My Highlander: A Cree & Dawn Novel, page 27
“Tell me,” Tarass ordered impatiently.
“Someone said that the thief Slatter had been taken prisoner and was not there long when a fellow prisoner broke them free of their chains, not that that is possible. No man can break free of iron chains,” Gillie said.
“Where is it that he supposedly broke free of these chains and who is Slatter?”
Gillie shook his head.
“I do not know where it was he was imprisoned.”
“You did not ask?” Tarass accused.
“I did not believe the one who told me.”
“Who told you?” Tarass demanded.
“A man not to be believed, a beggar who wanted coin.”
“Who is this Slatter and where can I find him?”
“He is a sly one, able to talk his way out of anything. He charms men out of their coins and women out of their garments. I was surprised to hear he had been caught.”
“Where can I find him?” Tarass demanded.
“No one finds him. He finds them, which is why I question if it was really Slatter who had been caught.”
“Enough,” Cree ordered. “Your time is done with him.”
“No. No.” Gillie begged. “I can still help.”
“Not any longer,” Cree said and he was glad that Tarass stepped aside, though he did not take his leave.
“I got Gillie for you, my lord, please have mercy on me,” Bram begged.
“I will have mercy on you,” Cree said. “You will have a swift death.”
“No, please, my lord, I beg you,” Bram said, starting to cry.
“Tell me how you know Lara?” Cree demanded.
“Lara?” Gillie asked as if he did not know the name.
Bram sniffed back his tears. “The woman who helped us.”
“Why did Lara help you?” Cree asked.
“That woman?” Gillie said and looked at Cree. “Why ask us how we know her when you can ask her yourself?”
Cree walked over to the man and delivered a punch to his jaw that flung his head back against the post knocking him out.
Bram was quick to talk, all too familiar with Cree’s devastating punches, his broken nose a mess and still painful. “We spotted her in the woods talking with a man. He sweet talked her, promised her all sorts of things as he encouraged her to tell him about her work with the healer and if she tended any of the travelers that stopped here. I got the feeling he was looking for someone.”
“Lara did not help you plan my wife’s abduction?” Cree asked.
Bram shook his head. “No. We did not know how we would capture your wife. We were waiting, trying to come up with a plan. Then one day Gillie got an idea. He figured we could threaten her that we would tell you that she was meeting someone secretly and supplying information to the man about the clan and you. Gillie figured, she would get frightened, knowing harsh punishment awaited her, and she would do as we asked. And he was right, she did and without so much as an argument.”
“I told you love got in the way of things,” Tarass said from behind him.
Cree paid Tarass no heed. “Were you not concerned Lara would tell this man and he would come after you?”
Bram shook his head. “Gillie heard him tell her that he had to go away for a few days, no more than week, then he would be back for her and they would go off together. Me and Gillie knew he was never coming back, but she believed him.”
Cree stepped forward. “You could not tell me this the last time I asked you?”
Bram realized his mistake too late and he cringed as Cree’s fist came swinging at him, connecting with his nose once more.
Gillie had come around, after two buckets of water had been thrown in his face.
Cree nodded to his warrior standing by the man and the warrior yanked the man’s head back.
“Who hired you?” Cree asked, walking over to stand in front of Gillie, his cheek and jaw already bruising and his lips split.
Gillie did not hesitate. “Rutland. Mad as hell we failed.”
“Who hired him?” Cree demanded.
“He never said and it was no concern of mine,” Gillie said.
“Which one of you intended to force himself on my wife?” Cree asked.
“Bram,” Gillie shouted.
Bram, dazed and bleeding, did not understand what was said.
“You do realize my wife will confirm or deny what you say,” Cree said.
Gillie went ghostly pale.
“That is what I thought,” Cree said and walked over to Bram. “Your fate is in my wife’s hands since you warned Gillie against touching her. She will decide if she wants you dead or not.”
Bram just stared, still not comprehending what was happening.
“And me,” Gillie asked fearfully.
“You die, after you suffer,” Cree said and went to walk away.
“I know more than Bram,” Gillie said. “Spare me and I will tell you.”
“You will tell me regardless if I spare you,” Cree said.
Gillie realized what he meant. “Please, my lord, please, I beg of you, do not torture me.”
“What is it you know that Bram does not?”
Dawn was relieved to see Lila looking better than when she had visited her earlier in the morning and she let her know.
Lila smiled and hugged the tankard of chamomile that Dawn had brewed for her. “I know, Paul says the same, and I feel my old self. I want to get back to doing all the things I do, but Elsa says I should take it slow since I am with child. She also told me that the bump and cut to my head was not as bad as hers.” Her smile waned. “I cannot help but wonder who would do this awful thing. I know Elsa was assaulted so that the person could kill Ann, but why did someone come after me? And do I now need to worry it will happen again?”
Dawn reached her hand out to lay on Lila’s arm as she shook her head.
“How can you be sure someone will not come after me?”
Dawn patted her chest, pointed to Lila, tugged at her ear, then shook her head.
“You think I was not supposed to hear whoever it was I heard talking and that was why I was hit on the head?”
Dawn nodded, pointed to her eyes and her body sagged in a sigh, as if relieved.
“I agree that it is good I did not see anything or I probably would not be sitting here talking with you,” Lila said, tears springing to her eyes. “And I am glad to have a friend who would come to my rescue even at her own peril.”
Dawn got teary-eyed herself and pointed to Lila, then patted her own chest.
“Aye, I would do the same for you.”
The two women locked hands and let a couple of tears fall.
“Enough of this,” Lila said, brushing away the last of her tears. “Tell me what I have missed since being stuck in here.”
Dawn was about to gesture when there was a rap at the door and Lucerne entered.
“I am sorry to disturb, but would you have some time to sit with Rutland while Elsa sees to someone that I do not have the skills to tend, though she requires my help?”
Dawn nodded and after giving Lila a hug and promising to return later, Dawn followed Lucerne out of the cottage. Beast stretched his way up on his paws and went to walk at Dawn’s side.
“Elsa waits for you,” Lucerne said.
Dawn nodded and the two women went in separate directions, Dawn taking a quick pace to the healing cottage.
“I beg your pardon, my lady.”
Dawn stopped and turned and was surprised to see a clergyman, though she was more surprised when Beast jumped in front her to snarl at him.
The clergyman took a hasty step back. “I mean you no harm.”
Two of Cree’s warriors appeared out of nowhere, taking a stance beside her.
The clergyman removed his hands, buried in his sleeves, and held them up. “I mean her no harm. I only wanted to let her know that I am here and pleased to offer help to anyone who might be in need.”
Dawn tilted her head slightly, not able to get a clear look of the clergyman’s face, the hood of his robe almost covering his eyes. It was as if he tried to hide and she wondered if Beast had also sensed that and was the reason for his snarl.
Curious, Dawn pointed to his hood and motioned pushing it back.
“Remove your hood,” one warrior ordered, making it clear to the clergyman is was not a request.
“As you wish,” the clergyman said, raising his hand to push his hood off his head.
Dawn caught a quick glance of his red, swollen knuckles on his right hand and thought it odd that a man of the cloth would raise his hand against another. She was also surprised by his fine features, they captivated along with his intense dark eyes that once focused on refused to let go.
“I only wish to help however I can,” the clergyman said.
He seemed insistent on helping and that had her recalling what Cree had told her of the two clergymen who had stopped for a night or two of shelter, the older of the pair needing rest. He had shared his opinion on the other of the two, believing the man was not truly a clergyman. She could see now why he had thought that. The clergyman’s bruised hand alone spoke otherwise.
Dawn pointed to him, then tapped her lips, and pointed to him again.
The one warrior interpreted. “Lady Dawn will summon you if needed.”
Dawn grew more surprised by the day with how many of her clan understood her gestures and she turned a smile and a nod of appreciation on the warrior.
“You carry your heavy burden well,” the clergyman said. “I am here, if you wish to seek counsel.”
Dawn nodded, his dark eyes might be intense, but his voice was soothing, understanding, almost mesmerizing. He would be a man easy to talk with and one who could easily manipulate.
“How does the wounded man do?” the clergyman asked as Dawn turned to walk away.
One of the warriors spoke up. “You have taken enough of Lady Dawn’s time, clergyman, be on your way.”
Dawn was glad the warrior sent the clergyman on his way. She had to get to the healing cottage so Elsa could take her leave and she also had no wont to continue to speak with him. Her husband was right. There was something about the clergyman that did not ring true.
Cree glared at Gillie. “I am waiting to hear what you know that Bram does not.”
“Your wife was to be returned to you unharmed,” Gillie said.
Cree’s scowl deepened. “Yet you intended to force yourself on her.”
“Lies. He always lies,” Bram said, his head clearing.
“I am not lying. Rutland told me he would give me extra if I delivered her unharmed,” Gillie said.
“Then why did you talk all the time about poking her?” Bram asked. “That was constantly on your mind and tongue.”
“There is no harm in a poke. She would have been delivered without a bruise or mark on her,” Gillie said. “Rutland would have never known.”
“She would have told him,” Bram said.
“She is a dumb one. She cannot speak and who would believe her anyway?”
“I would.”
Both men looked to Cree, Gillie’s eyes going wide when he saw Cree’s face twisted with rage.
“You tricked me into saying that, Bram,” Gillie accused
“You did that yourself since you never mind your tongue,” Bram said, wincing when he tried to smile.
“You wanted to poke her too,” Gillie accused again.
“Lady Dawn can say who speaks the truth,” Bram said.
“Rutland is here as well,” Cree said.
Gillie once again did not mind his tongue. “You lie. He is dead.”
“Not yet, but he will be soon, I assume thanks to you,” Cree said.
Gillie was quick to point the finger elsewhere. “I did not stab Rutland, that was Bertie’s doing. She got mad that I failed to deliver your wife to him and refused to give me some of the coin he had already been paid. Bertie sent her two sons to get it from him. They told Bertie they left him for dead and took what coin he had, though it was far less than expected.”
“Have you told me all now?” Cree asked, closing his hand in a tight fist.
“I would not have harmed your wife. I wanted the extra coin,” Gillie said, his voice trembling with fear.
“But you would have poked her,” Cree said, his fingers digging into the palm of his hand as he squeezed his fist ever tighter.
“I would not have harmed her,” Gillie said again as if it would make a difference.
“But you did harm her and you harmed me when you took her from me.” Cree stepped closer to Gillie. “And that you even thought of touching my wife…” His nostrils flared, anger consuming him like hungry flames devouring a dry log. “You will suffer for it, then you will die… slowly.”
Gillie went to speak, but Cree’s fist crashed into his mouth, knocking several teeth out and shattering his jaw.
Chapter 29
“He asked for a clergyman,” Elsa said when Dawn entered the cottage. “I will have the clergyman who stopped here brought to him. He does not have long.”
Dawn nodded and felt a slight shiver run through her. There was just something about the clergyman that did not set right with her. Or perhaps she felt suspicious of everyone who was not familiar to her. While she had known Lara, it had been more an acquaintance than a friendship. She had thought on that during her time away. Lara had been friendlier than usual that fateful day and Dawn had thought nothing of it and had gone willingly with her when she had claimed to have known where a batch of young nettles grew abundantly.
It had been as if Lara had walked her into a never-ending nightmare. She had grabbed Dawn’s shawl and walked away. Not once did she look back after leaving Dawn struggling against the two men who had jumped out of the bushes and grabbed her. She had said nothing to Dawn, nothing to the two men. She had simply turned and walked away, not caring what happened.
Dawn shivered again, the memories still vivid as well as the fear. It had gripped and twisted at her and it had been made worse by not being able to scream out for help.
The thought of being left that vulnerable again had her suddenly feeling trapped as she had that day and she rushed to the door. She stopped abruptly once outside, taking a deep breath.
Beast sprang to his feet, ready to defend and protect her, and hurried to her side.
Dawn dropped down beside him and rushed her arms around his neck in a tight hug, burying her face in his fur for a few moments, cherishing the calm and comfort it brought her, then kissing him atop his snout.
She would have never made it home if it had not been for Beast. She had come to depend on the animal and to love him more each day. She did not know what she would do without him, especially at a time like this when she was feeling far too vulnerable, and Cree was not beside her. She knew it would take time to regain that sense of safety and security she had had before her abduction as would Cree. Time would heal them both and Beast would be there to help her.
“My lady.”
Dawn turned to see Ina walking toward her, clutching her stomach and Dawn went to her, concerned.
“I fear whatever ails my stomach has not left me and it is not fair to leave all the work to Nell. Bartha enjoys tending the twins and says she will help until I am well enough to return, if that is all right with you, my lady?”
Dawn nodded, agreeing and thinking how excited Valan would be since Bartha loved to help him set up battle scenes with his wooden figures and then do battle.
Dawn hoped Ina understood when she gestured that she would send Elsa to tend her as soon as she was available.
“Elsa is busy and I have some of the brew left you gave me. I will take it and rest as instructed,” Ina said, wincing in pain.
Dawn shooed her away to get rest.
“Thank you, my lady,” Ina said with a bob of her head and turned to walk away.
Dawn saw the clergyman approach, his hood up on his head, but not covering his face as it did before. His expression was stern, his jaw set tight, his brow scrunched, and his arms were crossed in front of him, his hands disappearing into his wide sleeves.
A pious man, it would seem, but one she felt was hiding something.
Ina steps suddenly faltered and the clergyman hurried to steady her. They exchanged some words and he nodded before releasing her, though his hand did not let go until he was sure she was steady on her feet.
“I am here to administer to the dying man,” the clergyman said as he came to a stop in front of Dawn.
Beast remained close at her side as she entered the cottage after the clergyman and stood aside while he sat in the chair beside the bed and spoke quietly with Rutland.
She could not make out Rutland’s mumbles, though she did hear when his voice grew agitated and the clergyman responded in a soothing tone.
It had been some time since she had heard Latin spoken, her mum having taught her and having spoken it with her frequently so that she would remember it. While the clergyman kept his voice to a soft whisper, she caught a few words now and again.
It was not long before Rutland took his last breath and the clergyman leaned over him, his hand blessing him, his lasts words barely a whisper.
“Et putredo in infernum.”
Dawn scrunched her brow, questioning what she heard. Had she misunderstood the clergyman? Had she heard it wrong? She had to have misunderstood. Why would a clergyman pray for the dead man to rot in hell?
Cree washed the blood off his bruised hands, wanting them to look as presentable as possible when he saw his wife. He could already see her eyes light with worry for him and he did not want her to concern herself with something so minor. Besides, it had felt great to punch the two bastards that had abducted her. He would feel even better when he sent warriors to deal with Bertie and her sons. She was as guilty as Gillie and just as greedy, having known about it and going after Rutland. It was because of her and her sons that Cree was not able to learn more from Rutland. And he doubted James Macardle would be forthcoming with the truth, but he would get it from him one way or the other.
“They remain tied to the posts until I say otherwise and see that there are sufficient guards around them at all times,” Cree ordered Sloan as he dried his hands on a cloth.
