Page 84 of Cherished By A Highlander

“In about a full moon cycle’s time.”

“You will reside there?” Shade asked.

“My dear, I am proud to say that I will oversee Coggshall Abbey. So, you already have a friend there,” he assured her with a gentle pat to her arm. “But I should caution you, there is talk that the church may seek punishment for the one responsible for the eight dead monks. I have suggested to The Monk that he seek absolution and be forgiven rather than condemned. You might want to advise him to do that.”

“But would a confession be enough for absolution?” she asked, worried.

“The church believes that The Monk regretted what he did soon after he killed the eight monks since he blessed the monks with ashes and the blood on his hands mixing with it. He was remorseful and that is what matters to the church. Think on it, my dear.”

Brother Peter turned away, a woman calling out to him.

Shade continued to the keep, doing as he said, thinking on it.

“You are sure he is ready?”Quint asked, keeping his voice to a whisper since servants were busy serving the sentinels who were arriving after their night shift to enjoy a hardy morning meal.

“It’s been several days. I believe he has grown strong enough for the plan to work,” Shade murmured.

“I will go talk with him and Ula and arrange his return for tomorrow morning and?—”

“QUINT!”

The sharp shout had Quint hurrying to his feet, knowing something was wrong since Nug had addressed him as ‘sir’ since he took over leadership of the clan.

“A sentinel has been wounded and left for dead,” Nug said between labored breaths.

Quint helped Shade off the bench and draped her cloak over her shoulders before grabbing his off the bench where they had left them, then they followed Nug out of the keep and through the village.

Quint did not stop Shade from rushing to the warrior lying on the ground since several MacLeish warriors surrounded the area. He turned to Nug as they walked to reach the fallen warrior. “Have the village searched to see if anyone is missing and ask if anyone has not been seen in a while. And find Dru and make sure she’s all right.”

“Aye,” Nug said and motioned to Heath and quickly assigned him the task.

Shade moved the warrior’s head to the side so she could see the wound and so that she could also see what damage may have been done inside his head. A head wound always bled more, sothe pool of blood did not worry her as much as the young warrior not regaining consciousness yet.

“How is he, Shade,” Quint asked.

“He took a good gash to his head and the sooner he wakes the better,” she said. “He needs to be moved to Ena’s cottage where she and I can tend to him.”

While the men got busy moving the wounded warrior, Quint stepped beside his wife and whispered, “Did you see anything that might present a problem?”

“Nay. He has no bleeds within his head or swelling and both are good signs. I don’t think he’s been out long since no blood has dried, so hopefully he will wake soon.”

“Go and see to him while I tend to this, but be careful, no rushing into anything since I do not know if someone left the village or that someone arrived.”

“I will be careful,” she said and hurried after the men who carried the warrior.

“Get one of your trackers on this,” Quint ordered, “and have your men search the nearby area to see if they can find anything. And have Witley and Monty brought to the Great Hall.”

Nug nodded and rushed off.

He was glad to see Dru approach him as he made his way back to the keep.

“The news spreads fast, I heard already. How can I help?” Dru asked when she reached him.

“Be my ears and eyes today. See if you hear or see anything out of the ordinary, anything that might be suspect, or anyone behaving differently than usual. You know what I mean. You have done it before.”

“Aye, I’ll see to it right away and check the spots I’ve come across where someone could easily hide.”

“Take Nug with you when you do that and that is not a request,” Quint said firmly, worried she might find the culprit.

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