Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 89331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
A knock sounded and Anwen entered after Torin gave permission and she handed a cloak to Flora. “My lady,” she said with a soft bob of her head.
“As soon as I return, we will get busy in the keep once again,” Flora said.
Flora and Torin left the cottage shortly after Anwen took her leave and headed to Hadwin’s cottage.
Hadwin could not hide his shock at seeing Lord Torin standing at his door, his wife beside him, and he stared at them wide-eyed, not knowing what to say.
“We have questions for you about the dead men you came across in the woods before arriving here, and I am beyond appreciative that you gifted me the scroll.”
The last of her remark seemed to relax him a bit. “You are most welcome, my lady.” He shook his head as if finally realizing his manners. “Please, please come in out of the cold.”
The cottage was small and neatly kept with a good fire in the hearth, keeping the sparse space toasty warm.
“Please sit,” Hadwin offered.
“We will not be staying long, Hadwin, a few questions and we will be on our way,” Torin said.
Flora was not so sure about that and seeing the way Torin’s presence made Hadwin nervous, she considered that it might prove beneficial to return and speak with Hadwin without her husband.
“The two dead men you came across, had they fallen near each other?” Flora asked.
If Hadwin thought it odd that Flora asked the questions rather than Torin, he did not show it. He answered without hesitation.
“They were a short distance apart, the one man prone on the ground and the other near a tree trunk not far from him.”
“What did you think when you saw them?” Flora asked.
Hadwin scratched his head. “Strange that you ask since my very first thought was that they had fought, and the one man killed the other but having been wounded himself, he stumbled to the tree where he toppled over dead. But the two also could have been attacked by a band of renegades as well. It’s winter and there are those who are hungry and will do whatever is necessary for food. It is difficult to say what really happened to the two.”
“They were not known to you?” Flora asked.
“Nay, my lady. They were unfamiliar to me.” Hadwin offered more. “I was surprised when I came across them. This area is quiet, few travelers come this way, nothing for them here. And none would dare challenge Lord Torin. His exceptional battle skills are well-known as are his warriors.”
Flora could certainly attest to that having seen him fight.
“It is a strange predicament, my lady, very strange indeed,” Hadwin said, shaking his head.
“And there was nothing else that caught your eye about the scene?” Flora asked.
“To be honest, my lady, I did not linger there for fear if it was an attack the culprits might still be lingering about. I hurried off eager to cross the bridge to Outerson and inform Lord Torin of what I had found and seek safety here.”
“I am glad you arrived safely, Hadwin, and thank you for speaking with me.” She stopped as she turned and looked to the man again. “I am curious. Where did you get the scroll?”
“It’s strange how I came by it. A heavy rainstorm forced me off my usual path. I found myself in a heavily forested area, a bit gloomy it was and that was where I came across a monastery. I sought shelter there and left the next morning after a hearty breakfast. It wasn’t until a few days later when I was a distance away that I discovered the scroll in my cart. No one showed interest in it and while I can read some, I cannot read Latin and the scroll is in Latin.”
“Do you recall the name of the monastery?” Torin asked.
“Nay, my lord.”
“Are you certain it was a monastery?” Torin asked.
Hadwin scratched his head again. “I assumed it was since a monk greeted me, though the place itself appeared a fortress, a high stone wall surrounding it and a solid wood door one had to pass through that was not even the entrance to the monastery itself. I was led to a long, stone building several doors running along it, private quarters for the monks I assumed. I was given one of the rooms for the night and provided with a generous amount of food.”
“Are you sure it was a monk who greeted you? Torin asked.
“He wore a dark robe,” Hadwin said as if that satisfied it.
Torin pursued with more questions. “Did he wear a wooden cross around his neck? Was the robe belted? What did he say to you?”
“I do not recall seeing a cross or a belt and I believe the monk had taken a vow of silence, since he only nodded or shook his head, and with his hood drawn up I barely saw his face. I was treated well, as one would be at a monastery. I was even given a sack of food to take with me when I left the next morning.” Hadwin shivered. “I must say though that when I glanced back after I was beyond the stone wall, I cast my eye on the monastery itself and it was a powerful and frightening sight how wide it was and how high it rose. It resembled more a fortress than a monastery.”