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)
“You are a mercenary. I cannot be sure what you would do.”
“And yet you will walk with me to the cottage? Is that not foolish?” Walsh asked with a chuckle.
Flora chuckled herself. “What would be foolish is if you would attempt to harm me with so many of my husband’s warriors and clan members about. Unless you have a notion to meet death today.”
“You have a quick mind.”
“I try,” Flora said. “Now let’s not keep Philip waiting.”
Sufficient snow had fallen to entice children to play, snowballs flying, and screeches of delight filled the air as Flora walked alongside Walsh through the village.
“You have questions for me,” Walsh said.
“Of course I do,” Flora said. “I am trying to make sense of your true reason for showing up here, but it eludes me.”
“You do not believe my tale?”
“I believe parts of it may be true, but I am still holding out judgment until I can find out more. So why don’t you help me,” Flora suggested.
“There is not much more to add to what I already told you, my lady,” Walsh said.
“I am afraid I do not believe you,” Flora said quite matter-of-factly. “One glance tells me you are a seasoned mercenary which means you trust few and lies are common for you. Not that I blame you. Your tasks cannot be all that easy with betrayal, lies, and secrets being a part of them. But I also believe that each man has a line they will not cross, for once they do they owe their soul to the devil, and most everyone fears the devil.”
“You have to believe in him to fear him,” Walsh said.
“You do not believe in him?”
“There is a devil in all of us,” he said with a laugh. “It is whether we rule him or he rules us.”
“An interesting thought,” Flora said, thinking on something similar her da had once remarked on. “My da would agree with you. He told me that evil and good reside together. You choose which one you want to be. Which one did you choose, Walsh?”
He grinned. “I found that it depends on the moment.”
“I understand now,” Flora said, nodding.
“Understand what?”
“You have not known love. Love makes all the difference.”
Walsh grunted. “Love is the devil’s toy. He dangles it in front of you, lets you play with it, then snatches it away and leaves you in pain.”
“You have loved and lost,” Flora said with surprise.
“And I will not be fooled by the devil’s hand again,” Walsh snapped.
Flora stopped, forcing Walsh to do the same. “Your pain does not let you see clearly. Would you rather have never known that love and all the joy it brought you? Would you give up all the beautiful and loving memories for the pain to be gone? Would you let go of the love that brought you so much pleasure, never to know it again? I understand you now. You have so much pain in your heart that you care not if you cause other people pain. You, Walsh, have never truly known love, for a person who loved would never do anything to harm its memories.”
Walsh went to argue, and Flora snapped her hand up in the air. “I am going to have someone speak to you who knows the true value of love.” She smiled when she spotted the person stepping out of the keep just as she finished. “Anwen!” she shouted, and the woman hurried to her.
“I don’t need anyone telling me about love. I know what I need to know,” Walsh snapped and turned to walk away but not before casting a quick glance at Anwen.
Flora spotted it… a quick flash of interest. She would keep an eye on him.
“My lady,” Anwen said when she reached Flora, though her eyes drifted to the retreating Walsh. “Is something wrong? Has that man behaved badly to you?”
“Nay, Anwen. He is a broken-hearted man who has yet to heal.”
“A broken heart leaves a scar, my lady, that tears open now and again to haunt and hurt, but sometimes the loving memories can soothe, and I am grateful for them,” Anwen said sadly.
“I would hurt if I lost Torin,” Flora said, shocking herself, the words falling from her lips of their own accord.
Anwen smiled. “You can see it in your eyes that you care for him and that he cares for you. It is a good way to begin a marriage.”
“You see it in his eyes that he cares for me?” Flora asked anxiously as she hooked her arm with Anwen, shocking her, as they walked toward the keep.
“I have, my lady, and I am not the only one. It is obvious since Lord Torin has never gazed upon a woman the way he gazes upon you.”
“My mum told me she knew she loved my da when she first looked upon him. But I wonder if that is possible… to look at a stranger and instantly know you love him.”