Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“It isn’t that you ask much of me, for I know how thirsty one can be for revenge. It is that you ask so much of my wife when she has already given endlessly of herself to help you. Now you ask that she take the chance of losing a husband she has barely been wed to and the life they hoped to share together.”
Ula got teary-eyed. “Oh, Shade, how selfish of me to even consider it when you risked your life coming here to help us, and only after you just wed, and then working tirelessly to help the wounded.”
“Ah, we are selfish like Ula says and grateful for your help thus far,” Nug said, “but think of what life would be like in these parts if Lord Torrance continues his thirst to gain more land and power? No one would be safe from his cruelty.”
Nug’s warning awakened a worry in Shade, and she saw the same worry in her husband’s eyes and knew his thought was a similar one. What would happen if Lord Torrance decided he wanted her to serve as his healer? What would he do, not to her, but to her family and friends if she refused him?
“We think the same, wife, so you know I have no choice but to do this,” Quint said.
While Caleb and Nug appeared confused, Ula gasped. “When Lord Torrance hears of Shade’s exceptional healing skills, you worry that he will demand she become his clan healer.”
“And he would once the news reaches him about how she has helped heal the wounded at Clan MacLeish and she also is helping Chieftain Ryland to heal,” Nug said, offering his concern.
“It is a wise decision,” Caleb said, exhaustion heavy in his voice and in his eyes that he fought to keep open.
“Enough for now,” Ula ordered. “Caleb needs sleep.”
Shade and Quint followed Nug out the door and after he shut it, he looked from Shade to Quint. “The Monk should view this as an opportunity to prove he is not the madman everyone believes him to be. No one will be able to deny he is a good man if he helps Clan MacLeish, and they will begin to doubt that he could have killed those monks.”
“I will consider it,” Quint said.
“Do not take too long,” Nug advised. “Time is not on our side.”
Nug hurried off and Quint took his wife’s hand. “We need to talk.”
“Aye, this is not an easy decision to make,” she said as he hustled her away.
Quint spoke after reaching their bedchamber and closing the door. “I disagree. This is an easy decision to make.”
Shade shook her head at his incredulous remark. “You cannot be serious.”
“But I am. It could easily lure Asher and Lord Torrance into a trap. I would get to have my revenge against Asher after learning who hired him to kill Amara and the monks, and Clan MacLeish will get another chance to defeat Lord Torrance.”
“Asher might feel the same, having you somewhere convenient where he could end your life with little difficulty and with the help of Lord Torrance,” Shade argued.
“But I will be ready for him. I won’t need to go searching for him and I won’t face him alone. I have the whole Clan MacLeish to help me while I, in turn, help them.”
That more than appealed to Shade. It would mean her not having to bid him goodbye and worry that he might never return if his hunt for Asher went badly.
“Though it would be prudent if we waited for Dru to return and see what she learns about Asher before a decision is made,” Quint said.
“On that I agree,” Shade conceded and walked toward him, his arm reaching out for her after taking only one step.
He embraced her as he always did with warmth and strength that comforted her. She felt like she did when she stepped into her cottage, that she was home. Quint’s arms, his strength, his love was now her home, and nothing could be more welcoming.
“Tell me how I am to trust you when you went behind my back and did this,” Quint demanded of Nug.
“It is the only way, and we have no time to lose,” Nug said in defense of his actions.
Quint glared at Nug, ready to ring the man’s neck. “I specifically asked you to wait until Dru returned with news.”
“She is already a day late. It could wait no longer,” Nug argued.
“But you never waited. You sent Rufus three days ago, only two days after we discussed this, with a message for Lord Torrance that I would rule Clan MacLeish in his name until he arrives. And who informed me about this? My wife. Rufus’s daughter Bethy told my wife how much she misses her da and she can’t wait until he comes home. It didn’t take much to realize where he had gone or who might have sent him since he would have never left his family so soon after reuniting with them.”