She cleared her throat. “I would not ask if it were not so important to us, Lachlann.”
He held himself stiff, resisting the urge to fall into the trap these two were both in. Before he could speak, she placed her small hand on his arm. It was quite warm, and her expression revealed her fear of his refusal. His guilt increased.
“Please, Lachlann.” She implored him. “We have no one else to send. The money is meant for the church, but wecanpay ye for yer service…leastwise once the silver coins are retrieved.”
He understood her desperation. He heaved a sigh, before flashing a smile. “Ifit is retrieved.” He kept his voice low and quiet. “Ye have verra little to go by with this.”
“But I believe we are meant to have it. God will surely watch over ye in yer travels, and ye will have much success.” She spoke quickly, her words all running together in her enthusiasm.
“We all think well of ye, Sister.” Lachlann didn’t want to disappoint her. “I will see if Niall and Aldred can be persuaded to travel so far north at this time of year, but I make no promises.”
She held his gaze and shook her head ever so slightly. “Ye need to convince them, Lachlann.Yeunderstand the way of it. This must be done.”
Father Michael and Sister Elizabeth remained as still as stones and watched him. They couldn’t understand the totality of what they were asking of him. A foolhardy quest at best. To convince anyone they should do this when he himself could think of a hundred reasons why they should not left him reluctant to agree. But agree to it he did.
“I will do what I can.”
“Wonderful!” Sister Elizabeth beamed. To the priest, she added, “Ye were correct, Father Michael. A wonderful group of men.”
A wonderful group of men? Had the man actually said that about them?
She turned back to Lachlann, her warm smile remaining. “Ye will not be disappointed. I promise ye. Can ye leave at once?”
They could go nowhere without their chieftain’s leave. “The ‘when’ will be determined by another…”
Her face closed down in disappointment.
“But I will accept this mission as my own and act accordingly.” He quirked a brow at Father Michael. “I just hope the worst is disappointment and not the loss of my soul.”
Chapter 3
When Lachlann joined Niall and Aldred at the small stabling area, they were still discussing the Norseman’s lack of respect. Their horses munched among the tall grasses, unbothered by the loud, angry voices beside them. Instead, they looked to be preparing for a brisk morning trot. Lachlann hoped for the same once he had his friends’ agreement on what he’d promised Sister Elizabeth.
Niall towered over Aldred, who sat cross-legged on the ground, a piece of long grass between his lips and his back leaning against the post. Niall’s stern manner matched his angry tone. “I believe if ye put as much effort into not offending others as ye do in seeing to yer baser pleasure, ye’d be sainted!”
A scowl was Aldred’s only response.
Niall sighed in defeat before tending to his horse. “But I still think it’s the boredom of our current situation that is the problem. Only three days back in the bosom of our loving clan, and we’re at each other’s throats”
The perfect opening.
“An adventure would be just the thing to put an end to that boredom,” Lachlann said when he came within earshot.
“Did ye get lost?” Aldred turned his irritation on his favorite target.
“I was approached by Sister Elizabeth.” Lachlann leveled his gaze at the man. “She sends her greetings and wantsyeto know she continues to pray for ye.”
Niall stroked the black warhorse’s long nose. His favorite courser shifted uncomfortably as if sensing Niall’s still simmering irritation. “I thought I noticed her among the nuns.”
“With their faces barely visible,” Aldred offered, “’tis difficult to tell them apart.”
Before Lachlann could get the words of explanation out, Aldred halted him with a raised hand.
“I know. I know. ’Tis why they’re covered. As a nun, they’re not to be seen as women anymore.” He rolled his eyes. “Between yer Bible teaching and being prayed over by the Brides of Christ, I’m sure to find myself in the fires of hell.”
Lachlann took a breath, ready to explain that’s not how it worked, but shook his head instead.
“Women or not— ” he spoke pointedly toward Aldred before continuing— “they have a job for us. There’s been much damage to their priory.”
