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Dru stopped chewing and stared at Shade a moment, then with a mouthful she mumbled, “You have been generous enough, I cannot?—”

“In exchange for delivering a message to my friend Ula. Please let her know that I miss her and if she needs me for anything to let me know and I will be there for her.”

“I can do that,” Dru said.

“You cannot do that,” Quint ordered.

“Aye, I can and will do it,” Dru argued.

“I don’t mean you,” Quint said with a quick glance at Dru before looking at Shade. “You cannot travel to Clan MacLeish, especially with battle on the horizon.”

“If my friend needs me, I will go,” Shade said with a stubborn lift of her chin.

“Nay, you will not,” Quint demanded.

“You have no say over me,” Shade said, as if dismissing his remark and continued to spread a salve over Dru’s wound.

“If you wed her, you would,” —Dru grinned— “have a say over her. That is”

Shade saw the way Quint’s body tensed at the suggestion. He was not ready to wed. She wondered if he would ever be ready, the memories of his wife still too fresh in his mind. She was a distraction from those memories and the reason why he cared for her. But she doubted he would ever love her and the more time they spent together the more she fell in love with him.

“I ran across a cleric not far from here,” Dru said.

Quint’s eyes narrowed as he shot her a look. “What is he doing in the area?”

Dru shrugged. “I don’t know. I only know he isn’t far from here.”

Shade didn’t want to hear any more about marriage. Quint had no desire to wed her and why would she wed a warrior who would barely be around? Or was that an excuse to ward off the pain of Quint having no interest in wedding her?

“Your wound will do fine,” Shade said, grabbing a cloth to bandage the wound. It is healing nicely, and the salve and a clean bandage will see to the rest.”

“You have a very gentle touch,” Dru said.

“I try,” Shade said with a smile. “Now, I am going to put a sack of food together for you and a clean cloth for when that one gets dirty. You can stay as filthy and smelly as you like, but you will keep your wound clean until it is fully healed. You can have Ula look at it when you reach Clan MacLeish and deliver my message. She knows enough about healing to tend to it for you.”

“You truly are too kind,” Dru said and shook her head. “Be careful, there are those that see kindness as a weakness and take advantage of it.”

“I have seen that for myself, and I do my best to avoid it,” Shade said and gathered up her things and entered the cottage.

Dru continued eating the food that was left. “You know you placed her in danger, don’t you? If you wed her, no one would dare touch her. They would be too fearful of the consequences. Besides, you’ll never find a woman who would willingly wed you.”

“Since you are so intent on seeing me wed, why not do the same yourself? Find a man and wed him.”

“You first,” she said and chuckled.

Shade returned with the sack of food. “There is no rush. You may stay as long as you’d like.”

“I’d rather be on my way. It’s a day’s journey to reach Clan MacLeish but I’m quick-footed and can get there sooner.” Dru stood, taking the sack from Shade. “I’ll make sure Ula gets your message and thanks again. I appreciate your generosity and kindness.”

“You are welcome to shelter here anytime, Dru. Consider it a safe haven whenever you need one.” Shade went to hug the petite lass, but she jumped back.

“I stink,” Dru said.

“Everyone needs a hug now and again,” Shade said and stepped toward her. This time Dru didn’t move. She accepted the hug, and Shade felt the lass melt against her. Like herself before Quint, Dru hadn’t had anyone hug her in a long time.

Dru turned away, calling out, “Thanks again for everything.”

Shade felt for the lonely lass, having caught the tears that had rushed to her eyes.