Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 99206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
She caught sight of Brigid at a table close to the fireplace. Thomas sat beside her and Magnus stood, his look angry. Something was wrong. She hurried over to the trio.
“What has happened?” Reena asked, a sense of dread descending on her.
Magnus answered. “I received a message from Kilkern that Brigid is to be turned over to him for theft from his property.”
“Brigid stole nothing from him,” Reena argued.
“He claims otherwise and demands a punishment fitting the crime. He refuses any compensation, insisting the object was invaluable.”
“What is it he claims she stole? And why wait until now to accuse?” Reena was furious and stood beside her friend, her hand on her shoulder. She could feel Brigid tremble with fear, and she squeezed her shoulder in reassurance.
Silence hung heavy in the air and Reena wondered over it, glancing from one to another in search of an answer.
Magnus spoke. “He claims he only recently realized he no longer possessed the object and that he was with Brigid when he last saw it.”
“And this priceless object is?”
“A map.”
Reena shook her head. “A map? A map of what? And why would a map be so important to him?”
“Kilkern claims that this map shows that Dunhurnal land is actually Kilkern land and that it was divided unlawfully and given to one Brian Dunhurnal. Dates and boundaries on the map and the signature of the king would prove his claim. He insists that Brigid stole it for me.”
“That is ridiculous,” Reena said. “She did not know you until you arrived here with me.”
“Kilkern claims otherwise, and if I do not surrender Brigid, he warns that he will petition the king to have her turned over to him, in addition to the return of Dunhurnal land, which he says rightfully belongs to him.”
Reena could do nothing but shake her head at the absurdity of Kilkern’s claims.
“He but baits me, wanting me to make a foolish move,” Magnus said.
“What will you do?” Reena asked, her hand remaining firm on her friend’s shoulder.
“First, I will make certain Brigid has extra protection. I would expect Kilkern to make an attempt to abduct her.” Magnus looked to Thomas. “You will guard her well.”
“Have no doubt of that,” Thomas said. “I will not leave her side.”
Brigid cast sympathetic eyes on Thomas. “You will tire of seeing my face.”
“Beauty never tires the eyes.”
“Oh, Thomas,” Brigid said. “I am glad it is you who will guard me. I will feel well protected.”
“And what of Kilkern?” Reena asked. “What is to be done about him?”
“He will be seen to in time. He will not succeed in taking this land. It belongs to me and will remain mine,” Magnus said with a confidence that had none doubting his words. “Until then life goes on as usual. Now let us eat, for I am starving.”
Thomas agreed with a strong, “Aye.”
Reena added similar sentiments. “I hunger for a good meal.”
Brigid laughed. “My stomach tells me the same, and this is good, for if we truly feared Kilkern, none of us would be so hungry.”
They laughed along with her, and soon the table was covered with trays and platters of hot food and pitchers of mulled cider. After they ate Thomas followed Brigid, along with Horace, to the tower room, and Magnus and Reena went off to continue mapping the keep. It was near finished, with only the area beneath the keep, which had served as a prison, to explore.
With torch in hand, Magnus preceded Reena down the narrow stone staircase.
“Watch your step,” he cautioned. “A dampness fills this passageway and makes the stones slippery.”
The further they descended, the more damp it became, and a stench filled the already musty air. Magnus stopped at the bottom step and held the torch high, the flickering flame casting a ghostly light over his handsome face. “I had the prison cells cleaned as best as possible, but a scent lingers, and I think it always will. If the odor offends you, we can try another day, or I can detail the cells and you can map them from my memory.”
“Nay, I need to see the area for myself or else the map will not be as accurate as it should be. The odor is strange and could certainly be obnoxious to the senses, but I will be fine.”
“You will tell me if the smell begins to trouble you?”
“Aye,” she answered. “Let us start—the sooner I map, the sooner we can leave the foul odor behind us.”
Magnus nodded and proceeded down the corridor. “I had several torches lit so that there would be sufficient light for you.”
Six torches flamed brightly in metal wall sconces and shed light on an area where darkness had once reigned. Reena stood silent, staring at the cells. The doors were open wide, and complete darkness greeted anyone who entered. The thought of being swallowed by the cavernous black hole ran a shiver through her.