Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 95326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“You won’t let us live,” Wadely said. “You would worry the information got out to others before you could earn a good amount for yourself.”
“You have a sharp mind, merchant. I will remember that,” Harcus warned. “Now keep moving and don’t think my brother will come to your rescue anytime soon. There was enough chaos today with Melvin’s recent return and the attack on the Lowlanders to keep everyone occupied and then some.”
“I don’t understand why you had the croft attacked or why you attacked the clan. And whyever did you kill the lone Gallowglass warrior or that innocent woman, the one with hair the color of Leora’s?” Elsie asked, intending to ask endless questions of him.
“My crew attacked the croft but not the clan. One of my men realized the fellow from the croft had spotted him on market day at different clans. One of those times I was there speaking with him, and I could not be sure if he spotted me or not. And I was not sure if he mentioned it to his family, so I had little choice but to eliminate them all. Unfortunately, the attempt failed, though when my brother did not come after me, I knew the fellow never spotted me, so it all worked out well in the end. I know nothing of the lone Gallowglass warrior, but the woman, you must have guessed by now, was nothing more than mistaken identity.”
Elsie continued with her questions. “You kept an eye on Leora on those days?”
“I had an eye kept on all three of you. It simply proved more difficult to keep an eye on Leora since she flits around talking to everyone and men cannot seem to take their eyes off her. They stare as if mesmerized by her, not that I blame them. Your sister is a beauty.”
Elsie ignored his remark and continued to probe. “This mission you accepted came after my marriage to your brother?”
“It did and I believe I will be doing him a favor getting rid of you. He hadn’t wanted this marriage to begin with and now he will be free of it and still retain the title of Chieftain of Clan Murdock. And he will be free to wed a woman of his choice.”
If Elsie wasn’t sure how much her husband loved her, she would have believed the nonsense Harcus spouted. But she did not doubt her husband’s love, not even for a moment. She saw the love he had for her in his eyes every time he looked at her, felt it in his tender touch, felt it every time they made love, felt it every time he took her in his arms, and every time he kissed her. The list could go on forever. Her husband loved her with his whole heart, and she loved him.
Another question came to mind, and she asked, “Did you have anything to do with Lord Bannaty and Warrand’s deaths?”
Harcus stopped abruptly. “Are you crazy? Every sane person knows to avoid Slayer. He is utterly insane. Though I was more than surprised when I heard of the marriage agreement between Warrand and Sky.” He started walking again. “Enough talk. We are almost there.”
Elsie’s worry grew when they came upon a camp occupied by three rouge mercenaries… some of Harcus’s crew.
“You got the right one?” one of the men asked.
“Not sure yet, but the other two I’ve brought along should help determine that,” Harcus said, and the man nodded, looking pleased. “Keep watch, though we will not be here for long. Once I learn what I want we will be on our way.”
The three men there remained watchful, and Elsie wondered if the three men were all that were left of his troop, though somehow, she doubted that.
Harcus shoved Elsie toward Wadely and Ann, and she stumbled though kept herself on her feet.
“I heard you two,” —Harcus pointed between Wadely and Ann— “arguing about stitching and the name Eudora was involved. The name of the woman many are searching for, so how is it that you both know the name? And so that you know… I have little patience. You will taste the blade of my dagger if you do not speak up.”
Ann spoke immediately. Eudora is my sister, but I haven’t seen her in almost twenty years. The stitching pattern that Wadely did was familiar to my sister’s stitching work, and I was so shocked to see it that I accused him of knowing my sister.”
“And do you know her, Wadely?” Harcus asked.
Elsie watched Harcus, his movements, the way he spoke. He resembled his father in certain ways. Though he was taller than his father though not near the height of his brother. She realized then that her husband had gotten his fine features from his mother and no doubt his teasing ways as well since Harcus’s stern expression never wavered, the lines between his eyes deep, an indication that his brow was often drawn together in annoyance or anger.