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“Naomi,” Yesenda warned. “Dinnae be rude.”
“Och, lass. Do you mean to impress me with your…stick?” Kieran scoffed and in an even faster move, he grabbed the end and pulled it so forcefully, Naomi made a startled cry as she came with it. With a few quick moves, Kieran had her back against his chest and his arms clamped hard against her front, keeping her in place with her own staff. Try as she might, Naomi could not free herself.
Kieran smugly whispered in her ear, “Your turn.”
Naomi felt a shiver go through her, but anger quickly replaced it. Before Kieran could say another word, she lifted her foot and slammed her heel down on his shoe.
“Damn it to hell!” he cursed, and let her go as he limped backward.
Naomi smirked and mimicked, “Your turn.”
“Naomi! That is enough. Kieran, please give me some privacy. She is no threat.”
“Hmph, maybe not to you,” he grumbled, but stepped a few feet away. Then he glared at Naomi, who poked her tongue out at him.
“Naomi, what has happened?”
“A message from Brother Mateo.”
“Oh, praise be. Finally, some word. Is he well?”
“Aye, he is well, but he asks that you remain in Scotland with your charge,” Naomi whispered the last part.
“And what of Abbess Murdina? Did she send you?”
“Um ah well no, not really.”
“Naomi?” Yesenda warned.
“All right. Mother Abbess has gone to Normandy. She left two weeks ago. Sister Bissett did not trust anyone else to deliver the message, so she asked me to do it.”
Yesenda nodded, then asked. “How are things at the abbey?”
“Not good. Something strange is happening. Even Sister Bissett seems on edge, and she is usually always calm.”
“I wonder why that is.”
“There’s one more thing. After you left, a warrior came searching for Miriam Ferguson.”
“What did he want?”
“He said she had something that belonged to his liege. Twas not material possession but something more. We sent him on his way, but then…”
“Then what?”
“After Abbess Murdina left, a French woman sought shelter at the abbey. She stayed a few days.”
“What was her name?”
“She said her name was Charlotte, but I didna believe it. I hid in the gardens one day when she was talking to her companion and I overheard the other woman call her ‘Matilda,’ then apologize for the slip. Something about her has me worried.”
Yesenda said, “I must leave here soon, and you must return to the abbey under escort. Tis not safe for you to travel alone.”
Kieran eventually moved closer, and he asked, “Naomi, how did you get here?”
“The usual way by land and a road.”
“By yourself?”
