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Shade wokethe next morning to find she had slept alone. Quint had yet to return home. She feared something had happened to him, then told herself she was foolish for believing that. It was well known how skilled The Monk was with his daggers and sword, and she had seen it with her own eyes. Still, she worried about him.

She dressed, combed her hair and pinned it up with two combs but by the time she left the bedchamber, strands were already falling loose.

As soon as she entered the chieftain’s bedchamber, she spotted Ula where she had left her last night, sitting beside the bed, her head resting on it, sound asleep.

“Ula,” she said softly as she rested her hand on her friend’s shoulder.

Ula raised her head, rubbing her eyes. “He woke briefly not long ago and tried to move but found it too painful and he still feels warm to the touch.”

Shade felt his brow for herself. “Keep giving him the brews and he needs to eat lightly to start regaining his strength. I will have the cook prepare a broth for him. Rest is what he needs right now.”

“He knows you are here, and he is grateful and hopeful,” Ula said, unshed tears glistening in her eyes.

“Keep doing what you are doing and do not let anyone but me know when he wakes. My husband wishes to speak with him when he does, and he has met Chieftain Ryland.”

“I will be sure to keep him out of this room,” Ula said, worried.

“My husband is not a man who will be kept from doing as he pleases,” Shade warned.

“And I am a woman who intends to see her husband heal and help keep hope alive in my clan until Chieftain Ryland returns.”

“I forgot what courage you have.”

“I got it from you, always strong in any given situation. You always amazed me,” Ula said. “You still do.”

Shade hugged her, then hurried to excuse herself explaining she had to see how Liam was doing and to look for her husband. She turned as did Ula when a knock sounded at the door, and it opened slowly.

Ena peeked her head in, smiled as she entered, and walked over to join the other two women and cast a quick glance at Caleb. “It appears all goes well here.”

“He rests more comfortably and wakes now and again,” Ula said.

“There is hope yet,” Ena said, her smile growing. “Nug and a few other men had barely set off to rescue the four warriors in need when they met up with them. Mervin was quick to tell the tale and most wonder if it is just that, a tale. But the others with him insisted he spoke the truth. When they thought all was lost and they would die… the four men ready to fight them dropped one by one until only one was left standing. That was when The Monk was heard from the woods and ordered our four warriors gone.”

“They did not wait to see what happened to the last warrior?” Shade asked, worried her husband might have been seen and could then be recognized.

“The Monk ordered them gone. You don’t deny The Monk,” Ena said.

Shade only partially listened as Ena and Ula talked about The Monk being in the area. She wondered if her husband had learned anything from the lone man left that could help him. Shealso wondered over how fearful people were of The Monk. But then people only saw one side of him, that of a man gone mad with revenge.

“Shade, are you all right? Shade?”

Shade shook her head, clearing her thoughts upon hearing Ula speak to her. “A bit of a foggy mind this morning and a bit startled by the news.”

“At least The Monk bore no ill will against our warriors,” Ula said.

Ena agreed with a quick nod. “Aye, something to be grateful for.”

Shade was eager to find her husband and find out how much of the news was truth or tale, so she moved the conversation along. “Have you been to see Liam, Ena?”

“I have. He’s in pain, though resting better in his own bed than on the table in the solar. His wife Dee is insisting that I give him a small dose of henbane to put him in a restful sleep, so he does not have to suffer the pain. I thought it best I consult with you about it first.”

“Henbane might prove dangerous with what I have Dee giving her husband now. I will go talk with her and see what would be best for Liam.” Shade looked at her friend. “You need to eat, take a walk in the crisp air, and return to your husband refreshed.”

“I don’t want to leave him,” Ula said, glancing at her sleeping husband.

“I will look after him,” Ena said. “I could use the rest since I woke long before the sun came up, not that the sun came up. It is another cloudy day.”

Ula attempted to argue until she had no choice but to capitulate and go with Shade.