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)
“I worried when she wasn’t at the spot where we usually meet,” Wendell said, tears flowing down his cheeks.
“Had you planned to meet there today?” Noble asked.
“It was never certain for me, since my chores changed from time to time, but Adele never failed to go to our appointed place by chance I would be able to meet her. She volunteered on foraging days even though she disliked gathering wild onions because it gave us a chance to be together. When she wasn’t there today, I knew something was wrong.”
“Had she met anyone else at that spot while waiting for you?” Noble asked.
Wendell shook his head. “Nay, she was careful when in the woods and would hide if she heard footfalls and wait until they passed by. But she always told me she could recognize my footfalls since she was so eager to hear them.”
His eyes were filled with worry as well as tears and Leora worried along with him.
“Did you see anyone in the woods on your way here?” Noble asked.
Wendell’s head drooped. “Nay, sir, it was quiet.”
The way the young man glanced away as he hung his head told Noble he was lying, and he didn’t hesitate to confront him on it. “You’re lying to me, Wendell.”
Leora wasn’t surprised by her husband’s accusation since she thought the same as soon as Wendell lowered his head.
“You would be wise to tell me,” Noble urged.
Wendell raised his head. “I fear Lord Slayer more than I do you, sir.”
Noble nodded. “I can understand that, and it is wise that you do, but you will tell me and accept any consequences that comes of it… like the man I am sure Adele believes you are.”
“I failed her, sir,” Wendell said, fighting not to sob. “I told her I would always protect her, and I did not keep my word.”
“You still have a chance not to fail her by telling me all you know so we may find who did this to her and see that he suffers for it,” Noble encouraged.
Wendell tried to stem his tears, pressing his sleeve-covered arm against his eyes for a moment. He was somewhat successful, the tears continuing to only trickle from his eyes.
“I watched and learned where Lord Slayer stationed his warriors, so I wouldn’t be spotted leaving the clan without permission.”
Men and women could be irrational when in love and Wendell was certainly wrong for not obeying clan rules. They were there for a good reason, yet Noble could also understand the risk the young man took for love, and that startled him since he always obeyed Slayer’s commands. But the thought of not being able to see Leora would not be something he would tolerate. And that thought had him thinking about when his wife had asked if there was room enough inside him to love? If she had looked a bit deeper, she may have seen what he was feeling for her.
His wife asked what he should have.
“You would want to avoid the sentinels here as well, so no one would report your visits here to Lord Slayer. How then did you avoid the sentinels here?”
Wendell was reluctant to respond.
Noble didn’t need his response, he knew. “Adele told you, didn’t she.”
“Aye, sir,” Wendell admitted.
Leora turned a quizzical look on her husband. “But Wendell has not been here in a while so how could Adele—” She stopped speaking abruptly and looked at Wendell. “She snuck over to visit you at Clan Ravinsher, learning where the sentinels were here once we arrived, and you informed her of the ones there, and she kept it all a secret.”
“We had to, or we would get in trouble,” Wendell confessed.
“That was how she learned to avoid footfalls in the woods, by going to see you,” Leora said.
“I didn’t like it when she came to see me. I feared for her safety, but we were so desperate to see each other that she insisted on taking the chance,” Wendell said and raised his chin some when he looked at Noble. “I was about to speak with Lord Slayer about wedding Adele and making Clan Skirling our home. Adele and I both prefer our home to be here.” He wiped away his trickling tears. “Please, sir, please let me see Adele. I want her to know how much I love her so she will fight hard to live so that we get to share a good life together.”
“As soon as Mother Abbess permits it, you can see Adele,” Noble said. “And when you return home, you will tell Lord Slayer yourself that you have been leaving the clan without permission. Though I would not be at all surprised if he already knows.”
Wendell’s surprise showed in his wide eyes. “But if Lord Slayer knows, why does he let me continue to do so.”