Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 89331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
That stung and yet Torin heard not a hint of disapproval or reprimand in her remark. She had simply stated the obvious, the truth of the situation… the keep had been neglected.
Flora hurried down the stone stairs, dust flying off her. “It is a lovely keep and I look forward to bringing it back to life, and, of course, ridding it of the ghost.” She slipped her arm around his, excited to finally have something interesting and challenging to discuss. “Come we will discuss it while we eat. I am famished.”
Torin heard Kinnell chuckle as he walked away, and he also heard chatter. Tongues wasted no time wagging, and he wondered what they were saying.
“Where is your cloak?” Torin asked as he walked along with his wife.
Flora halted abruptly and looked over herself once again. “I forgot. I must have left it in the keep. “I will go fetch it.”
Torin stopped her with a firm hand to her arm. “I will have it fetched.”
“Who will fetch it when all fear entering the keep?” she asked but gave him no chance to respond. Instead, she continued with questions. “Why didn’t you tell me about the ghost? How long has he haunted the keep? Have you seen him or heard him?” She answered some of the questions herself. “Well, of course you must have seen and heard him if you were frightened enough to abandon the keep and with all the dust and cobwebs accumulated there it appears your absence has not been a short one. But your absence could also have been forced due to the lack of people willing to work in the keep.”
Her endless chatter had his mind swirling and the way she asked and answered her own questions accurately made him realize that his wife had a sharp and quick mind.
“You must tell me everything about the ghost, the myth, all of it so I have what I need to solve the mystery. It should not take long. Once information is examined and the useless or lies discarded, truth will shine through.”
They entered the cottage and Flora went to the table eager for a hot brew, the chill of the keep feeling as if it had seeped inside her.
“The Highlands are far different from the lowlands. The Highlands have a mystery to them that its people accept and respect. It allows all creatures to survive and thrive here, otherwise life would be difficult,” Torin said.
“That is good to know. Tell me more,” she said and eagerly took a seat at the table to quickly fill two tankards from a pitcher, the distinct scent that of fresh cider. “How did this myth come about?”
Torin joined her at the table, his grumbling stomach reminding him he had not eaten in some time. He speared a chunk of deer meat with his knife. “It is the story of the birth of the Isle of Outerson home to the Clan Norham.”
“So, you believe that a giant tore a piece of land off to float it out into the loch and create an island?” she asked, repeating what the cleric had told her. “It does not seem plausible, but I can see how such a myth would serve to create a powerful legend for a clan and since the giant protects it, it also serves to keep others away.”
“We are fierce and fearless warriors and—”
“Born of a myth that has a giant protecting all of you, thus making an attack unlikely since as you said there is a mystery to the Highlands that all respect. So, whoever created the legend was wise in doing so.”
Again, he was amazed that she spoke without censure and this time with a hint of admiration. He also realized at that moment that she had involved him in a conversation he had no intention of having with her. He almost scratched his head wondering how she had done that.
He regained charge of the situation that he had lost too easily. “You disobeyed a commend of mine. Verena informed you that I forbid anyone to enter the keep without my permission and yet you entered it anyway.”
Flora shrugged. “I was not raised to be obedient. I was raised to question, to learn, to seek knowledge and gain wisdom. If the keep is to be my responsibility, then I do not wish to waste time in seeing to its care. I meant no disrespect to you, husband, but I was curious to see the keep and when I learned about the ghost my curiosity grew and I could not wait.”
A reasonable explanation and yet… “You need to obey me, wife.”
“Why?” she asked and reached for another piece of cheese and bread.
“You do not question why,” he snapped. “You submit to my wisdom as the cleric advised.”
“What if I am wiser than you, then shouldn’t you submit to me?”