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)
Melvin hurried to gulp down what remained of the ale in his tankard.
“What news needs ale to fortify the telling of it?” Slayer demanded.
“Clyde, sir. He is dead, brutally murdered, stabbed repeatedly and his throat cut.” Melvin leaned his head back, fearful that Slayer might spew fire from his mouth such fury raged in his eyes and his hands fisted tightly at his sides ready to pummel anyone in his path. “We have no leads, no idea of who may have done this. It could be mercenaries, but why kill one lone man?”
“Blood is going to be spilled for my friend, my brother, and my father,” Slayer warned. “I will cover the land with blood if necessary to revenge their deaths.”
Melvin rarely feared anything being a Gallowglass warrior, but he was wise enough to fear Slayer, for he had repeatedly seen the carnage Slayer could leave in his path.
Anger surged through Slayer over his loss of family and a friend and his failure to have found the culprits by now. He should have had them in hand already, so why didn’t he? A question that haunted him and one he would have discussed with Ross if he was here. Yet his first thought was to talk with his wife about it.
His anger slowed with thoughts of her, and he realized he needed to talk with her about both her sisters, Elsie and Leora. He decided to tackle that task first, though it also might have been because he had not held her since last night and his arms ached to take hold of her and hug her tightly. That he had this aching need for her was still foreign to him and he continued to grapple with it and embrace it at the same time.
He was not sure where to find her, so when he entered the Great Hall, he called out to the servants there. “Does anyone know where Sky is?” Slayer got annoyed seeing how frightened they looked to speak, and he lost his patience, what little he had, snapping, “If someone knows they better tell me now.”
One brave soul rushed to say, “I saw her go up the stairs a short time ago.”
Slayer hurried up the stairs and to their bedchamber, glad he would have her to himself and grew concerned when he found their bedchamber empty. Where would she have gone? Could Euniss have told her about his mum’s quarters? But why would she go there?
He shook his head and decided to see for himself before returning downstairs. He stopped to listen when he heard his wife’s soft voice coming from his mum’s solar, the door slightly ajar.
“I cannot understand how anyone would want to be confined in here for too long of a time, Angel, when the forest has so much more to offer. But what else is there for me to do when I am denied even the simplest thing?”
“What have you been denied?” Slayer demanded, his anger returning as he shoved the door open. His eyes narrowed when he caught her wiping her cheeks before she rushed out of the chair, placing Angel on the floor in front of the low burning hearth, and turned to face him.
“I was hoping you would find me. I miss you,” she said, forcing a smile.
He rounded the chair and hooking his arm around her waist snatched her up against him. “You avoid answering me and your eyes shine from shed tears. Why?”
“It is nothing,” she said, annoyed at herself for allowing tears to stain her eyes and wishing he had not caught her upset. She worried what he might do if he found out.
“I will decide if it is nothing,” he said.
“Here we go. A nice brew and a honey cake to soothe you,” Euniss called out before entering the room and stopped abruptly when she spotted Slayer.
“What brought my wife to tears, Euniss, since you say she needs soothing?” he demanded.
Euniss sat the wood tray down on the small table beside the chair. “It is not a good idea for her to plant her own garden. No one will eat anything that grows there, and it will only cause her pain. She can find solace here embroidering as your mum did.”
“First, that is not your decision to make. Second, I will eat whatever my wife grows. Third, I will not see her confined to this room. She loves the woods and animals, and since she is presently deprived of that pleasure, she can at least enjoy herself in the garden.”
Sky didn’t need to force a smile. It came naturally hearing her husband not only defend her but hearing how well he had come to know her.
“Good, then I will assign servants to help her,” Euniss said.
“I plan a small garden, so I require no help,” Sky said, preferring solitary time in the garden and knowing that whoever was forced to help her would only resent her more.