Page 18 of Highland Flame

“Was he drunk?” asked North. “I dinna remember ever seein’ him in the tavern while we were there.”

“Me neither,” said Nash.

“He mainly drank at home, but no’ always,” Yvaine told them. “Aye, he was very well in his cups that night, and also . . . clumsy,” said Yvaine. Her face became pale and her gaze fell to the ground.

“And ye saw the whole thing but didna help him?” asked Cam.

Her head jerked upward now. “Aye, I saw it happen, but it was all so fast that there was nothin’ at all that I could do to stop it. He brought on the situation himself.”

“I hardly think anyone brings on a situation to die,” said Cam, thinking the whole thing sounded odd, yet he couldn’t prove the girl was lying. When she glared at him, he figured he’d better drop the subject. Honestly, he didn’t care at all. All he cared about was doing what he had to in order to be accepted back into his clan.

“Where do ye want me to put my things?” asked Yvaine. “I hope ye have a room proper and big enough for makin’ candles.”

“There are many places in the monastery, with ample room,” her brother assured her. “You will be all unpacked and ready to work after the main meal.”

“Meal?” This took Cam’s interest since he hadn’t had time to break the fast this morning and was starving. “Great! I am really hungry. Let’s eat.”

The bell of the cruciform-style church at the far end of the priory started ringing, filling the air with musical notes.

“There’s the food bell,” said Cam to his friends. “Where do we go?” Cam looked around the large priory that was set up almost like a small town. The church was at one end, and buildings and a stable, as well as plenty of cloistered walkways made a square around the area. In the center was grass and shrubs as well as flowers.

“That’s not the bell for eating,” said Rook with a chuckle.

“It’s no’?” asked Nash. “Then what is it for?”

“It’s the bell that signals the midday prayer service,” explained Brother Gillies. “We should all go to the church for mass now.”

“Church?” squawked Nash, since Cam and his friends rarely attended a mass.

“Aye,” answered Brother Gillies. “The meal will be in the refectory afterwards. You’ll all be staying, won’t you?”

“Unfortunately, my wife, Calliope is expecting me back at Naward Castle,” said Rook, getting atop his horse.

“We’ll come with ye.” North reached for the reins of his horse. “I canna wait to see Naward Castle.”

“Aye. Me, too,” agreed Nash, putting his foot in the stirrup, ready to mount his horse as well.

Cam cleared his throat to stop them. “I believe Laird MacKeefe said ye two were to stay here at the priory with me. Ye are allowed to visit Naward Castle, but only at the end of each week.”

“That’s right. He did say that,” agreed Yvaine.

“Well, then. Since that’s settled, Rook, how about if ye show my friends and me the catacombs where ye lived?” asked Cam, trying to get out of going to mass.

“Mayhap another time.” Rook turned his horse and headed away.

“My lay brothers will stable and tend to your horses,” said Brother Gillies, giving a hand signal to call a few monks over. “They’ll unpack your belongings, and put them in the hall next to the scriptorium where you can set up your candle making business, Yvaine.”

Several monks rushed over.

“Lay brothers?” asked Cam curiously. “What do they do?”

“They tend to most of the chores, the orchard, and the crops,” explained Brother Gillies. “That gives the rest of the monks more time for their studies, prayer, and illuminating and copying manuscripts.”

“I see,” said Cam, wishing he were a lay brother right now. He would accept any reason to get away.

When one of the monks peered into the wagon, they heard a scream and then the crying of a young girl.

“What was that?” asked Brother Gillies, rushing over to the wagon.