Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“I’m here.”
She almost sighed with relief when his hand closed around hers and she felt even safer when he wrapped his arm around her.
That Shade should suffer harm that was meant for him fired his anger and he fought to keep control of it. “I believe the refectory is the only room with a fireplace. We need to find it and get a fire going so we can get dry and tend to your wound.”
Shade hadn’t given her shoulder any thought. It stung her but only slightly. “How do we find anything in this darkness?”
“We remain close to a wall and follow it,” he said, and they did just that.
Cobwebs caught at her face and hair, and she heard the soft scurry and squeaks of rodents rushing out of their path. New residents now occupied the abbey. Or had they simply joined the spirits of the deceased monks? She gripped Quint’s arm that he kept snug around her waist. She wasn’t prone to being fearful, but there was something about this place that left her feeling uneasy.
They found the room far more easily than she expected. Shock had her halting her steps when she entered it. Two openings in the shape of crosses high up in the walls kept the room from being soaked in complete darkness. It looked exactly as it did in her nightmare, though there were no dead monks.
“What’s wrong? Are you in pain?” Quint asked at her abrupt stop.
She didn’t want to burden him with the memory of her nightmare. They had more important things to consider.
She shook her head. “I need to sit.”
Quint hurried her to one of the benches at the long table centered in the room and slipped her wet cloak off her shoulders.
He felt her apprehension when they entered the abbey, and it increased the deeper they descended into it. He could not blame her. The spirit of the unsettled still lingered here.
“I’ll get a fire going then we can see to your shoulder,” he said.
She would love the heat of a fire but wondered where he intended to get firewood. She got her answer when he began to break benches apart. She couldn’t help but smile when flames sprang to life and grew rapidly, and the fire’s warmth finally reached her.
Quint moved a couple of benches closer to the fire, then took her arm and helped her to sit before he sat opposite her. “The heat will help dry our garments.”
She turned her face to the fire, its warmth feeling like a warm caress upon it. It was quickly replaced by the gentle caress of Quint’s hand. She welcomed his touch that was not only growing more familiar to her by the day, but she was discovering that she favored it more and more each day.
“Are you all right, Shade?”
She pressed her cheek against his hand and spoke honestly. “I am since you are here with me.”
He brought his face close to hers. “Never would I harm you, Shade, not ever. Now, let me look at your shoulder.” His hand drifted off her face to her shoulder to examine it with a tender touch.
It briefly crossed her mind that he might kiss her, and she was disappointed when he didn’t. His remark also left her wondering. Why did he let her know, at this particular moment, that he wouldn’t harm her when it wasn’t a thought in her mind? She may have been cautious upon first meeting him, but time spent with him had shown him to be a decent man.
She cringed when he touched a specific spot, and she turned her head to examine the wound for herself. She glanced over it, seeing right away it was a minor abrasion. “It’s nothing more than a graze. I have some honey in my healing pouch.”
Quint didn’t wait for instructions. He grabbed the pouch she had placed on the floor and rummaged through it. He was familiar with the small crock of honey wrapped in a cloth and found it easily.
“I will see to it,” he said when Shade went to take it from his hand.
He eased her clothing off her shoulder to expose the wound and her lovely skin, soft to the touch. He took his time, covering the wound thoroughly and he couldn’t help but wonder if her skin was soft all over. This was not the place nor the situation for such intimate thoughts and he chased them away.
When he saw how she stared at the wound, he asked, “Tell me of this special skill of yours. Can you truly see inside a person?” She appeared cautious to speak about it and wisely so. “I understand why you are hesitant to speak more about it with me. Some people would believe such a skill comes from evil. I find it interesting, and I give you my word I will keep your secret.” When she remained silent, he thought she would say nothing more about it, then she spoke.