Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 104340 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104340 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
He had been relieved that at least on his mum’s deathbed he could promise her that he would keep his sister Wintra safe. She was only nine years when their mum died ten years ago. She had never told him who Wintra’s father was but she didn’t have to. He remembered all too well the day she had come in from the fields bruised and battered. He had been ready to kill the man who had harmed her but his mum had insisted she had taken a fall and that she would be fine. She had protected him that day with her lies but he had never forgotten. And when she began to grow with child his suspicions had been confirmed.
He had never told Wintra. As far as she knew they shared the same da. It had been an unspoken agreement between he and his mum and Cree never intended to break it. He had placed Wintra in an Abbey following their mum’s death and paid the Abbess a goodly stipend to see to her care and teach her what she needed to know to wed well. When all was settled with his title he would take his sister out of the Abbey and bring her to live with him. Then he would arrange a good marriage for her with a good man.
When he was finally dressed in clean garments, dark brown leggings and shirt with a chestnut brown leather tunic and his boots wrapped securely with leather ties, he made his way to Elsa’s cottage. He did glance to see that a guard had been posted at Dawn’s cottage, though he hadn’t doubted there would be. Sloan never failed to carry out his orders whether he agreed with him or not.
The sun shined brightly and there was less of a chill in the autumn air, though that wouldn’t last. Winter would be upon them soon enough and he wanted the people and land prepared. Sloan would see to it. He was good at seeing that things got done with little to no problems. And if a problem arose, then Cree would step in and settle it. Sloan and he had fast become friends after Cree had saved his life. He had come upon Cree trying to defend himself against a band of motley thieves. And though he had been doing an excellent job at keeping them at bay, there was just too many of them and he would have eventually been defeated. Sloan had joined his crew that day and had been an asset ever since.
Cree came upon Elsa’s cottage not far from the keep. He had had the men repair and add onto an existing cottage that had long been neglected. The men continued to work on it, most having volunteered for the job knowing the importance of getting it finished before the winter set in. Elsa had treated many of the men and saved many of their lives so they wanted to make certain that their healer had a good sound place to do her healing.
Elsa was another one he had saved from death, only she had been about to be burned for being a witch. A sickness had wiped out almost an entire village where she had been a healer and the remaining few people had blamed her for their loss. A hefty purse had stopped the byre that was about to be torched and there had not been a day that he or his men had regretted it, though his men had grumbled at first about a witch joining them. It had only taken one day of Elsa saving two men who they had all thought were at death’s door for the men to change their minds. Now they all protected her with their lives.
“My lord,” Elsa said with a bob of her head when Cree entered the cottage. Two other women, one skinny and the other wide in the hips bobbed their heads as well and kept their eyes downcast. “Is this a visit or are you in need of care?”
Some thought Elsa too blunt, but he liked that she always got right to the point as did he. “A private talk, Elsa.”
“As you wish, my lord.” She turned to the two women, snatching up a basket covered with a cloth on the table. “Ann, Lara, please take this to Lila and Paul and see if all goes well with the new babe.”
Lara took the basket and with another respectful bob to Cree the two women hurried out of the cottage with what appeared to be relief.
“As always, Elsa, your cottage smells delicious,” Cree said taking a seat at the table not far from the hearth.
Elsa beamed with pride. “Freshly baked bread for those in need of care. Would you like some?”
“I’m not in need of care.”