Page 20 of Highland Slayer
“Who lives on the Isle of Mann, Titan?” he asked.
Titan didn’t even have to think about it. He knew. “Jesus,” he muttered. “Theydo. Ormsfolk.”
“The Serpent People.”
That realization was deeply concerning. Estevan stood up, and Titan with him, and they made their way over to Leonore, who had just lain down. But Estevan spoke to Mother Michael first.
“I think we may know what her drawings mean,” Estevan said. “May I ask her?”
“Please,” Mother Michael said, indicating the woman. “Please ask her.”
Estevan turned to the woman. “Domina mea,” he said. “Estne periculum homines vermium?”
My lady, is the danger the worm people?
That brought Leonore off the bed. “Ita!” she cried. “Me invenient!”
Aye! And they will kill us all!
Estevan looked at Titan as their concerns were confirmed. Mother Michael, who had been listening closely, gently pushed Leonore back onto the mattress before turning to the men.
“Worm people?” she said. “Who are the worm people?”
Estevan sighed heavily. “Ormsfolk,” he said grimly. “They are better known as the Serpent People. They are a clan that lives on the northern tip of the Isle of Mann. Ye’ve not heard of them?”
Mother Michael frowned as she thought on the question. “I do not know,” she said. “We do not get many travelers here. Information does not come easily.”
Estevan wasn’t sure how to delicately phrase what he had to tell her. “These aren’t ordinary men,” he said. “They’re more beast than man. They live in holes and breed eels in great ponds in their domain. That’s why they’re called Serpent People. But they are extremely territorial, and extremely violent, and if that woman belonged tae them, then they will come for her.”
Mother Michael was listening seriously. “I see,” she said. “We shall fight them when they come, then. As you have seen, we can defend ourselves.”
Estevan cast Titan a long glance. When he didn’t answer, Titan spoke up. “They do not fight like normal men, mother,” he said. “They fight like mad dogs. They are known for hacking their enemies to pieces and then feeding those pieces to their eels. The woman is right—they are quite dangerous.”
Mother Michael nodded patiently, a gesture that suggested she didn’t take the threat seriously in spite of the rather grisly information. “We can easily defend ourselves,” she said. “But you should go before they come. There is no reason for you to risk yourselves.”
Titan almost laughed at the suggestion that they shouldn’t expose themselves to the danger. “Unfortunately, we cannot leave at the moment,” he said. “One of our companions is quite ill, something he must have contracted from the lady we found. He has a fever and is coughing the same as she is. We require shelter until he is well enough to travel.”
Mother Michael didn’t answer. She simply walked over to Mateo as he lay on the ground. She studied him a moment, listening to his breathing, before bending over to put a hand on his face.
“Ah,” she said, pulling away. “He is indeed feverish. You may leave him here while you continue on your way.”
Both Estevan and Titan shook their heads. “We’ll not leave him behind,” Estevan said quietly. “We simply require food and shelter until he is well enough tae travel. A few days should do. And we can move intae the stable so yer sanctuary will be clear for yer women.”
“We can amply protect him. You do not need to remain.”
“We are not leaving him, mother. Ye may as well accept that.”
Mother Michael wasn’t pleased. They weren’t being disrespectful, simply firm. There was loyalty in that unwavering stance. But she still wasn’t pleased about it, though deep down, she understood. She admired knights and their camaraderie.She’d studied it for years, envious of the bonds men shared in battle. Truth be told, perhaps there was a little envy for them now, even as they faced her down. She didn’t like men, and she didn’t want them at St. Margaret’s, but this was an unprecedented situation.
“Very well,” she said. “But you do not sleep inside the walls. You will sleep outside of the walls. There is a stream for water and game for food. You may tend to him in the daytime, but we will tend him at night.”
Titan looked at Estevan to see the man’s reaction, and he thought the command was just this side of ridiculous. It was written all over his face.
“If the Serpent People come, I dunna wish tae be caught outside of the walls,” he said. “Tae expect us tae do so would not only be unfair, it would be ungodly. I dunna believe Jesus would turn away those in need of shelter or food or the protection of a fortress.”
Mother Michael started to open her mouth, but Titan intervened. “Mother, we respect the reputation of St. Margaret’s,” he said quietly. “Everyone knows, and respects, the Lady Templars. Your abilities as an army are well known. But look in front of you—there are five fully trained knights at your disposal should the Serpent People come. No offense to you or any other nun here, but the five of us have been in more battles, and have seen more conflict, than you could ever hope to see. We are knights. You are simply women who know how to fight. There is a very big difference if you face an enemy as formidable as the Serpent People.”
He had been both insulting and complimentary, and Mother Michael couldn’t decide how she felt about it. Nothing he said was untrue. He, and his fellow warriors, had seen more conflict than she had. She’d seen seven battles in her lifetime. But the men before her had seen many times more than that.
