Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
“It is good you told me you cannot lie, or I would think you told me a tale,” Varrick said, impressed with his wife’s knowledge since he was aware of henbane, Llyod having used it on the wounded when necessary.
“Nay, not a tale, simply the truth,” Fia confirmed. “Though I wonder who would want him dead.”
“And how convenient he is poisoned while we are here.”
Fia was surprised that her husband’s thought was one she thought herself.
“You will leave and take Brother Luke with you,” Abbott John ordered.
Varrick smiled at her, but it was not a pleasant smile Fia saw on his handsome face as he placed his arm around her waist to help her to stand. Fia was not surprised to see a tremble rush over the Abbott when Varrick looked at him.
“Why not keep him here and cleanse him of the evil you believe consumes him?” Varrick asked.
Again, her husband asked the very question that was on her mind as she stood beside him, his arm having remained at her waist and quite snugly, as if reminding her that she was to remain there. Surprisingly, she did not mind. He kept her safe… for now.
“The witch possesses a dark evil like none I have ever known. It is so powerful that it has penetrated these holy walls and it will take endless hours of prayer and sacrifice to cleanse not only the walls but all who dwell here. I cannot in all good grace sacrifice this holy place and the many for the one who is probably beyond our help. You either take Brother Luke with you or he will be cast out to survive on his own.”
“We leave in the morning,” Varrick said. “Brother Luke is welcome to come with us, but you will provide a cart and horse for him to travel in and that, Abbott John, is not a request.”
“As you say, my lord,” Abbott John conceded. “Brother Luke will remain under guard where he lies until morning when you leave.”
Fia went to speak, but her husband’s fingers dug into the side of her waist, warning her to hold her tongue.
“My men will watch over him,” Varrick said.
“Then we will leave you to it and at dawn when you leave, the monks will get busy cleansing this room of evil.” Abbott John left the room, the few monks following.
“We all remain here in this room tonight,” Varrick announced, “and snowstorm or not we leave tomorrow.”
“Something is not right here,” Corwin said uneasy in his stance.
“And we take it with us,” Marsh said, turning a glare on Fia.
“We need her,” Varrick reminded.
“Aye,” Argus said, “and she has proven her dark power here.”
“But will she use it on us?” Marsh asked, his eyes still on Fia.
Fia had enough of them disregarding her presence when talking about her. “I do not know what you want of me, but know now that I possess no dark power, no evil, no magic. I do harm to none. I cannot cause harm. I am a healer.”
She stepped away from her husband and he let her go, his arm falling away from her waist. She slipped her cloak off and bent down to place it over Brother Luke.
Varrick snatched it from her hand before it reached the man.
“He needs warmth,” Fia said, her stomach growing uneasy with frustration over the way they had spoken about her and fearful of what they were expecting of her.
“That cloak is yours and is not to be given to another. I will have a blanket provided for Brother Luke,” Varrick said. “And do not go near him when he wakes, for he will blame you for losing his life here at the monastery.”
Varrick looked at Argus. “Have a blanket thrown over him and see that he is watched at all times, especially after he wakes.” He glanced over his warriors. “Rest the best you can. We leave at dawn.”
The warriors grumbled among themselves as they walked off to find any place in the room that would provide some rest.
“Rest. You will need it,” Varrick said.
“What else will I need?” Fia asked, worried what it was he wanted from her.
Varrick draped the cloak over his wife’s shoulders and gripped the edges tight after settling it around her, then yanked her close to him to whisper, “Dark power, for if you truly do not possess it, then you are of no use to me.”
Fia tried to stifle another yawn, one of many since leaving the monastery hours ago, but failed. She had slept little, her arms cushioning her head on the table where she had sat a good portion of the night.
Brother Luke had woken, though not fully, before dawn and did not take the news well. He had pleaded, with what strength he could muster, with Abbott John to not send him away to be devoured by evil but allow him to remain at the monastery and be cleansed no matter what it took to do so. He continued to beg for mercy as he was taken to the cart and placed in it. After that, he dissolved into prayer and had not stopped since then.