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)
“Aye, May, we will see he receives a fitting burial,” Cavell said and left the cottage with his wife.
As Elsie kept pace with her husband’s powerful strides, she had to ask the question that lingered in her mind. “Do you think Slayer returned to finish what he started?”
Cavell shook his head. “Nay. If Slayer wanted the monks dead, we would have found them dead along with the burning abbey. He did not do this, and either did Gallowglass.”
“But the monk said—”
“What he believed was true but wasn’t.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Slayer rules the Gallowglass in this area and knows well that anyone who finds battle and death humorous, dare to laugh at a monk pleading for his life, will meet with Slayer’s blade. It had to be the rogue mercenaries in the area.”
“Why kill the monks? It makes no sense,” Elsie said, troubled over the meaningless attack.
“There is only one reason they would do that… someone hired them to do so.”
She shook her head, still seeing no sense in the massacre.
“Maybe the merchant can tell us something,” Cavell said as they reached where the horses were sheltered to see a slim man, his gray hair hanging in a single braid down his back, sitting on a log enjoying a small meat pie.
“Mistress Elsie,” Wadely said, getting to his feet. “It is good to see you again and I am pleased to hear of your marriage and to meet your husband and new chieftain of Clan Murdock.” He gave a respectful bob of his head to Cavell. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Chieftain Cavell, and I am grateful for your generous hospitality.”
“The generosity would be my wife’s doing and will continue as long as you present no problem to the clan,” Cavell cautioned.
“Never would I bring a problem to the clan—” Wadely turned silent realizing what Cavell referred to. “Clan Murdock was the closest place for me to get the monk help. I hope I did not bring any problem upon the clan by doing so.”
“Tell me how you came across the monk,” Cavell said.
“I did not stop often at the abbey, the monks being self-sufficient and having no need of my wares. But I smelled the remnants of a fire, and I worried it came from the direction of the abbey, so I went to see if they required help. I was shocked to find the place burnt beyond repair and some spots still smoldering. I also spotted fresh graves and tracks that led away from the place. I followed them to see if I could be of any help and—” He shook his head and paled. “I came upon an horrific scene. The monks had been brutally slaughtered. I was shocked to find one alive. He begged me to help him and so I brought him here, though I thought he would perish before we arrived. How is he doing?”
“He died,” Cavell said. “Did you see any mercenaries in the area?”
Elsie heard no sympathy for the monk in her husband’s voice and she could not say she had much for him as well after being held prisoner there. Her worries that Slayer had taken her sister were presently relieved. If he hadn’t taken Sky, she would have faced a far worse fate if still with the monks.
“I had been warned by a farmer whose croft I stopped at to be careful that there was a rogue group in the area demanding food and drink and favors from women they came upon.”
Elsie went to inquire about Leora, but her husband was already asking.
“Have you come across a woman traveling alone between here and the abbey?”
“Nay, if I had I would have offered to escort her here. No woman should be on the road alone especially with rogue mercenaries and the Gallowglass roaming the area,” Wadely said.
“You came across Gallowglass warriors?” Cavell asked.
“Nay, but the monk said it was Gallowglass who attacked, which seemed odd to me since they are known for battle with foes who threaten the Highland’s safety, not a group of helpless monks. Though I have heard whispers that Slayer, recently turned Lord Slayer, has gone mad seeking revenge for his father and brother’s deaths. Who knows what he may do to accomplish such a task?”
Cavell did not comment on the man’s remark since he was aware that Slayer would do whatever was necessary to revenge his father and brother’s deaths.
“The monk said nothing else to you?” Cavell asked.
“Come to think of it, the monk repeated several times, ‘I warned him. I warned him. Nothing good would come of it.’ But he never said who he warned or what he warned against.”
Elsie went to speak, but her husband didn’t let her get a word out. He shackled her wrist with his hand, clamping it tightly.
“Food will be provided for you when you leave and coins will await you if you discover anything more about what happened at the abbey on your travels,” Cavell said.