“I need you, Captain.” She said it but she shook her head at the same time. She knew she should have remained silent. “Nay. I am wrong.” She backed up and shut the door.
Alone, she leaned her back against the door between them.
“Forgive me,” she prayed. “Oh, forgive me.”
Outside her door,Galeren heard her cry and muttered a soft, miserable oath.
When he stepped into the main hall, he was stopped by two soldiers from the garrison.
“Greetin’s, Captain. ’Tis good to have ye back,” said one of the men. Alistair Desmond was his name. He hailed from Perth and arrived at the garrison in Dundonald six months ago. “How was yer journey?”
Galeren smiled at them. “Uneventful.”
“Uneventful,” the other man, Jack MacKinny, repeated with a doubtful arch of his dark brow. He was dressed like Desmond in boots and a plaid with a léine underneath. At his waist, he wore a leather belt that was heavy with various weapons. “Save that ye and the lads killed a large group of men after they attacked the nun.”
“Novice,” Galeren corrected.
Alistair tossed back his bald head and laughed. “That isna uneventful, Captain.”
“To him ’tis.” Will laughed, joining them. With him was Father Alphonsus.
Upon seeing the priest, Alistair and Jack disappeared.
“Truly?” Father Alphonsus asked, stepping closer. “It is uneventful for you to kill ten men?”
“Thoseten men. Aye, Father,” Galeren told him and moved away. He stopped after a few steps. “Have ye sent Father Nathaniel to Sister Silene?”
“I have not seen him,” Father Alphonsus sneered.
Galeren gave him a black stare. He’d never be forgiven for striking a man of God. But the priest didn’t know that Galeren cared about such a thing. “May I suggest ye find him?” he uttered as more of a command than a question.
Will laughed and pushed Galeren away. “I’m sure the good Father Alphonsus will find him.”
“What are ye doin’ with him?” Galeren demanded quietly as they left the hall.
“Findin’ oot when our dearnoviceis to face the church and how many of us can be there to pledge ourselves to her safety.”
Since when had she becometheirnovice? And why did Will emphasize the word?
“And?” he couldn’t help but ask. In truth, he liked that his men wanted to continue to protect her.
“In eight days and she can have no guard with her.”
Galeren stopped to turn to him. “She will have a guard. Me.”
His friend gave him an amazed look. “Ye intend to defy the church?”
Galeren squared his shoulders. “If I must.”
Will smiled and patted him on the back before he broke away to head to another room. “Be careful, Cap.”
Galeren nodded and continue on. He couldn’t say it was good to be back. He’d told Alistair the trip was uneventful but, in truth, it had changed everything in his life.
He had to break things off with Cecilia. He didn’t love her. He never would. He had to come to the truth that he might be falling in love with one of God’s betrothed.
Ye have many, Lord, he beseeched in his mind.I only want one.
He kept walking, turning the corner toward the exit. He hurried and nearly walked into the arms of a lass crossing his path.