Page 31 of Laird of Smoke
Eve shuddered.
Surely the prior couldn’t mean to… Not that beautiful, smooth, perfectly sculpted…
The prior picked up a thick wooden rod, testing it with a slap across his palm.
The breath froze in Eve’s chest.
God’s bones!
She had to do something.
Starting another fire occurred to her.
But there was no time.
Adam braced himself.
It wouldn’t be the first time he’d taken a beating.Not as Adam of Rivenloch, of course.But once when he’d disguised himself as Black Conall, the sea reiver, he’d been beaten for fighting with a fellow crewman.And once as the beggar Tom, he’d been whipped for winking at a woman.
Neither had been severe.He’d been left with no scars, which was fortunate.The more identifying marks he bore on his body, the more recognizable he’d become.And becoming recognizable would end his livelihood as a spy.
He supposed his fate today depended upon how much religious fervor the prior intended to use wielding the rod.
He wondered if this was what Lady Aillenn had in mind when she said she trusted the prior’s judgment.It certainly seemed an extreme price to pay for “carnal desire.”
“Hold him still,” the prior told the guards.
Adam held his breath.
Before the prior could begin, the expectant hush was broken by a growing disturbance from the back of the chapter house.
As the unrest increased, the prior demanded, “What is it?What’s goin’ on?”
The guards were holding Adam so tightly, he couldn’t crane his head around to see what was happening.But any delay was good.Perhaps it was a fire.One could always pray for fire.
“Who is it?”the prior said.“Come forward.”
There was no answer except for grunting as the assembly shifted to make way for someone.
“Who are ye?”the prior asked.
A youthful voice piped up from the assembly to address the prior.“Beggin’ your pardon, Father?”
“Aye, Edward?”
“He said he’s a pilgrim, goin’ to Saint Andrews.He’s under a vow o’ silence.”
“Is that so?”the prior asked.“Then how did he tell ye that?”
“He’s got a wax tablet,” Edward replied.
The prior cleared his voice, disgruntled.“Write on your tablet then.What do ye want?”After a brief silence, the prior read the pilgrim’s message aloud.“MY…BROTHER.”He paused.“Who?This man?He’s your brother?”
Adam scowled.His brother?How could that be?Both of his brothers were at Rivenloch.
The prior continued, chastising the pilgrim.“Ye should have kept a closer watch on him then.Did the Lord not admonish Cain when he claimed he was not his brother’s guardian?”
Guardian?Adam’s brothers were younger than him.Alexander wouldn’t be knighted for another year.And Gavand wasn’t old enough to grow a beard.
