous as Chieftain Ryland. Better yet find a man who will look after you and stay put," Quint said, hoping she would at least consider his wise advice.

"There is not a man alive I trust," Dru said defiantly.

Quint scowled. "Not even me?"

Dru chuckled. "Specifically, you."

"Seriously, Dru, you need to find a place to settle. You're not safe on the road alone," he insisted.

"Hopefully, someday," Dru said with a shrug. "Right now, I have no choice. Enough chatting, I have news for you."

He had met Dru by happenstance and realized right away that she could be trusted and that she had a way of finding out information of all sorts. He paid her well for any such information that helped him in his quest.

"What news?" he asked.

"The fellow you killed, Rand, his brothers Cyril and Brant are looking to kill you. They plan to meet up in this area."

"One of them has already tried, and he is now with his brother Rand," Quint informed her.

Dru scrunched her nose. "That can't be. It will be several days before Cyril arrives in these parts to meet up with his brother."

"Brant must have gotten impatient," Quint said.

"Best be careful, Quint. You're thirsty for revenge, so you know how Cyril will feel when he discovers he not only lost one brother but two and he is now the only one left."

"Don't worry. He won't be lonely for long. I'll make certain he joins his brothers. Any other news, Dru?"

She shook her head, looking annoyed. "I thought I had something, but it proved to be nothing, at least it seems that way, but I'll keep at it."

"Any news about The Monk?"

"I heard he's gotten into a couple of brawls, though they didn't last long. He knocked the men out and knifed another. People continue to avoid him, though if he seeks information from anyone, they surrender it easily enough."

"Tell me that you're being careful out there, Dru."

"It's not about being careful, Quint. It's about being wise, and I am a wise one," Dru said, grinning widely.

"Too wise for your own good," Quint said.

They talked a bit more, making plans, and when it came time to part, Dru said, "I just might go see that healer, so I'll see you there."

"What makes you think I am going back there?"

"It's your only choice. The last surviving brother is hunting you and his search is going to take him straight to the healer, and you'll be there waiting for him."

Shade kept herself busy in her garden, refusing to allow herself to dwell on Quint's departure. She had been dwelling far too much on her feelings of loneliness of late and what might have been and that had caused her improper thoughts and behavior. She would never let it happen again. However she had to admit that she was glad she got to experience a kiss even if it hadn't been meant for her. She could now put her curiosity to rest about it. The kiss had her thinking about what it would be like to have a man who wished to kiss her, care for her, love her. Was it too late for her?

"If it is meant to be, it will be," she told herself and continued to work on the twig wreath for her front door.

"Talking to yourself, Shade?"

Shade was startled for a moment but smiled when she saw her step-da, Rawlin, emerge from the dense woods, his horse trailing behind him. He was a good man and a good husband to her mum. He had approached her mum two years after he lost his wife and by then her mum had been a widow for ten years. Her mum had rebuffed his suggestion that they would make a good fit, but he had been persistent, and it had paid off for him. Her mum wed him and went to live at his farm. Shortly after her departure, her grandmother had passed, and she was left alone. Her mum did not live far, and they visited when they could, but the farm kept her busy as did Shade's healing. She was happy for her mum, but she did miss her.

Her brow wrinkled with worry when she realized her mum wasn't with Rawlin. That was unusual and she quickly asked, "Is my mum well?"

"Her head pains her as it does from time to time and she has run out of that brew you made for her that helps her so much," Rawlin said.

"I should have brought her more by now," Shade said and worried that her mum's headaches were getting worse, growing more frequent since she had given her more than enough of the mixture to last for a good while.

"Nonsense, Shade. We've all been busy with no time to visit."

"Do you have enough time to have a hot brew before you leave?" she asked.

"Aye, I would enjoy that, but I also need you to tend to a wound of mine."

"What happened?" Shade asked with concern.

He shook his head. "A splinter I fear that I nor your mum could dig out and since her headache brought me here, I thought I would have you look at it and see if you could help."

Shade smiled softly, though a laugh tickled her throat. Her mum's headaches were not growing more frequent, and she had not run out of the mixture. She had feigned both, giving her an excuse to send Rawlin here for the true purpose of seeing his finger tended to.

"The light is better out here. Take a seat on the bench," she said, pointing to the one in front of the cottage, "while I set a brew to heat before I work on your splinter."

It took only a few moments to see the task done and gather what she needed. She returned to Rawlin to find him resting back against the cottage wall as he glanced around.

"It really is lovely here," Rawlin said. "Sometimes I think your mum misses being here. Sitting here now, I can understand why. There is a peacefulness to this place that calms."

"Aye, there is, and I am lucky to call it my home," Shade said and placed a small stack of cloths on the bench before filling a bucket from the barrel of rainwater and sitting it on the bench beside him. "You will need to soak your hand in there for a while."

He did as she told him, and they talked as they waited.

"Have you heard from Ula lately?" Rawlin asked.

"Nay, and I am concerned of news about a possible battle between Clan MacLeish and Clan Glencairn. At first, I thought it was mere gossip but talk of it has increased and the more I hear the more I believe it is only a matter of time. If it comes to that, Caleb will have to fight, and I cannot imagine how frightened Ula must be over that prospect."

"That is why I asked. Everyone believes a battle is imminent. Land is power in the Highlands and Lord Torrance wants Clan MacLeish so he can grow his power and wealth. It may not be a large clan, but it is a prosperous one, not to mention that there has been bad blood between Torrance and Ryland."

"Why?"

Rawlin shrugged. "Who knows? It could be anything, though more often it is nothing that is important enough to spark a battle and for people to die."

Shade had him remove his hand from the water and after moving the bucket off the bench, she sat next to him. She examined his finger with the splinter closely, then took a bone needle from her healing pouch and went to work on it as she continued to chat with him.

"So, you do not think Clan MacLeish has a chance against Clan Glencairn?" she asked.

"Chieftain Ryland of Clan MacLeish is a wise leader and warrior. I have confidence in him and his skills. Unfortunately, Lord Torrance is not an honorable man. Many hope and pray that Chieftain Ryland sees victory in the battle that is sure to come, for if he doesn't, there is no telling how many clans Lord Torrance will attempt to claim."

"I pray the same myself," Shade said and released his hand. "All done. I will smear the small wound with honey. Keep your hand clean and it will heal fine."

Rawlin stared at his finger that he held up in front of his face. "I didn't even feel that. Your mum said you had a tender and soothing touch."

"A grateful gift since it helps when healing," Shade said. "Now let's have that brew."

They talked and laughed and ate oak cakes that Shade had made earlier. She was grateful for Rawlin's visit. It helped her feel less alone and reminded her that she had family who cared for her.

Quint watched Shade and the man talking from the confines of the woods. He had heard voices when he had approached the cottage on foot and stopped when he saw her sitting next to the man on the bench. They appeared quite comfortable with each other, giving Quint the impression they knew each other. He was an older man and could be visiting her concerning a healing issue. But it seemed a friendlier visit with them sharing a brew and oat cakes.

The situation normally wouldn't stop him from approaching and finding out for himself. But there was something familiar about the man and that could prove a problem. So, he watched and waited for the man to leave.

"Wait here, Gillie," Quint whispered to his mare when the fellow took his leave, and he followed the man to make sure he was on his way and wouldn't be returning. Once assured, he returned to his mare.

He waited a bit, watching Shade as she finished a twig wreath and began plucking brightly colored leaves off a nearby tree and adding them to the wreath. She smiled as she worked and appeared quite content, yet he thought he had detected in her, the short time he had spent with her, a sense of loneliness. Or was it his own solitude of late that had him questioning it?

It was what he wanted, what he planned on once he fulfilled his mission, once he got his revenge. So, why suddenly was he questioning his decision?

The healer's touch.

It was remarkably calming. He didn't think he had ever felt as calm as he did when she touched him. He had thought it was his fever at first playing tricks on him, but it hadn't been. It was as though her touch not only had the power to rid him of his fever but to also calm the fiery rage that seemed to forever burn in him. Not even Amara and the love she had for him had been able to do that.

The thought of Amara had him recalling his mission and how nothing could stop him from straying from it. He grabbed his mare's reins and walked out of the woods, calling out to Shade as he did so he would not startle her.

The few colorful leaves Shade held slipped from in her hand and floated to the ground upon hearing Quint's voice call to her. Her mind was surely playing tricks on her until she saw him emerge from the woods. That her heart beat a bit faster, and a spark of joy flamed within her had her questioning, why? What was it about this man that made her pleased to see him, happy that he returned? He was a warrior, not a man who would stay long with her or one who might never return to her. Why would she allow herself to feel even a niggling of any feeling for him when he would be but a moment in her life? She could not be that lonely to leave herself open to something that would lead to more heartache and loneliness.

"Did you forget something?" she asked, bending down to snatch up the leaves she had dropped only to stand and find him directly in front of her.

There was no storm in the blue of his eyes, the color was serene as though just being here brought him peace.

Honesty. There could be no other way between them, though how honest could he truly be with her and not have her run away in fear of him? Regardless, he decided to be truthful with her.

"The man who came here to kill me to revenge his brother's death has another brother, Cyril, who is on his way to meet his brother?—"

"Who is dead," Shade said, understanding why he returned, and it had naught to do with her. "You believe this man, Cyril, will show up here, so you returned to?—"

"Keep you safe," Quint said before she could finish.

It did not stop her from having her say. "And to kill the last brother."

"Kill or be killed. It is the way of life," Quint said. "I will be staying here with you until it is done."

"Do I have a say in this?"

"Nay, you don't," he said, the matter settled.

Shade saw his blue eyes turn slightly stormy, though calmed fast enough. She was startled when he stepped closer to her, and she almost took a quick step back if it wasn't for his hand that grabbed her arm.

"I will not see you harmed because of me. Once I see this task done and know you are safe, I will leave you be, on that you have my word."

He was too close to her, much too close, and his grip on her was more of a gentle squeeze, an intimate touch, and his lips so close she could see a tiny scar in one corner of his mouth. She settled her glance on his eyes once again and the smallest, almost undetectable gasp slipped from her lips when she saw his blue eyes heated with the last thing she ever expected to see there… desire.

"Bloody hell, woman," he said and brought his lips down on hers.

Shade didn't realize how much she wanted him to kiss her until his lips met hers. She was as hungry to taste him as he was to taste her. It was a kiss of lovers too long separated, a kiss that could never be quenched, a kiss that came deep from the heart, a kiss that promised so much more. And she got lost in it.

Shade would have stumbled if he hadn't kept hold of her arm when he abruptly ended the kiss. Though he released her arm soon enough almost as though it was too hot to touch.

He stepped away from her, a scowl on his face. "Your look, your kiss tells me you want more. Let me know when you're ready and I will oblige you."

Too shocked to speak, Shade watched him walk his mare to the lean-to, hearing him mumble every step of the way but unable to make any sense of it. She briefly thought of telling him to leave, but only briefly since she did not want him to leave. She wanted him to stay, wanted him to kiss her again, wanted to explore what she felt and perhaps he was right, perhaps she did want more from him.

It was a dangerous thought since he was not a man who would stay and build a life with her, and where would that leave her?