stopping in front of a small wooden box that sat near the door. The silver coins he pulled from his sporran landed with a dull thud when he dropped them through the slot into the coffer. Either the priory hadn't seen many guests of late or their guests hadn't felt obliged to contribute to the brothers' good work.
"Blessings on you for your continued generosity, Andrew."
Drew spun around to find Brother John standing behind him. How the old monk could move so silently was beyond his reason, but it wasn't the first time the prior had managed to surprise him.
"You'll be on yer way soon?"
Drew nodded his answer. The sooner they were away from the priory, the better.
"Do you think I might trouble yer kitchens for victuals to carry with us this day?" While he could easily go a full day without stopping to eat, he wasn't so sure about his traveling companion. A simple fare of bread and cheese would enable them to keep moving without the need for a break to prepare a meal.
"It's no trouble. I'll see to it myself. Is there anything else we might do to assist you and yer lady?"
Actually, there was something else.
"I would be grateful for the loan of a mount for my wife." Not having to ride double should increase the ground they could cover each day. "I'll have it returned to you as soon as possible."
In answer, the prior clapped his hands twice and the young novice Drew had seen last night came running down the hall as if he'd been waiting behind a nearby door for exactly such a summons.
"Have the stables make ready our guest's horse and tell the stable master to choose one of our gentler mounts for Lady MacAlister. Hurry now, Rufus. Our guests have a long day ahead of them and are anxious to be on their way."
"My thanks, Brother John."
"No trouble at all, lad. I'll see to it that the kitchens make ready a light repast to carry along with you. It'll be waiting with yer mounts when you and yer lady are ready to depart."
Drew bobbed his head respectfully before taking his leave of the prior and heading back upstairs to the room he shared with Leah.
Other than Brother John and young Rufus, no one appeared to be up and about yet, a fact Drew took as a positive sign. If he could just get Leah up and moving quickly, they might be fortunate enough to be on their way without encountering Moreland or his men again.
He paused in front of the door to his room, sparing only a moment to debate his next action. A knock seemed the only chivalrous way to enter and yet, if she slept, a knock loud enough to wake her risked waking others.
He needn't have worried.
"Who's there?" sounded in response to a light rap of his knuckles against the wood.
"Drew," he answered, pushing the door open as he spoke.
Only the door didn't open more than a crack.
"What in the name of all that's holy?" Bracing his legs, he shoved his shoulder into the heavy wood, his efforts rewarded by a loud scraping noise.
"Hold on for just a minute." Leah's hissed order wafted through the small opening, followed by a distinctly unladylike grunt and more scraping.
Hold on? He didn't think so.
Another shove and the door gave way enough for him to slip through the opening.
Leah stood a few feet away, hands on her hips, her lips pursed in what he already recognized to be her look of irritation. Next to her, still braced against the door, stood the wooden desk that had earlier resided at the foot of the bed.
Drew arched an eyebrow, pointedly looking from her to the desk and back again. "What had you thought to accomplish with that?"
She shrugged, folding her arms in front of her. "I thought it might slow down any unwelcome visitors."
"Ah."
Apparently she'd been more worried about the English soldiers than he'd realized.
A quick glance around the room told him she'd been busy as well as worried. Their things sat on the bed, all packed and prepared for them to leave.
He motioned toward the bundles. "You're ready to resume our journey, then?"
She nodded her
"Blessings on you for your continued generosity, Andrew."
Drew spun around to find Brother John standing behind him. How the old monk could move so silently was beyond his reason, but it wasn't the first time the prior had managed to surprise him.
"You'll be on yer way soon?"
Drew nodded his answer. The sooner they were away from the priory, the better.
"Do you think I might trouble yer kitchens for victuals to carry with us this day?" While he could easily go a full day without stopping to eat, he wasn't so sure about his traveling companion. A simple fare of bread and cheese would enable them to keep moving without the need for a break to prepare a meal.
"It's no trouble. I'll see to it myself. Is there anything else we might do to assist you and yer lady?"
Actually, there was something else.
"I would be grateful for the loan of a mount for my wife." Not having to ride double should increase the ground they could cover each day. "I'll have it returned to you as soon as possible."
In answer, the prior clapped his hands twice and the young novice Drew had seen last night came running down the hall as if he'd been waiting behind a nearby door for exactly such a summons.
"Have the stables make ready our guest's horse and tell the stable master to choose one of our gentler mounts for Lady MacAlister. Hurry now, Rufus. Our guests have a long day ahead of them and are anxious to be on their way."
"My thanks, Brother John."
"No trouble at all, lad. I'll see to it that the kitchens make ready a light repast to carry along with you. It'll be waiting with yer mounts when you and yer lady are ready to depart."
Drew bobbed his head respectfully before taking his leave of the prior and heading back upstairs to the room he shared with Leah.
Other than Brother John and young Rufus, no one appeared to be up and about yet, a fact Drew took as a positive sign. If he could just get Leah up and moving quickly, they might be fortunate enough to be on their way without encountering Moreland or his men again.
He paused in front of the door to his room, sparing only a moment to debate his next action. A knock seemed the only chivalrous way to enter and yet, if she slept, a knock loud enough to wake her risked waking others.
He needn't have worried.
"Who's there?" sounded in response to a light rap of his knuckles against the wood.
"Drew," he answered, pushing the door open as he spoke.
Only the door didn't open more than a crack.
"What in the name of all that's holy?" Bracing his legs, he shoved his shoulder into the heavy wood, his efforts rewarded by a loud scraping noise.
"Hold on for just a minute." Leah's hissed order wafted through the small opening, followed by a distinctly unladylike grunt and more scraping.
Hold on? He didn't think so.
Another shove and the door gave way enough for him to slip through the opening.
Leah stood a few feet away, hands on her hips, her lips pursed in what he already recognized to be her look of irritation. Next to her, still braced against the door, stood the wooden desk that had earlier resided at the foot of the bed.
Drew arched an eyebrow, pointedly looking from her to the desk and back again. "What had you thought to accomplish with that?"
She shrugged, folding her arms in front of her. "I thought it might slow down any unwelcome visitors."
"Ah."
Apparently she'd been more worried about the English soldiers than he'd realized.
A quick glance around the room told him she'd been busy as well as worried. Their things sat on the bed, all packed and prepared for them to leave.
He motioned toward the bundles. "You're ready to resume our journey, then?"
She nodded her
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