Read Online Return of the Warrior by Kinley MacGregor - Free Book Online

captured his hand and held it under therushlight to see the same mark there that Christian bore on his own hand.
    “This sign…what is it?”
    The pallor on his face increased.
    “Please, Brother. Christian bears it as well and refuses to speak of it to me.”
    “And who are you?”
    “His wife. Adara.”
    Tears came to the man’s brown eyes as he looked at her as if she were a ghost. He embraced her like a sister and pounded her hard on the back.
    “Adara,” he whispered as he continued to hug her. “It does this old heart good to see that Christian has finally found some comfort in this world. God knows, he deserves it.”
    Lutian opened his mouth to speak, but was silenced when Adara flung her hand out to his stomach in warning. He quickly snapped his mouth closed, glared at her, and rubbed the area she’d struck.
    Sniffing, the old monk stepped back and smiled at her. “You are beautiful, child.”
    “Thank you, Brother. But the sign?” she asked. “I need to understand why it pains my husband when I ask after it.”
    By his expression she could tell the brand bothered him as well. “It was the mark of our prison and has since become the mark of our Brotherhood.”
    “Mark of your prison?” Lutian asked.
    “Aye. After we were individually captured and thrown into the bowels of the prisons, the heathens branded it into us as a way to remind us of our lowly, beaten status.” He turned to face Adara. “Thanks to men such as your husband, it was turned into a mark to fortify and unite us.”
    That gave her hope that the monks would have at least a warrior or two in their ranks. “Is there anyone here we can send to help Christian now?”
    His gaze saddened. “I wish it were so, my lady. But alas there are no knights here, only champions of God. But I know Christian well. He will prevail.”
    Adara prayed for that to be true, but she knew the Sesari well and they weren’t easily defeated by anyone. She considered going back for him herself, but the last thing Christian needed was for her to do something stupid.
    “He will be fine, my queen,” Lutian said to her.
    Thomas’s eyes widened. “Queen?”
    She could feel her face flush. That had been something she’d rather the monk not know about her. “Aye, Brother. I am a queen.”
    “Then it is true that Christian is a prince?”
    “Aye.”
    He shook his head as he took the rushlight and led them toward a small group of buildings in the center of the yard. “Well, I’ll be. It is nice to know he has finally found his place in the world. Many are the times that I never thought he’d find peace or home.”
    She didn’t have the heart to correct the man and tell him that Christian had no desire at all to be herhusband or to return to his home. He denied both with equal fervor.
    “You were with Christian while he was in Outremer?” she asked.
    Thomas nodded as he continued to lead them across the well-tended yard. “I was already a captive when they took him. In those days, I was a merchant who had gone to see Jerusalem on pilgrimage and I am sad to say that I had lost all faith in God after they captured me. It is hard to maintain your faith when your prayers go unanswered and you live among constant suffering and death for no reason.
    “Then they brought in this man-child who stood strong against our Saracen tormentors. He was like a lion possessed of God’s faith and love. Whenever we wanted to die, it was Christian’s words of comfort and hope that kept us alive. His faith that saw us all through.”
    His old eyes were haunted. “Indeed, he was the only one we had to confess to and to perform Last Rites for those of us who didn’t survive. Most of the boys his age ran from the constant death around us, but Christian didn’t. He wouldn’t allow any to burn for their faith. No matter the disease or injury, he spoke the final words to save their souls. God bless his kindness and mettle.”
    A lump settled in her throat as she thought about