Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 101336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
“You have no right to take her.”
Sky recognized Brother Emanual’s voice. Though no one referred to him as Abbott, Sky had heard enough to know that he presently filled the Abbott position. He was a man of sizeable girth, not one who would stumble easily if pushed or if rushed. That meant the man commanding him had to be of a sizeable girth himself and he was here for a woman. She and Edith, an older woman, were the only two women here.
What Sky heard next sent a shivering fright through her.
“She is bewitched. You are not safe around her. She must be kept locked away.”
Fright could be heard in the monk’s sudden gasp and the sound of crumbling stone told her that he had been smashed against the stone wall outside her cell.
“Do as I command, or I will rip your tongue out of your mouth.”
Fear roiled her stomach and she tucked herself tighter into the dark corner, fearful of what awaited her at the hands of the man threatening the monk.
The door crashed open, and she was not surprised to hear stumbling footfalls. She surmised Brother Emanual had been shoved into the cell. When a flash of light bright enough to penetrate the black hood covering her head followed in behind the monk, she hurried her eyes closed against the flicking brightness of what could only be a flaming torch. Her eyes had been in the dark too long. She feared the damage to her sight if she suddenly gazed upon a bright light.
“Sky!” the powerful voice inquired.
She jumped at the command in the man’s voice expecting her to show herself. Fright kept her braced tight against the stone wall as if her prison could suddenly offer her protection, and she kept silent.
“Answer me, woman!” the man called out impatiently.
He would see her soon enough huddled in the dark corner, but fear froze her.
“I will not harm you,” he said.
He had tempered his voice, but it still overpowered the cell. She feared whether to trust him or not. How could she be sure he was not lying to her? But what choice did she have? She had nowhere to truly hide, and perhaps he was there to free her.
“Sky.”
She gasped. He had to have spotted her, his strong voice sounding as if he was on top of her.
“You must trust me. I mean you no harm.”
“Who are you?” She cringed when she felt him crouch down beside her, his arm briefly brushing against hers.
“Someone who was sent to help you and keep you safe. Can you stand?”
“I can try,” she said quickly, fearful he might touch her.
Her chains rattled as she braced her hands against the wall for support and she struggled to get to her feet.
A low grumble sounded, reminding her of the warning growl of the wolves in the forest before they viciously attacked. Fear sent shivers through her and what little progress she made was lost, her feet collapsing from under her. A strong arm suddenly hooked around her waist and forced her up onto her feet to hold her steady.
“You will pay, monk, for keeping her chained to the wall like an animal and a hood secured over her head,” the man threatened with lethal harshness.
Brother Emanual tried to explain. “She is a danger—”
“Release her!”
Sky cringed at the growl in his command. Who was he and what did he want with her? Had her da sent him to collect her and return her home? Or had her sisters hired him to rescue her? Or had he come on his own, but why?
“You are wrong to do this,” the monk said.
She tensed when the man grabbed her shackled hands and raised them up.
“I will not tell you again. Do it now!” he ordered.
The click of a lock sent her heart thumping, and tears threatened her eyes as the shackles that she had endured since arriving here weeks ago dropped off her wrists to clang as they hit the floor. She went to touch the sore skin on her wrists that had been stinging her for weeks, but a firm hand stopped her.
“Do not touch them. They are rubbed raw and need tending,” the man warned, and is hand fell off hers.
Her greatest relief came when the hood was unlocked and yanked off her head. She felt like she could truly breath once again. Her lashes fluttered, eager to open her eyes though slowly and intending only a slight peek. She was anxious to get a look at her rescuer, hoping she would recognize him and alleviate her fear, but his abrupt command stopped her.
“Keep your eyes closed. They will need to adjust to the light slowly.”
That was fine with her since she feared he might change his mind and leave her there once he looked her in the eye.