The leader appeared a few moments later. He seemed annoyed and looked around and then up. All the sisters, including Silene pushed back away from the window. Some giggled. The rest turned to her and gave her pitying smiles. Aye, she would be traveling with him—and his men.
She thought about the scar-faced soldier who narrowed his flinty eyes on Mother and gave her an angry looking over.
Another had long, pale blonde hair tied into a tail that reached just above his waist and a long bow strapped to his shoulder.
One who didn’t smile when someone said something that caused the rest of them to do so.
The last was a hairy giant who surveyed every inch of the grassy yard.
“Oh, Silene!” cried Sister Marjorie Anne. “They look positively primal. I will pray for you every single day.”
Two sisters, including Sister Agnes, wept for her. Silene comforted them and then let Sister Agnes help her dress into her white scapular with a veil attached. She wore a white wimple that covered her head, neck, and chin. When she was done, she reached for her bag and squared her shoulders and then left her room alone. The prioress didn’t want the sisters in the presence of such raw virility.
Silene’s plight wasn’t the prioress’ fault. She didn’t like Silene leaving any more than Silene did.
She would be brave and do this thing.
She prayed on the way down the stairs.
The men were inside the priory. She could smell them and hear their voices. Neither were unpleasant but rather invigorating, like woodsmoke and leather.
The only other men allowed in the priory were priests and abbots.
Sister Mary Joseph was standing with the handsome leader.
When they heard her descending the stairs, they turned.
The leader’s gaze was potent. He stared at her for a moment or two until she shifted in her place and the prioress came to her rescue.
“Ah, here she is now. Sister Silene, this is Captain Galeren MacPherson and his men.” She introduced them. Silene greeted the men with a polite nod and the slightest of smiles. When she was done, her gaze returned to the captain. He smiled, revealing a deep dimple in his right cheek. He didn’t need it to make him sublime. His eyes soaked her in. She looked away, severing the compelling connection because it made her feel…odd.
“I understand ye have some fears, lass,” he said, growing serious, which was, unfortunately for her, just as dangerously alluring.
She blinked at the prioress, who knew it, too.
I will be strong, she vowed silently.
“Let me assure ye,” he continued, “we will keep ye safe and do ye no harm. Ye have my word. Prioress?” he asked. His voice was like silk against her ears. “My men and I are weary and would beg yer mercy fer a few hours of rest here before we start over again.”
The prioress’ alabaster skin went even whiter. “Here?”
“Aye. Just fer a few hours to rest in a bed. Mayhap eat somethin’ hot fer supper.”
He smiled. Poor Mother.
Some orders did not allow men while others housed men and women together. Theirs had no rules against it.
“Captain,” the prioress said, then took a breath to compose herself and stand against his splendid countenance. “I’m sorry, but I do not want to put the sisters through being around you and your men. ’Tis bad enough that Sister Silene must be put through it. I will pray for her against you.”
Well, Silene thought, she had recovered quickly. The problem was Silene didn’t think it was a fair or kind prayer—and she didn’t agree with it. As a matter of fact, she thought they should be allowed to rest. The sisters should be allowed to be tempted and tried. ’Twas part of real life.
“Verra well then,” he said. His smile waned until it faded altogether by the time his gaze returned to Silene. He was insulted. She could feel it coming off him in waves.
She didn’t want the captain to dislike her because of Mother’s rash judgment. She softened her gaze on him for just an instant lest the prioress should see and feel betrayed.
“We will be leavin’ then.”
Silene looked at the prioress with pleading in her eyes. A few more hours to be here—to be home.