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“Then why is she here,” Nug demanded.

“To give us important information,” Quint said and looked to Dru.

“I followed them. I know where they’re waiting,” Dru said. “Asher is with them.”

“Who are they waiting for?” Nug asked.

“Sir! Sir!” Heath shouted as he ran toward them, his breath labored when he stopped in front of Quint. “Ula says something happened to Shade that when she went to see what was keeping her, she found the bedchamber empty, and the letter p traced into a mixture of blood and crushed herbs.”

“Brother Peter,” Quint and Dru said in unison.

“Aye,” Heath said. “The last anyone saw of Shade was her walking with Brother Peter through the village.”

“He’s taking her to meet up with Asher,” Dru said, “and no doubt they are going to prepare a trap for you, Quint.”

“Gather warriors, Heath,” Quint said, and he turned, raising his fist to deliver a hard blow to Nug’s jaw and knocking him off his feet. “Don’t ever accuse Dru of betrayal again or the next time—” He rested his hand on the handle of one of his daggers. He turned to Dru. “Asher is about to get a surprise visit from us, and we will be ready when Brother Peter arrives with my wife.”

Dru stepped aside with a nod for Quint to join her. “Don’t you want to find Shade first?”

“She faces no harm until she arrives where Asher waits, and we’ll get there first and be waiting for her and Brother Peter.”

“Are you sure about that?” Dru asked, “Or is it that your thirst for revenge is close to being quenched that makes you forsake your wife so you can capture Asher?”

“Watch what you accuse me of, Dru?’ Quint warned.

“Don’t be blind like Nug and fail to see the truth in front of you,” Dru said and walked away.

Shade shook her head.“So, all the killing is for greed and power. How does brutally killing eight monks bring you power?” she asked, wanting to learn what she could before she attempted an escape. Even if it wasn’t successful, it would give Quint time to find her before Brother Peter took her too far away from the village.

“They were pawns in my plan, they mattered not. I set the temperature to boil between Torrance and Ryland, knowing the animosity Torrance felt toward Ryland. And I readied countless mercenaries so they would be prepared to fight for Torrance when they actually fought for me. I sent Asher to gain his trust, and he did.”

“Until recently when tongues spread news that the two are at odds,” she said.

“Torrance went back on his word, but it matters not, Asher will see the task done or he knows he will suffer for it.”

Shade stopped walking. She turned slowly, her eyes wide with sudden realization. “Good, Lord, you’re the evil man Amara feared and whose child she carried.”

“You are good at putting puzzle pieces together quickly. She was one of my mistresses who kept me entertained. I favoredher, but I wanted no child from any of them. I have plans on who will bear me children and secure my future. I ordered her to purge herself of the child. I heard what a skilled healer you were when I stopped for a brief visit at Coggshall Abbey to decide if the abbey would fit my needs. I sent her to you. Unfortunately, I learned that after visiting you she chose not to rid herself of the bairn. She disappeared and it took me time to find her, but I did. And I made certain she would never be a problem again. I held no blame against Quint until he started killing my men, though I understand revenge. In the end, his actions settled a problem I wasn’t sure how to handle. I needed the monks at the abbey gone so I could install my men there. Quint was the solution. His fierce reputation and possible madness made him the perfect pawn in my game. The mission failed. Quint was supposed to be there and die that day.”

“That’s why you had crosses of blood and ash placed on the monks’ brows to make it seem Quint regretted killing the monks.”

“You are a wise one. I planned on him being blamed for the vicious murders and made to die. However, I did not count on him turning into such a powerful, revenging madman than he had already become. Even my men fear going near him.” He gave her a shove. “Keep moving, dallying will not save you or your husband.”

“So, you plan to kill us both.”

“It would have been done after I wed you to Quint. I was going to wait and see you both dead on your wedding night, but that fool cleric spotted me and rambled on about the dead men in the abbey which infuriated me learning that The Monk killed more of my men. Then your parents showed up when I returned with the cleric to your cottage and ended my chance of seeing the cleric dead along with you and your husband. Asher got rid of the foolish cleric for me and was beside himself with worrylearning Torrance had assigned another to find his half-sister. Autumn, who names their daughter Autumn?” Brother Peter shook his head. “Autumn is the key that will secure my future. Asher will find her. I will wed her, and Torrance will meet with an unfortunate accident, leaving his sister heir to Clan Glencairn and me the new lord. I will have it all and that includes Clan MacLeish.”

Shade stopped again. “You weren’t fighting with Asher’s man when Dru happened upon you. You were making plans with him.”

“You are good. I may keep you for a while. Aye, you’re right. I spotted Dru and whispered to Asher’s man what to do to make it look like he would harm me. I was made aware of her from my men and learned that she has a protective instinct when it comes to the weak and unfortunate. Keep moving, the horses await us,” he ordered.

That worried her. Once on horses they could gain distance, but Brother Peter talked about her and Quint both dying.

“You think to lure The Monk to his death,” she said as she kept walking, though turned back to smile at him. “You’ll fail. He’ll kill you.”

Brother Peter laughed. “I saw the love in your husband’s eyes for you the day I wed you to him. I knew then that he would do anything to keep you safe, even surrender his life if necessary. And that, my dear woman, is the choice he will have to make when my message reaches him. It should have been delivered by now, ‘Come alone or your wife dies.’ I believe The Monk will respond as only a loving husband would.”

“You forgot one important thing,” Shade said.