"Very."
"Let it cool a moment."
He moved the spit from the fire, leaning the scorched branch against his knapsack, so the fish dripped juices onto the grass. "You were supposed to wake me so you could get some rest," she said as he passed her a leather container of water.
"You were sleeping too peacefully. I will rest in the saddle."
He blew on the fish before tearing off a chunk and passing it to her. Rose ate it slowly, the heat burning the inside of her mouth. "I'm sorry," she said out of nowhere.
"What for?"
"You have been delayed by me and for no good reason. You shouldn’t have risked Tynemouth or the stone circle. You should have gone straight to Rievaulx."
"I may have been delayed, but God delayed me for a reason. There is a reason for everything that happens in this world, good and bad. If you hadn’t appeared when you did, I would be stuck in the dungeon still, and my father would be dead."
As he talked, he finished his portion of fish and then began tamping down the fire, leaving the last wisps of smoke drifting slowly away as he stood up. "Ready to ride?"
"As ready as I'll ever be."
"Then let's get to Rievaulx and get the rat dealt with once and for all."
12
Lennox knew when they were close. The land was more cultivated, the granges neatly laid out in the monastic pattern.
The sun was just starting to set when they reached the top of the hill above Rievaulx Abbey. Looking down into the valley, Lennox saw the white stone of the church buildings towering above the surrounding countryside. The lands closest to it had been cleared. High walls enclosed the abbey.
"Down that way," he said, pointing to the track next to them. "We are almost there."
He urged the horse on but it took time to descend the steep slope to the valley. When they were halfway down, the route was blocked by the gatehouse set into the middle of the road, flanked by high walls on either side.
To their right, they could hear the sounds of many chisels on stone. "The quarry," Lennox said as Rose did her best to peer over the wall.
He climbed down from the horse to rap on the gatehouse door. A few seconds later the grate slid back to reveal a cowled figure. "We need to see Walter Espec," Lennox said. "We have an urgent message for him."
The grate closed and the door was opened, the monk behind it beckoning him in. Rose went to follow, but the monk held up his hand. "She's with me," Lennox said.
The monk shook his head, lifting his cowl long enough to show a pale, gaunt face.
"She comes with me."
The monk refused to move.
"Lennox," Rose said, shaking her head. "Don't worry about it. I'll be right here when you get back. Go give him the letter."
"I will be swift," he replied, nodding to the monk who turned and opened the far door, allowing him entry into the abbey grounds.
It didn’t feel right leaving Rose behind but he wouldn't be long. A monk walked out of the building to his right a moment later. He guessed it was a kitchen from the smoke rising from a chimney above the tiled roof.
"God be with you," Lennox said, bowing to the monk. "I seek Walter Espec, a novice here. Do you know where he is?"
"Buried this last week."
"He’s dead? I must speak to your abbot at once."
"Who are you?"
"I am Lennox MacGregor, son of Ross MacGregor, Laird of the MacGregor Clan."
