Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 98745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Noble’s stomach churned hearing that and he looked at the two warriors there. “Why was there no guard watching my wife?”
Leora went to defend the men but the fierce warning scowl her husband turned on her had her holding her tongue.
One warrior offered an excuse, poor as it was. “Finley usually assigns the men.”
Noble silently berated himself, his thoughts having lingered far too much on his wife this morning and not spending enough time with Finley discussing what needed to be seen to.
Another warrior spoke up. “I can speak with Finley and see that the guards are assigned daily positions.”
“Wise offer, Dyle,” Noble said, planning to talk with Finley himself about guard duty and other things he might need to be made aware of since Novice Angelica had prevented him from talking with Finley extensively. Something he would not let happen again.
“What can you tell me about the wound, Mother Abbess?” Noble asked.
“I would say a dagger of some kind,” Mother Abbess said without taking her attention away from Adele.
Noble turned quiet, leaving the nun to tend Adele and saw that his wife’s glance lingered on the wounded young woman. He wondered what she was seeing and surmising, so he did the same.
Endless questions circled in Leora’s head. Could Adele have been meeting someone here? Her garments were not out of place nor were they torn. Could she have been surprised by someone? Would anyone in the kitchen know why she would have been here when she should have been tending to her duties in the kitchen?
“I should go tell Emma and the others in the kitchen before they learn of it from anyone else,” Leora said.
Noble had seen the way his wife had studied Adele and he had felt her strength return to her, no longer leaning close to him as she had been doing since entering the barn. He was getting to know her well. She would be concerned for those in the kitchen hearing about Adele, but she was also eager to ask them questions, as was he.
“We will go together,” Noble said and turned to his warriors. “Two of you will wait here and do as Mother Abbess instructs. Dyle, go now and speak to Finley and see that his orders are carried out immediately.”
Noble barely walked a few steps from the barn when Lance came rushing toward him.
“Do you need me to track anything, sir?” Lance asked.
“I have given it thought, but with so many tracks in the area around the barn, I believe it would be a useless task, but have a look and let me know if you spot anything that might have some worth to it,” Noble said.
“He wants to please you because he worries that he failed you and caused the clan to almost be attacked,” Leora said, watching Lance rush off and drop down in front of the barn to study the ground.
“It was my failure not his. I should have known.”
“It is impossible to know everything,” she said.
“I lead. I better know or I put my men and now my clan at risk.”
Noble… his name suited him so well, Leora thought and placed a restless Chief on the ground.
Chief remained at Leora’s side as they walked but when he realized the kitchen was their destination and not the keep, he took off yapping all the way there.
“They give him endless treats. It is no wonder he grows strong so fast,” Leora said, watching the pup disappear through the open kitchen door.
“I am glad he has taken to you. He will protect you with his life.”
“And I will protect him as well,” Leora said, realizing how much the pup had come to mean to her and finally understanding her sister’s love of animals, and eager to have Chief meet Sky.
The kitchen staff froze when Noble followed his wife through the door, though not Chief. He was too busy lapping up a bowl of food he’d been given.
Noble spoke before Leora could say anything.
“Where is Adele?” Noble asked.
“Gathering wild onions for supper tonight,” Emma said and took a slow step back.
Noble pursued her with questions. “Did she go alone? How long has she been gone? Was she instructed not to waste time?”
Leora saw the alarm on Emma’s face and no doubt she worried that something was amiss. But questions had to be asked before the news was delivered, or the shock of Adele’s attack might have them too upset to answer.
“Aye, she went alone, sir. She has been gone a while and should be returning soon. Is there anything I can help you with, sir?” Emma asked, a tremor of fright in her voice.
Noble’s glance fell on each of them as he asked, “Did Adele say if she was meeting anyone?”
Heads shook except for one plump lass. Her head remained still.
“You, lass,” Noble said with a nod at her. “What do you know?”