Page 27 of Highland Flame

“Eight hours a day of prayin’?” gasped Cam in disbelief.

“Although they are called hours, the prayer sessions really only add up to about five,” Gillies told him.

“Only five hours? Och, well, that’s a relief,” said Cam sarcastically, wanting to be anywhere but here.

“However, private prayer and contemplation could add up to an additional five hours,” added Gillies, making Cam’s head spin and feel as if it were about to burst. This was truly a nightmare and he was smack dab in the middle of it with no way out.

“Will I be able to sell my candles to the church and possibly in town?” asked Yvaine.

“I will do my best to help you,” her brother answered.

“Yvaine, I dinna ken how ye’ll have time to even make candles when ye will be required to work and pray so much as a novitiate,” said Cam.

Brother Gillies laughed at that. “My sister is not –”

“Where will the child sleep?” asked Yvaine, cutting off the man’s sentence. “I’d like to put her down for a nap.”

“Well, I suppose she’ll be staying with Cam,” said the monk, making Cam feel very anxious. “After all, I’m sure he’ll want to watch over his daughter.”

“Nay. That’s no’ possible,” Cam protested.

“Why not?” asked the monk, leaving Cam speechless. He didn’t have any good excuse, and couldn’t think of how to get out of this with his head so full of thoughts of the horrible life of a monk. He’d now be living like a monk for his punishment. Thankfully, Yvaine came to his rescue.

“She can stay with me.” Yvaine rubbed her belly gently. Cam wondered if the gruel wasn’t sitting right with her. Even though it had been tasty, it was settling like a rock in his stomach, too. Now, he wished he would have eaten fruit with his friends instead.

“My quarters are in the pele, on the ground floor.” The monk took them to a square, stone tower that was several stories high. “Yvaine, you can take the room above mine and share it with the child.”

“Thank ye,” said Yvaine as they all started to climb the stairs to the tower.

“Where will I and my friends be lodgin’ durin’ our stay?” asked Cam.

“The dormitories are for the monks, the lay monks, and the nuns,” he told him. “I do have an extra room or two but I must keep those open in case nobles should stop here during their travels. I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you and your friends to sleep either in the infirmary, or mayhap even the stables.”

“I see,” said Cam, not even surprised by now that they wouldn’t be offered better accommodations. “Or, we can just sleep in the catacombs, like Rook used to do,” he replied facetiously.

“Cam! Stop bein’ so disrespectful,” said Yvaine as the monk opened the door and led them into a room. It was plain inside, with just a pallet on the floor, a crucifix on the wall, and one small table with two chairs.

“Put the girl down on the pallet,” said Gillies. “Yvaine, you’ll have to share the pallet with her, but it is a large one so it should still be sufficient. Unless you’d rather I bring up a bed that is up off the floor. Whatever is easier for you.”

Cam thought that an odd thing to offer since he and his friends would be sleeping in much less than desirable quarters and probably in the hay.

“Nay. A pallet on the floor is fine.” Her hand went to her stomach again and she looked very tired.

Cam laid the little girl down and stood back up. “All right, I am ready to see the rest of the place now.”

“I’d like to stay here and rest with Avianca, instead of goin’ with ye,” said Yvaine.

“Why? I canna imagine ye’d be tired already,” said Cam. He and his friends had been the ones who not only fought a battle today, but also did all the work. Yvaine did nothing but watch.

“I – I just dinna want Avianca to be scared when she wakes up. I think it’s best I stay with her for now.”

“Have it yer way,” said Cam with a shrug, heading out the door. Once he and Brother Gillies were back in the courtyard, the monk showed him the kitchen, the stables, and even the garderobe.

“This is our lavitorium where the monks wash. There are separate days and times for the nuns to use it.” He opened a door and showed Cam a room with buckets of water, as well as small bath tubs where one could sit up to their waist in water if their knees were bent. On the far wall was a hearth with a large kettle that was used to heat the bath water. “Of course, if you and your friends want to use it, you’ll have to ask and we’ll need to schedule a special time to do so.”

“Och, dinna bother. We bathe in the loch,” said Cam.

“Isn’t that cold? Especially in winter?” asked Gillies.