Page 17 of Highland Flame

Chapter Six

Cam was glad when they arrived at the priory because the woman sitting next to him was odd, and most likely out of her mind. The sooner he got this punishment over with, the better. He directed the horse through the main archway. The establishment was huge and made of red brick. It was much larger than Hermitage Castle. It was almost like a little village in itself.

He looked up high right before riding through the passageway, seeing pillars made of stone. Above them, long, tall windows welcomed them with religious pictures constructed in the ornate stained glass. It was a most impressive sight. Above that was a niche in the stone with a statue and the name of Mary Magdalene carved above it. Atop the main pinnacle of the priory was a large stone cross.

It was dark in the passageway as he followed Rook into the entrance of this holy place. The clip clop of the horses’ hooves echoed loudly in the chamber. Nash and North followed right behind the wagon, silent for once. He figured they were probably in awe of the surroundings.

Then there was daylight and the tunnel ended, leaving them inside the courtyard. Just being inside the holy walls of the priory’s courtyard made him fidget in his seat.

As soon as they stopped, several monks dressed in black robes hurried toward them. A handful of nuns stood in the shadows watching.

“This place looks great,” said Nash, looking around at the archways and cloistered areas that had small gardens in between.

“Aye, it certainly is no’ in ruins anymore,” agreed North, hopping off his horse.

“I’m sure Storm told you that the priory has been restored, and is actually still in progress,” said Rook, dismounting his horse as well. “It was many years ago when I lived here in the ruins, in the catacombs.”

“I canna believe anyone would live in catacombs,” said Yvaine, starting to get out of the wagon. Cam hopped out first and helped her.

“I canna believe anyone would live in a monastery,” mumbled Cam under his breath.

“Sister,” called out one of the monks, hurrying toward them. The rest of the monks remained silent.

“Brathair!” Yvaine hurried over to hug the man. The monk was short and stout, wearing a black, woolen tunic tied at the waist with a leather belt. Over it, he wore the traditional cowl – a long, sleeveless robe with a deep hood. Like all monks, his hair was in a tonsure, his head shaved only atop his head, making him bald with a ring of hair around it. “Gillies, this is Cam MacKeefe and his friends, North and Nash. They will be stayin’ here with me for a while.”

“How do ye do?” asked Cam, reaching out to shake the man’s hand. The monk lowered his eyes and nodded, keeping his hands inside his cowl. “Hello,” Cam called out and waved to a few more monks nearby. “What are yer names?”

They did not answer. Instead, they turned and walked away.

“No’ very friendly, are they?” asked Cam.

“They don’t answer you because the monks are not allowed to speak,” Brother Gillies told him.

“Why no’?” asked Nash, looking over at the monks as they headed away.

“It is part of their training,” said Gillies.

“How do ye call them for dinner?” asked North, scratching his head.

“We have a bell that rings for not only each meal but also before each of our prayer sessions throughout the day.”

“I’m curious,” said Cam. “If ye are Yvaine’s brathair, why is it ye sound more like a Sassenach than a Scot when ye speak?”

“He’s been a monk in England for a long time now,” explained Yvaine. “Gillies has chosen to speak like those around him.”

“Ah. Just no’ like the monks around here,” said Cam with a chuckle, realizing how quiet the courtyard was, even though there were a few dozen people present.

“Brathair, thank ye for lettin’ me stay with ye, and for lettin’ me bring the chandler business here with me,” Yvaine told him.

“Well, Sister, it’s the least I can do, after you lost your husband.” He laid his hand on her arm.

“Thank ye,” said Yvaine.

“Bless your late husband, Dun, dear child,” Brother Gillies continued. “I didn’t know the man well, but from what I remember, he was in perfect health. How did he come to die?”

“Aye, how did he die?” asked Cam, wondering the same thing since her story didn’t sound feasible to him.

“I already told ye,” Yvaine said to Cam. “He tripped and fell and hit his head. It all happened suddenly.”