She purposely mentioned Raven’s name, thinking if Abbott Thomas was familiar with Raven than perhaps Brother Noble was as well.
“I’ve heard things about her from time to time which I shared with Arran.” He coughed to clear his voice, but it still sounded raspy. “I believe the last I heard about her was what brought him to the woods where he found you.”
“Then I have you to thank for my husband,” Purity said, her whole face lighting as she smiled. “And how appropriate that you were the one to wed Arran and me. “You truly were responsible for bringing us together.”
“Fate brought you together and love sealed that fate,” Brother Noble said. “It would seem you were destined for each other.”
“Fate is a wise one and I am forever grateful to her.”
They talked a bit more and when Brother Noble yawned, Purity insisted he nap before taking his leave.
“A brief nap will help before you start your long walk,” she insisted and got to her feet, Princess doing the same. She summoned King but the cat ignored her.
“Leave him,” Brother Noble said. “He looks content and I will make sure he keeps his distance.”
Purity didn’t mind that King stayed, at least Brother Noble wouldn’t be completely alone. “Safe journey,” she called out as she walked away. She wondered over the leper and his life before he took ill. Had he been a cleric then or had the leprosy forced him to take refuge in the church? She wished she had asked him about himself. She also wondered what he looked like or what he had looked like before he’d been ravaged with leprosy. Next time they talked she would find out more about him.
Arran and Royden stood outside the village and watched two troops of warriors ride off in different directions.
Royden turned to his brother. “I hope one of them returns with satisfying news. I worry what dangers you might yet face here.”
“No one is safe while Brynjar remains on Scottish soil,” Arran said, turning to walk to the keep, Royden matching his strides.
“With the three murders here, how do you not worry about leaving your wife’s side?” Royden asked.
Arran grinned. “Purity is never alone. Quiver keeps a close eye on her and Princess’s size alone deters anyone from approaching her—and then there’s King. He can be a mean one when he perceives a threat to Purity.”
Royden chuckled. “Have you learned that from experience?”
“Aye,” Arran said and laughed along with his brother, it fading when he recalled how King had attacked the men that had meant Purity harm when he had first come upon her in the woods. “I’ve also seen with my own eyes the damage King can cause those who attempt to harm Purity.”
“Let’s hope this matter can be settled soon and peace can finally prevail,” Royden said.
“We’ll find no peace until we find our sister,” Arran reminded.
“I’ve sent men to track down any small bit of information heard about her, but it’s always the same. They hit a dead end.” Royden shook his head in frustration. “It’s as if she suddenly disappeared. Though I’ve noticed that one bit of information keeps repeating.”
“That she was taken by a band of thieves,” Arran said.
“You heard that as well.”
“Several times and it didn’t set well with me,” Arran confessed.
“I’ve felt the same,” his brother agreed. “I don’t like to think what she may have gone through if the tale is true.”
“And Raven’s chances of surviving would not be good,” Arran said.
“You underestimate your sister,” Purity said as she approached the two men.
Arran hooked his wife around her waist with his arm when she got near enough and hugged her to his side.
“She’s got a good point,” Royden said, memories of his sister bringing a smile to his face.
“That is true,” Arran agreed, holding back a laugh. “The thieves may have run from her.”
Royden’s laughter got Arran laughing.
“Raven could be a handful,” Royden said.
“Handful? She was impossible at times,” Arran reminded.
“Raven will come home when the time is right,” Purity said, doing her best to keep the brothers from searching for her as she’d been requested to do.
Royden looked to Arran. “You think Raven hides?”
“She was always good at it, especially when she didn’t want to do something Da ordered her to do.”
“That’s true,” Royden agreed. “She’d take herself off and we wouldn’t be able to find her.”
“And we got admonished for not keeping an eye on her,” Arran recalled.
“Numerous times,” Royden added. “But this is different. She’d have her hiding spots and would show up when ready. She had no hiding spot to go to, so where did she go and how did she survive? That’s what concerns me.”
“We need to keep searching,” Arran said.
Panic rose in Purity. She couldn’t let them keep searching. “What if your searching does Raven more harm than good? What if someone else searches for her and keeps watch over your search for her. If you find her, you will lead them straight to her. And don’t you think if Raven felt safe to return home, she would have returned home by now?”