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“Me,” Shade said. “Not that I truly would. I would come and go, though it is a good place for me to blend my herbs. No one would disturb me since no one is allowed to enter except for a few who could do so now and again.”

“Shade is right,” Quint agreed. “It is not necessary for Caleb to remain here. We could sneak him out just before dawn when we are sure no one lurks about and plant him so that a sentinel discovers him and helps him into the village. It will give the clan hope that another of their warriors survived and made it home.”

“It would be nice for us to be home again, living as husband and wife,” Ula said.

“Aye,” Caleb said. “It is what I want. What we both want and what we both need.”

Quint wanted to claim the same and when Shade eased herself against him and he slipped his arm around her, he realized she thought the same. They both wanted and needed to go home.

“Dawn tomorrow,” Caleb said.

“Nay,” Shade said, shaking her head. “Your legs need to gain some strength if you are to climb down the stairs and walk through the village. Walk around this room, sit in a chair to rest and nap at least once during the day. In a few days, we will see if you have the strength to get home.”

“He’ll be ready,” Quint said once they stepped outside the bedchamber. “He wants to go home that badly. He’ll let nothing stop him.” He took hold of her arm. “And nothing is going to stop us from going home once we are done here.”

“I agree,” Shade said.

“Yet you look worried,” Quint said. “Come, we’ll talk in our bedchamber.”

Shade went to the hearth to warm herself, a sudden chill catching her.

Quint came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist so she could keep her hands extended to the heat of the fire. “I believe I know what troubles you. It was Brother Peter’s remark about monks once again taking residence at Coggshall Abbey.”

“Aye,” she said, leaning back against him.

“There is no need for worry. You have me now to protect you.”

“Monks can still make life unpleasant for me, asserting all sorts of things about me until people begin to believe it, until I am finally deemed evil. And what of you? How will they feelabout the madman accused of killing their fellow monks living nearby and wed to the healer?”

“Worry not about me. I will prove my innocence and lay to rest the problem. As for you, you help far too many people and do good for too many for anyone ever to believe such nonsense. And such lies will stop fast enough since I will make sure of it. I will see that the monks discover it is wiser for them to befriend you rather than condemn you.”

Shade turned around in his arms, a playful smile on her face. “And you have such powers to make this happen?”

He grinned. “I have extraordinary powers, wife.”

“Prove it,” she challenged.

“With pleasure.” He chuckled and scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the bed.

“Please tellme that Chieftain Ryland has improved enough for me to pray with him,” Brother Peter said, approaching Shade as she walked through the village toward the keep.

“I fear it will be some time before you are able to do that, but please continue to pray for him,” Shade said and continued walking, her mind more on the pleasure she had recently shared with her husband and feeling guilty that she was caught thinking about it in the presence of the cleric.

“I understand and I am busy tending to those who seek counsel and absolution, and I am pleased there are no deaths to attend to. You are a remarkable healer, Shade. The monks who will make Coggshall Abbey their home would be wise to seek your skill when needed.”

“Will they not have a healer of their own?” she asked, having learned from Brother Emmett that many monks studied healing.

“I’m sure not a healer as skilled as you.”

She took advantage of the opportunity and asked about the monks who would arrive at Coggshall Abbey. “How many monks will occupy the abbey?”

“Fifteen to begin with, but there are plans to enlarge the abbey so that more monks can make their home there. I believe the intentions are to make it an abbey of knowledge. Where monks can go to study and become knowledgeable on various subjects.”

While the abbey was still a good walk from her cottage, the idea that so many monks would be in the area left her feeling upset that her peaceful existence might change.

“Lord Torrance has been generous in supporting this endeavor.”

“When are the monks expected to arrive?” she asked, hoping it wasn’t soon.