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)
Varrick felt as if a hand twisted at his gut, knowing this could cause grave danger for his wife. He turned to her. “Do you have any idea of what may have caused the monk’s death?”
“When someone dies suddenly and has shown no signs of illness, it is difficult to know what caused it, though there were signs that something was wrong with him. His steps were slow, his lips overly dry, and there was a sway in his stance. Something caused his heart to stop. My grandmother was trying diligently to learn the workings of the heart so that she could find ways to prevent certain deaths.”
“Is that why you dissected the heart you found, to continue your grandmother’s work?” Corwin asked.
“Aye. I hoped to come to understand another part of the body so I can help people.”
“That is a brave thing you do,” Marsh said.
“Or foolish,” Argus argued.
“Dangerous when all that is known about my wife is added together,” Varrick said.
Corwin said what they all thought. “It marks her a witch.”
“That is something that needs to be proven otherwise,” Varrick argued. “Is there anything you can think of, wife, that might help discover the reason the monk died suddenly?”
“I can look through his things and see if they tell me something,” Fia said.
“Corwin, go fetch everything from the monk’s cottage and bring it here,” Varrick ordered, “and keep your ears alert to what is being said.”
“If you permit, my lord, I can go and sit with the men and see what they are saying and try to keep their doubts and fears from growing,” Marsh said.
“Aye, go and do what you can,” Varrick agreed, and both men took their leave.
“I fear this will not go well, Varrick,” Argus said as if advising a friend and not the lord of the clan. “How can anyone be trusted not to harm Lady Fia once tongues start wagging and falsehoods and truths are mingled?”
“What of you, Argus? Do I trust you to believe Fia has not bewitched me?”
“I cannot say for sure whether she bewitches you or if you truly love her, Varrick, but I can say for sure that I will always stand with you, for I have seen you proven right more often than not and I have seen you victorious against the most skilled of warriors. But mostly because you kept your word to me and returned and freed me from that hell hole when we were young. We are brothers and we stand together.”
“Always brothers,” Varrick agreed and grabbed hold of his hand to tug Argus against him and give him a firm slap on the back.
Fia watched the heartwarming exchange and realized that both men had known love through their brotherhood, yet neither had ever realized it.
“I do not know if it will matter to you, Argus, but I give you my word that I am no witch and I did not in any way kill Brother Luke. It would go against all I believe in as a healer to take a life. I save lives. I do not take them. And as for bewitching Lord Varrick? I love him with all my heart and then some. I would give my life to see him safe.”
“NEVER will you do that, wife!” Varrick admonished, his anger soaring.
“Would you give yours for me?” Fia asked.
“Without question, but it is my duty as your husband to protect you and for you to obey me and you WILL obey me on this.”
“I have a duty as your wife as well—”
Varrick didn’t let her finish. He grabbed her and pulled her to him. “Aye, you have a duty to bear me children and to always protect them and you cannot do that if you are dead. So, you WILL obey me, and I will have your word on it.”
You will grow old together. Worry not.
A tender smile surfaced on Fia’s face upon hearing that. “I will give you my word for I know we will grow old together.”
Varrick hugged her tightly, silently blessing her knowing.
“How do you know that?” Argus asked, a questioning scrunch to his face.
The door rushed open and saved Fia from answering.
Marsh hurried in. “You need to come to the Great Hall, my lord, and do not bring Lady Fia with you.”
“You stay with my wife, Argus,” Varrick ordered and rushed out of the room with Marsh.
Fia walked to the hearth and stretched her chilled hands out to the heat to warm them.
“You do not answer me, my lady,” Argus said, remaining where he stood.
Fia turned, hugging herself, a deep chill having set into her. She was at a loss as to what to say to him, fearing the truth would only further confirm his belief that she was a witch.
“I will not demand an answer, my lady, but I will say this… if you are a witch and cause Varrick harm, it will be me who ties you to the stake and sets the flame that burns you.”