Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“I need help, Dru.”
“What’s wrong, Busby?” she asked, moving closer to the young man, his grime covered face nearly as filthy as his dirty garments. He’d always been slim, but now he looked like he had been starving for some time.
He wasn’t one to allow himself to get in such poor shape. Like her, he was on his own and had managed to do well for himself, so she was surprised to see him in such dire need.
“My usual haunts are overrun with mercenaries and they are scooping up any young man they can find and forcing them to join with them in the hunt. I’m not a warrior. I can’t kill. I don’t even know how to use a weapon. I’m starving and I don’t know where to find safe shelter. I caught sight of you and the giant and knew it was a sign from the heavens. Please help me, Dru.”
“Of course, I’ll help you and I know just where to send you.”
“And where would that be, wife?” Knox stepped out from behind the bushes and his hand shot out to grab the lad by the arm when he went to take off.
Busby’s eyes shot wide. “Wife?”
“Don’t hurt him, Knox,” Dru pleaded. “He’s a friend.”
“You told me that you had no friends.”
“She would say that as would I about her, but only to keep each other safe,” Busby said. “People can be cruel to friends of those they want something from.”
“Please, Knox, he needs food and a safe place to stay while the mercenaries hunt for Autumn.”
Busby gasped. “You search for Autumn?”
“You know her?” Knox asked.
Busby glanced nervously at Dru.
“Let him eat while he tells you what he knows,” Dru suggested.
“Sit by the stream,” Knox ordered. “I’ll get the sack of food.”
Knox heard Dru assure Busby as he walked away. “Everything will be fine.”
When Knox was a distance away, Busby whispered, “You married him? Why? You said—”
“I had no choice, and I have no time to explain it now,” Dru said. “Just know that it isn’t a marriage meant to last. Before he returns, I need you to deliver a message for me.”
“Hurry and tell me.”
Knox glanced at the pair, whispering, and he got the feeling Dru was telling the lad something she didn’t want him to hear.
He dropped the sack in Dru’s lap. “Why the whispers?”
Busby was quick to respond. “Habit. One has to be careful when traveling the road.”
Dru reached in the sack and pulled out bread and cheese to hand to Busby.
His eyes went wide, and he snatched them out of her hand.
“Easy, you haven’t eaten in a while,” Dru cautioned. “And there is enough here to share so you have no worry of finding food on your journey to Clan MacLeish.”
Busby chewed as he said, “Bless you, Dru bless you.”
Dru patted his thin shoulder. “All is good, Busby. Shade is a healer and will see to any healing you may need and Quint, her husband, will make sure you are kept safe.”
“I look forward to meeting them,” Busby said, continuing to shovel food into his mouth.
“Tell me what you know about Autumn,” Knox said, sitting on the ground beside Dru.
“Only that mercenaries swarm the area searching for her and that many believe she traveled safely to the lowlands and now lives with a friend of her mum’s.”
“Why do they believe that?” Knox asked.
“A traveling merchant tells a tale about picking up a proper lady who sought travel to the lowlands to a friend’s home,” Busby said. “According to his story, he took her there since he was going that way to pick up wares to sell.”
“Do you know this merchant’s name?” Knox asked.
Busby shook his head and stuffed a chunk of cheese in his mouth and chewed while he spoke. “Nay, but his tale mentions how frightened she was and that he felt bad for her. The road can be a harsh place for one who knows it, but for one who doesn’t it could be deadly. It’s something a traveling merchant would be aware of and know what roads to avoid.”
Knox stood. “How long ago was this?”
Busby tilted his head back to look up at him. “Long enough for her to have settled herself in the Lowlands.”
“Did the merchant mention where he left her?” Knox asked.
Busby shook his head. “From what I heard, he never mentioned it. But he claims to have warned her that lowlanders don’t particularly care for Highlanders. They think the lot of us are savages.”
“Only when we need to be,” Knox said and crouched down in front of Busby. “Forge your own pathway to Clan MacLeish. You’d never survive the grueling regime some of the stronger mercenary crews put the lot of abducted men through or the punishment they inflict for not learning fast enough.”
Busby shuddered. “I have heard horror tales, especially about a man called Phelan.”