“You will begin your duties right away,” Sloan instructed. “Inform Turbett and then gather the servants so that I may instruct them that they will now be answerable to you. And as I mentioned before Cree will not tolerate dirt or foul odors”
“No worry, sir,” Flanna said with a sharp nod. “The keep will sparkle and smell heavenly.”
“A good choice, Dawn,” Sloan said turning her way. “Flanna seems more than up to the task. Thank you for suggesting her.”
Flanna beamed a wide appreciative smile at Dawn and then bobbed to Sloan. “I will go collect the servants.”
Dawn returned to the bench where she had been sitting and watched Sloan talk with a few warriors. Servants began entering the hall, mulling around whispering, wondering and worried over the summons. When they had finally all gathered Sloan stood in front of them to speak. Relief flooded their faces as he introduced Flanna.
With everyone occupied, Dawn decided it was time for her to be off on her own for a while and so she left the keep. She didn’t bother to see if a guard followed her, she assumed one would and though she had planned on going to visit Lila, she changed her mind.
She meandered through the village taking note of how busy everyone was, though they smiled as they went about their chores. It had been almost a week since Cree had attacked the village and yet it looked as if it had been prospering for weeks. Apprehension still filled some faces but fear was not as prevalent.
Children’s laughter filled the air and Dawn stopped to watch a group of young ones at play. It had been many years since anyone had seen the village children play with such careless abandonment and it was good to see.
Two women, baskets on their arms nodded pleasantly at Dawn as they passed her and she quickly returned the greeting, though she almost stumbled over her own feet, she was so surprised by their acknowledgement.
What had caused their change of heart toward her? Was it what she had done for Dorrie or did they fear repercussion from Cree if they treated his mistress badly? The thought troubled her but she refused to linger on it. It was a beautiful day and she intended to enjoy it.
Free time was not something Dawn was not used to. She had worked hard as long as she could remember. So to be so carefree with no worry of getting chores done was a bit disconcerting to her. Her mum had warned her often that idle hands brought trouble. With that reminder she decided to collect some heather and dry it for the coming winter. It would keep her cottage smelling fresh.
She retrieved a basket from her cottage and headed to the small hill on the outskirts of the village, not far from the fields the men tended. She was not concerned for her safety having spotted a warrior trailing her. Besides she didn’t intended to linger. She would collect extra and stop to give some to Lila on her way back. It would give her a chance to visit with baby Thomas.
Dawn took longer than she intended, the sunny day, the lovely scent of heather, the light autumn breeze all served to delay her return. When her basket was full to overflowing, she smiled and realized she had lingered long enough.
The warrior must have thought the same for he approached her.
“Time to go,” he said.
She nodded and smiled, feeling a bit guilty. He surely must have been bored waiting for her.
He reached out and took the basket from her and she was about to thank him when he tossed it aside and grabbed her arm.
He grinned. “Why don’t you scream?”
She turned to see if anyone was in sight. Men were working in the field, three women lingered to talk beneath a large tree but they were all at a distance, though not that far away to help her if she could scream.
His grip was so tight, she could not break free and he forced her to walk alongside him. Her eyes widened when she saw that they were headed to the woods. She glanced around hoping someone would look their way, see her frightened face, and help her.
The warrior leaned his head down. “You’re the devil’s whore. Why would anyone help you?”
Chapter Twenty-seven
Cree’s warriors circled the trembling young man. The only escape for him was death and when two warriors parted to let Cree enter, he knew death would be a welcome relief.
“Tell me what I want to know and I will I kill you swiftly,” Cree said walking slowly around him. “Tell me nothing and I will make you suffer the torments of hell.”
The young man’s mouth went dry and fearing he would not be able to speak, he nodded.
Cree stopped in front of him, close enough to smell his fear. “Who wants the voiceless one dead?”
The young man licked his lips, though they remained dry, his mouth parched. “I—I don’t—”
“Lie to me again and I will slice your arm open from shoulder to wrist.” His hand went to the handle of his dirk in a sheath at his waist.
“Please, I beg, mercy, please.”
“You beg for your life when you had no qualms about taking one,” he shouted in the man’s face and he paled.
“I—I—I did not try to harm the woman. My task was to lead you astray.”
Cree’s hand snapped out and grabbed the startled man by the neck. “What do you mean?”
He choked out the words. “Two of us were instructed to keep you on our trail, away from the village while the others went for the woman.”
Cree released him so suddenly that the man stumbled and collapsed to the ground, choking to regain his breath.
“You know what to do with him when you get him back to the keep,” Cree said to two warriors.” The rest of you follow me. We ride hard and fast.”
~~~
Sloan had several warriors comb the village for Dawn. She had left the keep before he could assign a warrior to her. Cree would kill him if anything happened to her and he would deserve it. He had been ordered to keep her safe and what had he done? After dealing with Flanna and the servants he had been summoned to handle a problem at the mill and it wasn’t until he returned to the keep that he had thought about Dawn.
A warrior rushed toward him and Sloan flew off the steps to meet him.
A few words were exchanged and the two men took off, Sloan shouting to other warriors who fell in behind them. When he reached the spot where the basket lay on the ground, heather strewn about, he shook his head.
He looked around at the group of warriors waiting for orders. “We don’t return until we find her. And remember she has no voice.” They all nodded knowing full well they would rather search the woods all night than face Cree’s wrath if they returned without her.
Twenty or more warriors gathered at the edge of the woods, spread out, and headed into the forest at a fast pace.
~~~
After they were only a few feet into the woods Dawn stumbled on purpose and the warrior released her, letting her fall.
“Here is as good a place as any,” the man said and reached for his sword.
She dug her hand into the dirt, grabbed a handful and threw it in his face as she jumped to her feet, and then she ran. She hiked up her skirt and cloak as she went so they wouldn’t impede her speed and kept running, knowing that she ran for her life. The woods were familiar to her and she had managed to skirt past the warrior, as he choked and wiped away the dirt in his eyes, and head back toward the village. She didn’t have much time before he followed, and she prayed that once she broke past the woods someone would see her and help.
Dawn’s stomach roiled when she heard heavy footfalls until she realized that they weren’t coming from behind her. Were there more warriors after her? She was about to change direction when she stopped and first caught sight of Sloan, and then other warriors came into view behind him.
She wanted to drop to the ground in relief but she didn’t dare. She ran straight for Sloan, stopping in front of him breathing heavily and pointing behind her.
“How many?”
She held up one finger.
“Get him,” Sloan ordered. He wasn’t about to leave her safety to anyone else. He inten
ded to keep her by his side until Cree returned.
He watched as she paced back and forth fighting to slow her breathing. She pressed her hand to her side and he wondered if she had suffered a blow there.
“Are you all right?” he asked anxiously.
She nodded.
“Did he hurt you?”
She shook her head.
“How did you get away?”
Dawn pretended to scoop up some dirt and throw it at Sloan.
He smiled and nodded. “Wise move.”
Dawn took a heavy breath and returned his smile. She pointed to herself and then toward the village.
“You want to go home?
She nodded vigorously, though home wasn’t exactly what she would call her new cottage. She turned as did Sloan when they heard the warriors returning and in the middle of the group was the man who had abducted her. His nose and mouth were bleeding and his hands were tied behind his back. He tried to walk but the warriors took turns shoving him and he stumbled more than walked.
Sloan wanted to roar with relief. Dawn was safe and the culprit was caught, though that wouldn’t completely appease Cree, it would help. He would still be furious that she had been taken from under their very noses.
Sloan went to help Dawn but she was already several feet ahead of him and he ran to catch up with her. The woman certainly had courage. He had expected her to collapse at his feet crying when he saw her running toward him. That she had immediately let him know what had happened had surprised him and he admired her tenacity.
Once out of the woods they headed for the village. Clouds had blotted out the sun and looked as if they were there to stay. The once beautiful day was no more and Dawn suddenly felt the weight of the day upon her. Her pace slowed and her shoulders slumped and she wished she didn’t have to take another step. And she didn’t.
Everyone had stopped suddenly, and she followed suit looking to see what had halted them in their tracks.
Cree.
He had come over the rise, his men following behind him, though not able to keep pace with him. His beast of a stallion was fast and he rode hard. And Dawn wondered over his anxious return.
No one moved; they waited as their fearless leader approached with lightning speed. Sloan stepped forward as Cree brought the large animal to a halt in front of them. The black beast pawed the ground and snorted, as if annoyed that he’d been stopped.
“We caught the culprit,” Sloan said and two warriors pushed the man forward and down on his knees, then grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked his head back to look up at Cree.
“Take him to the stable area, secure him and post extra guards. The rest of you return to your duties,” Cree ordered and turned to Sloan. “Why is Dawn here and why does she have twigs and leaves all over her?”
Dawn had grown accustomed to people talking about her in front of her as if she wasn’t there, as if she could not hear them, as if she was incapable of participating in the conversation. This time, however, it annoyed her. Why had he not acknowledged her? Was this what she was to expect from him being his mistress? Would he only be courteous to her when they were alone and ignore her other times? And would he forever scowl at her?
She did not know what gave her the temerity to step forward, perhaps it had been all she had been through lately or perhaps she did not fear Cree the way she once did. Whatever the reason, the one small step was liberating.
She began gesturing with her hands, no doubt too fast for him to understand, but her intention was to show him that he was not the only one annoyed.
“Enough,” he warned frustrated. “I asked Sloan to explain, not you.”
Dawn slapped her chest several times and tapped her mouth repeatedly, then stamped her foot.”
“That I understood and I do not care if you want to speak for yourself. I asked Sloan to explain—”
Dawn shook her head and pointed to Sloan. How could he explain? It hadn’t happened to him; it had happened to her.
“Be quiet,” he snapped.
She caught her smile before it could surface. Never had she been told to be quiet and it thrilled her.
Sloan wisely spoke before Dawn could object. “Dawn had gone to collect heather and was abducted.”
“Tell me that her guard was killed trying to protect her because if he wasn’t, I’ll kill him myself.”
He wouldn’t, Dawn thought but the murderous look in his eyes told her otherwise.
Sloan shook his head. “She had no guard.”
That brought Cree off his horse to stand directly in front of Sloan. “You failed to carry out my orders?”
Dawn tapped Cree on the arm.
“Not now,” he snarled, his eyes fixed on Sloan.
This time she gave him a shove and it did the trick. He turned slowly to glare at her.
“Did you just shove me?”
She nodded, pointed at him, pointed at her ear, and then to herself.
“I should listen to you.”
She nodded.
“Is that an order?” he asked caustically.
She gave a sharp nod of command and Sloan laughed, unfortunately not soundlessly.
Cree turned on him. “I’m not finished with you.”
Sloan respectfully and wisely bowed his head.
Cree signaled to a warrior who stood nearby and Dawn realized that there were always warriors near Cree to do his bidding. He directed the man to take care of his horse, and then he grabbed Dawn’s hand and dragged her alongside him. Sloan followed.
Dawn didn’t have to be told where they were going. She knew he was taking her to Lila so that she could interpret. It annoyed her that he felt the need to do so. He had understood her gestures well enough and with time... perhaps he didn’t plan on spending that much time with her. And the thought saddened her, which troubled her all the more.
People were clustered in small groups as they passed through the village and one look from Cree had them scurrying off. Lila stood just outside her open door with baby Thomas cradled in her arms sound asleep. She stepped inside at their approach and once they entered Dawn yanked her arm free and started gesturing before Sloan even had a chance to close the door.
Dawn let all her frustration loose, letting her friend know what a stubborn fool Cree was and how he refused to listen to her, or take the time to become familiar with her gestures, that all he truly was interested in was satisfying himself between her legs. Her last complaint broke her tirade and she shook her head, she wasn’t being fair to Lila. These weren’t things she should be saying to Lila, at least here and now, in front of Cree.
Pushing her frustration aside she began to explain what happened and Lila with a look of relief interpreted.
“A warrior followed behind her and she assumed that he had been assigned to protect her. He waited for her to finish collecting heather and told her it was time to go. That was when he slapped the basket out of her hand and dragged her into the woods.”
“Did he say anything else to you?” Cree asked and her body responded by turning rigid. “Tell me,” he urged his tone less angry. He watched her gestures as Lila spoke.
“When he forced her to the woods, she looked around hoping someone would see them and he told her—” Lila stopped her eyes filled with sadness and shook her head.
“Lila,” he said curtly, anxious to know what had stopped Lila and filled her with such sorrow.
“He told her that she was the devil’s whore and no one would help her.”
Rage roared like a fiery blast through Cree. He kept his lips firmly locked so that it would not erupt and clenched his fists eager to turn his wrath on the man. He tempered his anger before he said, “He was wrong.”
Dawn thought she saw pain in his dark eyes, but it was so brief that she couldn’t be sure.
“How did you escape?”
“She threw a handful of dirt in his face and took off running and ran right into me,” Sloan answered to Cree’s surprise. Sloan pointed to Dawn. “
She told me about it while the men went after the culprit.”
That seemed to agitate Cree and his scowl grew darker. “Had you assigned someone to Dawn?”
“No,” Sloan admitted reluctantly. “There was a problem at the mill and the last time I say her she was in the Great Hall and I had advised her to remain in the keep or close to it.”
“And you saw fit to ignore him?” Cree asked turning his scowl on Dawn. Before she could start gesturing he held up his hand. “I’ve heard enough from the both of you. Sloan, go and prepare the prisoner for questioning and also the men should have returned by now with the man we found, so prepare him for questioning as well. Assign Neil to guard Dawn, have him wait outside her cottage. And be ready to discuss your poor handling of the matter later.”
Sloan gave a quick bob and was out the door closing it quietly behind him.
Cree ‘s eyes fell on Lila. “Now you will tell me what Dawn said when we first entered your cottage.”
Chapter Twenty-eight
Lila paled and so did Dawn. The thought that Lila would repeat any of what she had said turned her legs weak. The thought of what Cree might do to Lilia if she didn’t made her stomach churn. She had allowed her frustration to get the better of her and now look at what her lack of restraint had done. She was stuck with the mighty warrior and had been since he had entered the village a week or so ago. Had it only been such a short time? It felt as if she had known Cree much longer, even more so since they had become intimate. Her cheeks flushed at the thought.
“I never ask twice,” Cree warned when the silence lingered.
Lila answered, though hesitantly. “Dawn ,” —she sent an apologetic glance to her friend— “feels you are a stubborn fool for not listening to her and for not taking the time to become familiar with her gestures.”
“What else? And don’t lie and tell me that there is no more. You have worried at your lower lip until it is quite red,” Cree said his eyes fixed on Lila.
Lila sighed rolling her eyes heavenward.
Dawn was angry with herself for placing her friend in such an awkward situation and she sought to correct it. She began gesturing.
Highlander Unchained (Highlander Trilogy 1) Page 22
