Page 118 of Laird of Smoke
No doubt he knew the place, Eve thought.His Rivenloch clanswoman lived there.
Now she knew how her satchel had ended up in Lady Feiyan’s hands.
Though she’d agreed to go with him, journeying to Darragh seemed dangerous.She couldn’t take on a third identity.It was too risky.What if Feiyan recognized her, either as the colorful young archer who’d thrown the match at her tournament or the nun who’d offered to distribute her donation of clothing to the poor?
Did Adam intend to reveal his secret to Eve when they arrived, that he was a Rivenloch?When he introduced her to Lady Feiyan, would it be as an outlaw he’d met while traveling or his beloved betrothed?
Sadly, Eve knew the answer to that.And neither option was good.
“We should travel as clergy,” she decided.“’Tis safest that way.”
She could simply be Sister Eve.Feiyan knew her as a nun already, and Adam would assume Eve was playing a part.
He nodded in agreement.“Good.”
He began pulling monk’s robes out of his satchel.She dug in hers for her habit and a rag to wipe the powder from her face.
Then she stopped.If he was in such a hurry to spirit her away… “Wait.If there are mercenaries about, doesn’t that mean war is imminent?Where do ye suppose the fightin’ will be?”
He tensed his jaw, but made no comment.Of course that was what it meant.But if Adam was spying for Malcolm, he’d tell no one the king’s battle plans.
He frowned sternly.“We’ll be safe at Darragh.”
She knitted her brows in concern.“’Tis only that there’s a convent not far from Galloway, near Mauchline.I have…acquaintances there.I need to know they’ll be safe.”
“They’d ne’er attack a convent,” he said.“’Tisn’t honorable.”
She hoped he was right.She’d heard the king.He intended to attack Galloway ere breakfast.That seemed rather dishonorable for a king so devoted to chivalry.
Eve prayed she hadn’t given away too much, mentioning the convent.She planned to never have to reveal that part of her life to Adam.It would be much easier for both of them if he never knew he’d swived a nun.
To be fair, she supposed she shouldn’t be angry with Adam for hiding the fact he was a Rivenloch.His minor transgression paled in light of Eve’s glaring and ongoing deceit.
Their church garments afforded them some protection as Adam led her along the path.But loose soldiers roaming the forest could be as unpredictable as a pack of wolves.So they made their way toward Darragh in silence.
A few hours into their journey, Adam stopped in front of her.
She collided with him.Then she went quiet.
There was a sound coming from the trees up ahead.Sobbing.
Ignoring Adam’s cautious “shh,” she passed him on the trail to follow the sound.
He bit out one annoyed, “Eve!”and then followed her.
A young woman lurched toward them on the trail.She wore only a torn leine, which hung off one shoulder.One of her boots was missing.Her hair hung down over her face.There was blood smeared on her hands and across her front.Her eyes were glazed, as if she’d seen unspeakable horrors.And the sound of her sobbing struck at the core of Eve’s heart.
Eve rushed toward her.
The woman glanced up.Her eyes widened at the sight of a priest and a nun.
“Help!”she cried.“Thank God, ye’ve come to help!”She fell on her knees and clasped her hands before her.“I prayed for the Lord’s help, and He sent ye.”
Sister Eve’s compulsion to be of assistance drove her to enfold the woman’s bloody hands in her own.
“What’s happened?”
“’Tis my husband,” she gulped out.“He’s sore wounded.”
