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“Which is why Brother Emmett and I kept it to ourselves. It was his interest in the local plants and their properties that brought him to me, and why we maintained caution when meeting. He made it clear that his fellow monks would not approve of our friendship, with me being a woman and a healer. Brother Emmett and I spent many pleasant hours talking aboutplants and healing. He had a kind heart and would have made an excellent healer. I miss him and think of him often, and every time I go into the woods to gather plants.”

“Did he ever mention the fellow that is now known as The Monk to you?”

“Aye, he believed he had a troubled heart and soul.”

“Did Brother Emmett believe he could be saved?”

“Brother Emmett believed that prayer could heal and solve just about anything, but he also asked me if there was a plant or a mixture that might help ease the man’s rage until his heart finally healed.”

“Is there such a plant or mixture?”

“There are plants that can calm. Valerian and gowan can calm though too much of them together can cause tiredness. Black Henbane can be used as well but it can be a deadly plant if one is not knowledgeable about it.”

“Did you give Brother Emmett such a mixture?”

“Nay, I did not believe it was a wise thing to do?”

“Why?”

“That was what Brother Emmett asked since he was disappointed with my response. What he asked of me would not have helped the man. It would have only given him a reprieve, and a brief one at that, and not allowed him to concentrate on his healing. He was where he needed to be to heal, surrounded by monks who cared and prayed for him. Given time, I believe he would have healed.”

“And yet eight monks are dead.”

“Aye, but was it by his hand? Shade asked.

“Why do you question it?”

“Something that Brother Emmett said to me the last time I saw him. He believed the man was improving.”

“How so?”

“A smile, gentle as it was, Brother Emmett was thrilled to see it on the man’s face as they worked in the abbey’s healing garden together. Knowing Brother Emmett as I did, I would say that if he permitted him to work in the abbey’s healing garden with him then he had come to trust him. It is because of knowing Brother Emmett that I question what may have happened there on that horrific day.”

Sadness filled her words and her eyes, so Quint turned the talk to her garden, asking about the plants she grew as she cleaned the bowls and set them to dry by the hearth, then scrubbed the table with a blend of herbs that gave off a pleasant scent.

Not long after, they sought their beds and it wasn’t long after that that Quint heard Shade breathing gently in sleep, and he soon followed.

Shade didn’t want to enter but something propelled her to. She didn’t belong here. She wasn’t welcome here and yet she could not stop from entering the abbey. It was eerily silent. She couldn’t even hear her own footsteps. She knew where to go, though, how she knew puzzled her, never having been here before now.

She entered what Brother Emmett referred to as the refectory. The room where the monks took their meals. She stopped briefly upon seeing the bloody bodies sprawled about and hurried to each one to see if she could save any of them. They were beyond saving, having been struck repeatedly with a sword. She rushed to search for Brother Emmett and found him on the floor barely breathing.

She dropped down beside him quickly seeing what she could do to save his life.

“Too late,” Brother Emmett whispered. “Go! Go before it is too late for you. Go!”

She couldn’t leave him. She couldn’t let him die alone. She held his hand until it went limp and when she released his hand and looked upon him one last time, she saw that on his brow was inscribed a cross made from ashes and blood. Someone had blessed him. Light began to fade from the room and a chill settled over her.

She heard Brother Emmett warning her to go and she hurried toward the door but stopped when seeing that every monk bore a cross made from ash on his brow.

Who had blessed them? Who was trying to protect them? Keep them safe?

A shadow of a man suddenly fell over her, and she looked to see the shadow raising a sword ready to swing it at her, and she screamed. Before the sword could strike her, she was grabbed by the arm and yanked away.

“Wake up, Shade, wake up!”

Shade’s eyes popped open to find herself in Quint’s arms.

“You saved me,” she said, clinging to him, fearful he would let her go when she desperately needed his strength.