Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
“You’re right,” Terese agreed. “It has been too long since our last meeting, but why the bleak expression?”
Hester walked alongside Terese as they continued toward the common shelter. “Things are changing around here and I fear losing those I think of as sisters.”
“None of us intend to go anywhere,” Terese said. “Everagis is our home and somehow I think we will keep it. However, to make certain that we always do have a home I intend to speak with our recent friends and see if they can provide us with a parcel of land should we need it so that we may keep the friendship that already exists between us, providing them with our healing skills and a portion of our harvest.”
“Wise choice, but then that is why we look to you to lead us,” Hester said. “I don’t know what we would do without you.”
“You would survive,” Terese said firmly. “You would have to; you would have no other choice.”
“Yes, you’ve taught us that too, but I’d much rather have you around.”
“And I’d much rather be around,” Terese confirmed.
“What excuse will you give Lachlan for tonight?”
“I’ll think of something.”
“You are happy with him,” Hester said.
“More so than I imagined,” she admitted.
Hester shook her head. “It seems to me that love is more madness than anything else.”
Terese laughed and nodded. “I agree. Love does seem maddening.”
“And yet you embrace it?”
“I don’t think you have a choice once you fall in love. It grabs hold and has you in its clutches and suddenly nothing makes sense anymore.”
“And when it finally disappoints?” Hester asked.
Terese took hold of her hand. “We survive.”
Hester smiled. “Thanks to you I survived. I watched your face as you spoke to the innkeeper. He blanched with each word you spoke and quickly accepted the bag of coins you gave him. He released me right quick after that. I always wondered what you said to him, but I never had the courage to ask.”
“Until now.”
Hester nodded.
Terese grinned. “I told him if he didn’t accept the coins I offered for your release that one night soon or perhaps months from now, he would be paid a visit by a bloodthirsty Bunnock warrior and never see the light of day again.”
“And he believed you, a woman?”
Terese chuckled. “He believed me a Bunnock warrior who had the point of her dagger poking in his gut hard enough to draw blood.”
“You truly are a warrior,” Hester said.
“I am what I have to be as are you, Rowena, Piper, and Megan. We have all tasted the bitter side of life and now finally we get to taste the full rich flavors of life. And I for one intend to enjoy.”
“Then we’ll keep the meeting short tonight,” Hester offered.
“Now, that I appreciate and I assure you so will Lachlan.”
The two women laughed and entered the common room to see to chores.
Chapter 17
The meeting never took place. Another injured mercenary was brought to Everagis that night and the women worked endlessly on him, but unfortunately could not save him. It left them all upset, though oddly enough it was Talon, the recovering mercenary, who praised the women for their efforts and insisted that he would tell his leader how hard they had worked to save the man.
Terese noticed that Rowena went directly to Talon when they had finished and had shed tears on the large man’s shoulders. His thick, meaty hands had stroked her back and he had soothed her with gentle words. It was obvious that Talon cared for Rowena as she did him.
It looked like love had descended on Everagis and had yet to let go.
While Rowena was comforted by Talon and Hester and Megan saw to cleaning up, Terese and Piper went directly into the woods to take the news to Septimus so that he and his men could see to burying their comrade.
She had decided to be honest with Lachlan and tell him that the women were holding a meeting as they usually did to discuss matters of importance to Everagis. Surprisingly, he had understood and remarked that the meetings were probably one of the reasons that Everagis had prospered. However, he did insist that he would be waiting for her, no matter what the hour.
Septimus was waiting nearby and wasn’t surprised by her news.
“I didn’t think he could be saved, but I had to try.”
“You must always try,” Terese encouraged. “You never know, sometimes miracles happen.”
Septimus snorted. “I stopped believing in miracles a long time ago.”
Terese didn’t argue with him. He obviously had faced difficulties that had left him scarred as so many of them had been. Hopefully, in time he would heal. But at the moment she had another problem that continued to haunt her and the only way that she could settle it was…
“I need to speak with your leader,”