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When they drifted off to sleep, Iain felt as if he finally got his reward. Yesenda was not the ‘better’ he deserved. She was thebest.
Hours later, after they had washed and donned bed clothes, Iain asked his wife why she shed her wedding gown without him. Yesenda explained she did not want to rip her fine garments because someday she would pass it onto their daughter. Iain’s heart warmed at the sentiment. Yesenda saw a future with him. Even now, their joining could have conceived a child.
As he held her, he splayed one hand protectively across her belly, hoping she would soon cradle their babe inside.
***
Two weeks passed without incident, and all was quiet. It seemed the men who had been after Yesenda were no more. The households fell into a comfortable routine, all the while keeping a vigilant eye on the township.
As for the newlywed couple, they could not keep their hands off each other. As they remained in their secluded little world, they hoped that this peace would last forever. But nothing ever does. In hindsight, Iain wished he had savored those moments with Yesenda because days later his entire world would be ripped apart and he would realize this was just the calm before the storm.
***
Fire!
It was late at night, and Iain was startled awake.
“Iain! Fire! Wake up,” Yesenda shouted as she hastily dressed and grabbed her mace.
He shot straight up, still in a sleep haze.
“Iain, the other cottage is on fire. I’m going to help.”
“Wait!” he yelled, but it was too late. Yesenda was already running down the path.
Iain shook himself awake and donned his trews and shoes. He grabbed his sword and ran after Yesenda.
The stable was on fire, and he could hear the horses whinnying inside. He sprinted there first and opened the doors to let them out. Then he veered towards the other cottage.
Yesenda banged on the doors and shutters, trying to wake the occupants. Eventually, Gideon and Sienna emerged with Edmund.
Iain had a weird feeling that something was off. “Gideon, what happened?” he asked as they hauled buckets from the well.
“I dinnae ken. There’s no reason for the fire. All the candles were out.”
Iain’s warning instinct grew stronger, and he never ignored the gut instinct. He said, "Gideon, get Edmund and Sienna out of here. Let the cottage burn.”
“Aye, I agree.”
They dropped the buckets, and Gideon ran towards Edmund and Sienna. He dragged them away and placed them on the horses.
Iain ran for Yesenda and pulled her with him towards their horse.
“Go to the next location. We will find you,” Yesenda said.
Gideon did not hesitate as he clicked his heels, and they rode off into the night.
No sooner had they disappeared when four monks emerged from the bay behind the cottage. They must have sailed in under the cover of darkness.
Yesenda and Iain turned just in time to prepare as the monks came at them. They stood back-to-back. Iain could hear Yesenda’s mace clashing with weapons behind him and he blocked and parried blow after blow of war clubs. He noticed, though, no matter how hard they fought; the monks did not seem to want to hurt him. Instead, more just came at Iain until somehow in the melee he got separated from Yesenda.
Then he felt it before he saw it. Something shifted. A monk threw a handful of some substance at Yesenda, and she staggered and swayed.
Iain fought hard to reach her when a dust like substance hit him in the face. He inhaled, and the world became fuzzy.
“Yesenda!” he roared as she turned toward him. She was surrounded. Her face flushed, her eyes drooping. She was mouthing words to him, and just before Iain blacked out, he realized she was saying, “I love you.”
***
