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)
Her response left Torin speechless.
“That would be the logical thing to do, right?” she asked. “The wiser person would know best and, therefore, should rule.”
Torin regained his senses. “I have the knowledge to lead this clan.”
“Of course, you do, and I have the knowledge to solve the mystery,” she said and smiled.
“Only if I allow it,” he commanded, annoyed that to him it felt as if she had set a trap leaving him no choice but to agree that he allow her to solve the mystery, while she simply viewed it as logical.
“Well, you are a wise leader and no doubt see the wisdom of it,” she said.
There was not a hint of sarcasm in her response. He almost shook his head wondering how he ever got into this conversation with her and how he had managed to choose a woman that was the complete opposite of what he wanted in a wife. Had he allowed her beauty to blind him? Had he grown so tired of searching for a wife that he failed to find out more about her? Or did he admit there had been something about her when he first laid eyes on her that tugged at him in a way that no woman ever had?
“When did you abandon the keep?” she asked, continuing her query.
He answered without thinking. “It has been months, the servants too fearful of the place and with the incident—” He stopped abruptly.
“What incident?” Flora asked eagerly.
“A woman was frightened by the giant.”
“Who? I will speak with her. She can tell me all that happened.” Flora’s eagerness grew.
“Nay!” Torin said sharply.
Flora’s eyes turned wide, surprised by his snappish reply. She had realized on the journey here that her husband had a commanding presence and that it was necessary for one who ruled. But he had not had a sharp tongue with her, commanding tongue, aye, but a sharp one, nay.
As was her way, she did not stop from asking, “Why?”
“Because I command it,” he snapped and scowled, annoyed he had offered any explanation at all.
“Why would you not want me to know if it would help solve the mystery of the giant?” She seemed to ask the question more of herself than of him as she stared off toward the fire for a moment and as if suddenly understanding said, “You wish to keep something from me.”
“You ask far too many questions and expect far too many answers.”
“Questions are meant to be answered,” she argued.
“Not all the time and certainly not when a husband tells a wife he has had enough of her questions.”
“Oh, so you do not wish to talk with me any longer?” she asked, disappointed since she had been enjoying their discussion. She had not had such an interesting and challenging conversation in some time. Of course, she went on talking before he could answer. “I thought you might be interested to hear what I know about ghosts.”
“You know about ghosts?” he asked without thinking, but then he was curious.
She went right on talking. “There are varying beliefs and opinions on ghosts. Some believe that the spirit remains after death due to something left unfinished and then there are some who question their death, some who have yet to accept it. There are also those who refuse to believe that ghosts are anything but demons. That is why it is important I learn as much about the giant as possible if the keep is to be restored to its full glory. And I believe an effective way to begin is to see the keep cleaned from top to bottom and its habitants restored.”
Did he have a choice? Torin did not hold much hope that the cleric would accomplish much, but how did he chance letting his wife see to the problem? He did not want to see her frightened and definitely not harmed. But there was no one else willing to do what she offered, and she did sound knowledgeable.
He feared he might regret it, but said, “After the cleric blesses the keep you can begin having it cleaned.”
Torin almost lost his breath when his wife’s face lit with a brilliant smile and her eyes sparkled and her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink, highlighting her beauty.
“I am most grateful, husband, and I will do you proud,” Flora said with excitement. Maybe, just maybe this marriage would not be as bad or as boring as she had anticipated.
Torin felt the need to warn. “You will keep your tongue to a reasonable chatter.”
“What is reasonable?” she asked.
He glared at her. “No questions and—”
“How can no questions be reasonable?” she asked perplexed. “How am I ever to discover things if I do not ask questions?”
“Of me,” Torin said, slapping his chest.
“But how am I to find out about you, my husband, if I do not learn about you… your likes and dislikes and—”