Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 95326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“If anything happens to my da, I will blame you,” she threatened and a weak threat at that since she had no recourse if her da fell to Slayer’s rage.
“And if your da is the good man you claim him to be, he would blame me if I failed to keep you safe. And as for Slayer, he may want to rush into seeing whoever is responsible for his father and brother’s deaths suffer for the horrific deed, but what he wants more is to make certain the people truly responsible fall to his sword. He will not rush into anything, but his rage will grow and when it bursts… hell will be a safer place than here.”
Cavell thought his wife would resort to silent anger or sulk because she did not get her way and though she remained silent, he felt the tenseness that had gripped her body begin to ease and fade until she fell limp against him drained of all anger or fight.
Elsie raised her head to look at her husband. She disliked his scars, not for how they had robbed him of his fine features but because of the pain he must have suffered when slashed and continued to suffer every time someone turned their eyes away from him. He was courageous in his suffering, she feared she would not be in hers.
“There is only you, husband. Without you there is little I can do to help my da or my sisters,” she said and stopped, leaving the rest of what she wanted to say in her thoughts… and if you should walk away from our marriage, I fear what the consequences will bring, and it would be no chore to care for you since I already do.
They arrived after midday at the shelter. It sat nestled among towering trees as if through the years they had embraced the humble dwelling as one of them. A thatched roof topped the place while a lone window was firmly shuttered, and the thick wood door appeared impenetrable. It was a place of solace and Elsie would not mind spending time here… if things were different.
“I will get a fire going, then go hunt,” Cavell said after lowering his wife off the horse. “You will not step a foot outside the door until I return.”
That he turned and walked to the door, not waiting for a reply, told Elsie that it was an order intended to be obeyed without question.
Elsie smiled when she entered the dwelling. It was cozy. A single bed and small table with a chair occupied most of the limited space. Her husband soon had a fire going in the small hearth that heated the room sufficiently.
“Do not take a step outside that door while I am gone,” Cavell reminded.
“Then let me fill a bucket with water, for I will take the time to wash while you are gone,” Elsie said, and spying a bucket faintly covered with dust from lack of use near the hearth scooped it up.
“Mind my word, wife,” he reminded once again and left as soon as she returned from filling the bucket from the rain barrel by the corner of the dwelling.
Elsie was glad for some time alone to wash and gather her thoughts and to try and make sense of things, though she feared that might take time. Time was not something her two sisters had, not locked away in the abbey, especially Sky. Her da’s illness was another thing that concerned her. She did not want to lose him. No matter what her husband might think about him, he was a good man, a good da, and if he should die before freeing his two daughters, she feared what problems it might cause.
She slipped off the monk’s robe, wishing she could give it a much-needed washing but fearful it would not dry before tomorrow when they would travel to see her da. Curdie had jumped at the chance to collect most of the coins she got from Cavell if she agreed to let Elsie wash at her cottage and provide her with clean garments. They were far too large for her but at least they did not smell like her other garments had. Never would she have gone to her husband filthy and with a stink about her.
She dropped the robe on the bench and dust floated everywhere, causing her to cough. A quick wash would have to wait. First, she needed to make the dwelling habitable.
She spied a broom tucked in a corner and her husband’s warning rushed into her head.
Do not take a step outside the door.
She frowned, then her glance fell on the window, and she smiled. She hurried to it and with some effort got the board that kept the shutter closed free of its latch and pushed the shutters open, flooding the dwelling with light. She then opened the door, remaining inside, and began to rid the small room of dust, dirt, and cobwebs.