remain here and see you and the clan kept safe. I’m not going anywhere, at least for now,” he said, knowing there may come a time he would have no choice.
“You wouldn’t go anywhere without letting me know, would you?” she asked, understanding but praying it wouldn’t be necessary.
Arran took her chin in his hand, his thumb stroking her cheek. “I would never leave without telling you.”
She smiled. “You mean without seeking permission.”
He scowled, though laughter filled his words. “Do you order me, wife?”
“I do command and I like the feel of it,” she boasted playfully.
He leaned down, resting his cheek against hers to whisper in her ear, “Be careful, wife, or I might just show you what it’s actually like to command.”
She turned wide eyes on him and whispered eagerly, “In the barn?”
Arran shook his head. “Damn, Purity, there you go again putting lasting images in my head.”
She stepped away from him. “Good, then you’ll be sure to find me later.” She laughed. “Though I have a feeling you’ll know exactly where to find me.” She ran off, her laughter trailing after her.
God, he loved his wife so much that it twisted his gut. And as much as he’d love to go after her and hurry her to the barn, he needed to see to finding Abbott Thomas.
He wasn’t surprised to see his brother Royden dismounting his horse when he rounded the keep. He had sent word to him about what was going on with Brynjar, warning him to take extra precautions. Brynjar wouldn’t think twice about striking out at Royden in his attempt to get back at Arran.
“You didn’t come alone, did you?” Arran asked.
“I brought some of Wolf’s warriors with me. They visit with his other warriors while we visit,” Royden said. “And they will be staying except for the few that will return with me. When I received your message about Brynjar, I had Penn take a message to Learmonth, hoping it would reach Wolf. It did and he sent more warriors to help us. I see by the scowl that’s growing you’re not happy with that news.”
“I don’t like accepting help from our enemy.”
“Then stop thinking of Wolf as our enemy. He has a powerful foothold here now and holds a title. There is little we can do to change that and avenging a wrong won’t help us.”
“Still, there must be something we can do that will see him suffer at least some for what he did,” Arran argued.
“We’ll leave that to fate,” Royden said.
“Then I hope fate is a vengeful lass,” Arran said with a grin.
Royden laughed as well. “Now that I can agree on.”
Arran began to walk, his brother following along with him. “Before we sit and talk, I need to gather men for a search.”
“I heard your warriors talking. Is it true? Abbott Thomas never made it back to the monastery?” Royden asked.
“It’s true. Brother Noble brought the news and let me know the area around the monastery had been searched. Also Brother Noble found no sign of the Abbott on his journey here. I’m going to send some men in different directions so a larger swath of land can be covered.”
“Do you send some Brynjar’s way?”
Arran shook his head. “He wouldn’t be foolish enough to keep the Abbott at his camp. He’d have his men holding the Abbott someplace else.”
“He seeks vengeance whatever way he can for not getting what he came here for,” Royden said.
“I thought the same, but I also wonder if I think wrong. Is it too obvious? Is there more too these killings?” Arran questioned, the thought disturbing him.
“If not Brynjar, then who?” Royden asked.
“If only I could answer that,” Arran said as they continued walking.
“You don’t have to stay, Purity,” Brother Noble said, sitting under a pine tree, enjoying the food and drink she had brought him.
“I want to,” she said, stroking Princess stretched out beside her. “King!” she scolded, seeing him approach closer to Brother Noble.
“Don’t worry, I won’t let him get close,” Brother Noble assured her and swatted at the cat though he was a distance away.
King paid the leper no heed and drew closer.
“Away with you,” Brother Noble ordered and threw a small stick at the cat.
King wasn’t deterred by it and stretched out not far from the leper and proceeded to lick his paws.
“I do hope Abbott Thomas is found and he is well. I hate to think he was harmed,” Purity said
“I believe he would fall to an illness before he