Destined for Love by Aston Alexa

Author:Aston, Alexa
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2020-10-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Drake and Faylinn visited Brothers Mendel, Aaron, and Vincent again the next morning. All three monks had improved considerably. Brother Mendel could even carry on a conversation without coughing. Drake administered more of the herbs to each man and spoke to Brother Cillian about the continued care needed for each man.

“I cannot thank you enough,” Brother Cillian told him. “It was Providence leading you to us, Sir Michael.”

He felt a little guilty going by a false name in a holy place but only said, “We are grateful for the food and shelter you provided to us.” Reaching into the satchel, he withdrew coins to pay for their stay.

Brother Cillian waved him away. “No. We will accept nothing. You have come to the aid of three of our brothers. That is payment enough. I wish the Almighty Christ’s blessings on the remainder of your journey.”

They left the monastery and retrieved Starlight, who eagerly accepted the apple Faylinn awarded him, munching happily and then spitting the core out. Drake saddled the horse and tied on the satchel. Leading Starlight from the small barn, he swung up into the saddle and leaned over to bring Faylinn up with him.

They left the abbey, waving to a few brothers who tilled in a nearby field, and rode for a few hours until they came to a broken-down cart blocking the road. He started to ride around it but a man appeared on each side from behind the wagon and both called, “Halt!”

“They want us to pay a toll,” he murmured into Faylinn’s ear, his lips brushing the lobe, causing a pleasant sensation to run through her.

She turned to him, her brows knit in concern. “They are filthy. And so thin.”

“It is a way to collect money. Not quite begging but close.”

“Pay them, Drake. They obviously need our help. They are starving and desperate.”

He nodded and looked to the man on his right, tall and dressed in rags, his hair so filthy that it was a mystery what color it might be. “How much to pass?” he called out.

The man named a price, more than Drake was used to paying, but there were two of them and he wanted no trouble. Reluctantly, he reached into the satchel and pulled out a few coins. He tossed two at the fellow and turned to pitch another two at the man on the left, equally mired in dirt and short in stature.

The pair collected their coins and worked to move the cart, which was missing two of its wheels. Shoving it aside, they made just enough room for Starlight to pass. Drake’s arm held Faylinn a little closer as they rode past swiftly. He didn’t think these two would try and pull a knight and lady from their horse but it never hurt to be cautious in this type of situation.

He had Starlight gallop for a good half-mile before he slowed the horse to a more leisurely pace.

“I feel sorry for them,” Faylinn said. “To be homeless. Dirty. Starving.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.