Page 50 of The Trials of Neilina MacKai
***
THE TWO LAIRDS WALKEDthrough the bailey, checking to be certain all the current captives were secure.“Let us join the search in the abbey,” Rhuad suggested, when they finished their task.
They’d taken two steps toward the basket and pulley system that fortunately had been restored to working order when a young MacFearann man came running.
“We found them my lords.They’re in the abbess’s chambers resting.I was sent to find you and a healer.”
“Who did you find?”Raeb asked.
“Who needs a healer?”Rhuad panicked, afraid he already knew the answer.
“Your ladies, Laird MacFearann.That’s who we found.It’s Lady MacFearann who needs the healer.”
Rhuad didn’t wait to learn which Lady MacFearann.He set off at a run.He had to see them.He had to make certain Seona was well.All of them were well.
“Where is he going?”the man asked.“He doesn’t need to run.They’ll be where I left them at least until I bring a healer.”
“They are all Lady MacFearann, young sir.Some day when you are older and in love, you’ll understand Laird MacFearann’s haste.”
Rhuad ran into the Abbess’s chambers two steps ahead of Raeb and considerably in advance of the young knight who escorted the healer.Squire James MacShennan brought up the rear of the line of men.
“Dear Mother of God, Seona you’re hurt.”Rhuad moved to embrace her but was forestalled by his sister.
“It’s good to see you brother.”Lady Labhra had joined Seona’s group after finding her mother who now sat in a second chair.“You mustn’t touch Lady Seona until after the healer attends her.She has wounds that you cannot see from where you are.”
“What do you mean?Seona, is she right?”
Seona nodded.“I’ve a bad knife wound under my shoulder blade.”
“Let me see.Get this binding and dressing off of her, sister.”
Labhra set to work as gently as possible.Still Seona moaned in pain from time to time.
“I’m sorry Lady Seona, I’ll need to remove this when the healer comes anyway.”
“I know.”Seona responded.“Knowing does not make it hurt less.”
Rhuad gasped when he saw the shoulder wound and other marks the abbess had carved into Seona’s back.
“What man did this,” he said, coming round to face Seona once more.He took her hand.“I swear I’ll kill him then draw and quarter the body before I send it back to Edward of England in a pretty box tied with a bow.”
Seona laughed weakly.“You can’t kill the man because it was the abbess who did this.As for murdering her, I will not permit it.I want her to suffer the same ill treatment she gave all her prisoners here.However, I don’t know where we should keep her.I certainly do not wish to ever see her again.”
“You may have to see her at least once, Sister,” Raeb stated.“The woman is no abbess.The proof of her perfidy is supposed to be here in this room.”
“Then what are you waiting for.Begin the search.The healer has arrived, I see.She, the Ladies MacFearann and I will move to the bedchamber for her examination.”
Seona stood and with help from her husband’s mother and sister made her way to the bed chamber.
Stricken with worry, Rhuad watched them leave.
A woman with a large bundle followed the group into the bedchamber.She stopped in front of Rhuad when she saw his fear and the direction of his stare.
“Do not worry, my lord.I am very good at what I do.She will heal completely, though it will take time.I hope to have her able to travel by slow stages in three days.”
“Three days,” the words nearly strangled him.“She is my wife.”
“And with proper healing she will be your wife for many years to come.”
