My Highlander: A Cree & Dawn Novel, page 28
“As you say,” Sloan said, having already anticipated his orders and set them in motion.
“I will speak with Rutland. Fear of eternal flames eating away at the flesh, often have men speaking the truth on their deathbed.”
“Then you best hurry. Elsa sent word that Rutland does not have long and has asked for a clergyman.”
“He is at peace now,” the clergyman said.
Dawn nodded and was about to point to the door for him to take his leave, when he bobbed his head and hurried out the door without saying another word. And when she stepped outside the cottage, she was surprised to see that the clergyman was nowhere to be seen.
“Is he dead?”
Dawn turned with a soft smile, pleased to see her husband and nodded.
“Did Rutland say anything before he died?” Cree asked, his arm going around her waist.
Dawn instinctively went into the crook of his arm. It was as if after being separated for even a short time, more so since her abduction, they needed to reunite, join close, be as one.
Dawn gestured with one hand as if pulling a hood over her head and slipping her hand in her sleeve.
“He spoke to the clergyman,” Cree said.
Dawn nodded and pointed in the distance, letting him know the man had taken his leave. Then she took his hand and went to a spot of clear earth, picking up a small rock and using it to write in the dirt.
“Latin,” Cree read before she even finished the word. “He spoke Latin to Rutland.”
She nodded, brushed the word away with her foot and wrote again.
“Rot in hell?” Cree asked. “I had forgotten you know Latin, French as well, if I recall correctly.”
She confirmed with a nod.
“Are you sure you heard him correctly?”
Dawn nodded and shrugged.
“Not completely sure,” Cree said.
Dawn nodded again.
Cree signaled to one of his warriors. “Go get the clergyman who was just here and bring him to me.”
“Aye, my lord,” the warrior said and hurried off.
“See to moving the body,” Cree ordered two other warriors.
Cree slipped his arm around his wife’s waist once again, eager to hold her close. “We will go to my solar and I will tell you what Gillie and Bram had to say.”
They had taken only one step when one of the warriors rushed out of the cottage.
“He is not dead!”
Cree and Dawn hurried into the cottage, Beast following them.
Cree went to the bed and leaned down. The man’s breathing was short and rapid, and he struggled to speak.
“Cur..sed..”
“Who cursed you?” Cree asked, realizing his wife had interpreted the Latin correctly. “Who cursed you to rot in hell?”
Rutland continued to struggle to breath and speak. “Pra..y.”
“Tell me who cursed you and you have my word I will pray for your retched soul,” Cree said.
“Slat..t…”
“Slatter?” Cree asked, recalling the name of the thief Gillie had mentioned. “What did he want from you?”
The man gave a brief nod, confirming it was Slatter. “Search…”
“Search for what?” Cree asked, but saw the man barely had any strength left to speak
“Pra…” Rutland barely managed to say.
An honorable man never gave his word falsely so Cree gave what he had promised. “May you find forgiveness where you go, for you will get no forgiveness on this earth.”
Rutland could say no more, his breathing low, and while he took his last breath, Cree turned away from him, and spoke to one of his warriors.
“Make sure the clergyman who was here a short time ago and the one who travels with him are found and brought to me.” Cree turned to another warrior who stood near the end of the bed. “Have Elsa confirm he is dead, then take him and see him prepared for burial.”
Cree took Dawn by the arm and guided her out of the cottage, Beast staying close to her.
“I have to see to this Slatter who is posing as a clergyman,” Cree said once outside. “Gillie mentioned him. He is a thief, sly from what Gillie says. I need to find out what he is doing here and what he wanted from Rutland.”
Dawn tapped her chest and shrugged.
“Gillie made no mention of him being part of your abduction and with what the man suffered, I do not think he would have kept that from me.”
Dawn took hold of his one hand, careful not to touch his red and swollen knuckles, though she did place a tender kiss on the bruise.
“It was worth it,” Cree said, “and I am not finished with him yet. We will discuss their fate later.”
Dawn was not surprised that her husband would consult her on what was to be done to her abductors. After all, she had been the one to suffer at their hands, but in the end the decision would be her husband’s and she was good with that.
Cree slipped his hand out of hers and placed it on his wife’s soft cheek to cup her chin. “This will all be done soon. With what Rutland, Gillie, and Bram told me and having sent word for James Macardle to be brought here, we will have heard from all those involved with your abduction and I will make certain that every one of them suffers the consequences.”
Dawn turned her head and kissed his palm, closing her eyes briefly to linger in his gentle strength.
“I look forward to our time alone, wife,” he whispered and nuzzled her neck, pleased to see a smile creep along her face.
Dawn took hold of his arm as he turned to walk away.
“What is it?” Cree asked, turning back to face her.
She scrunched her brow and shrugged as she mouthed Lara, then Ann.
“Are you asking me who killed the two women?”
She nodded.
“That, wife, remains a puzzle.”
Chapter 30
A chilled rain had started falling, sending most people scurrying for shelter. Weather was unpredictable in the Highlands, sun one minute, rain the next, or endless clouds and a sudden chill even in the summer.
Cree stomped through the village and wondered if it had been the rain or his frightening scowl that had chased everyone. It was evening and the two clergymen had yet to be found. His warriors had searched the entire village, then extended their search into the woods. Tarass and his warriors had even joined in the hunt once he had found out that the clergyman was actually the man called Slatter that Gillie had mentioned. He hoped once caught, this Slatter could provide information about the man Ruddock he searched for.
It was as if the two men had suddenly disappeared. No one had seen them leave. No one had spoken to them and how was it that the older clergyman could take his leave when he was so worn out? Or had he been? Had it been a ruse to seek shelter here? If so why? What was the man searching for? And did it have anything to do with his wife’s abduction?
Cree spotted Sloan hurrying toward him and he hoped he brought good news with him.
“Tell me the clergymen have been found,” Cree said.
Sloan shook his head. “Not yet, but I just received word that James Macardle will arrive tomorrow.”
“How can that be? The messenger has not had time to reach Tannin yet.”
Sloan grinned. “The messenger met Tannin and Macardle on his way to see them. It seems James Macardle is eager to speak with you. And with the Lord of Fire’s return Tannin concluded that it was best he returned and spoke with you as well.”
“Macardle has much to account for.”
“It is his word against a dead man’s word,” Sloan said. “It will not be easy to prove Macardle had anything to do with it. And he is a titled man. You cannot tie him to a post and beat it out of him.”
“True,” Cree said, “but there are other ways to get what I want from him.”
A warrior came rushing at Cree and Sloan. “We got them, my lord. We got the clergymen. Henry picked up their tracks and led us right to them. They will arrive in the village shortly.”
“Good work,” Cree said, “The warriors will eat extra well tonight.”
The warrior’s face lit with glee, knowing Turbett would be instructed to prepare a special meal for them.
“We are grateful, my lord,” the warrior said with a bob of his head.
“Have the clergymen brought to my solar,” Cree instructed to the surprise of Sloan and the warrior.
“Why your solar?” Sloan asked once the warrior left them.
“I will treat them with respect until they give me reason not to.”
Sloan grinned. “You are giving them time for their lies to reveal themselves.”
“They will dig their own graves.”
Both men turned at the sound of the keep door opening.
Dawn smiled at both men as she tugged her shawl around her and approached them.
“Where are you off to on this chilly evening?” Cree asked, thinking Beast should be with her, then realizing he would be with the twins now.
She pointed at him.
“You came looking for me,” Cree said.
She nodded and slipped into his arm that reached out to welcome her.
“I will see you shortly, my lord,” Sloan said and, with a nod to both Cree and Dawn, took his leave.
Dawn turned a questioning glance on her husband.
“The two clergymen have been found and will arrive here shortly,” Cree explained.
Dawn smiled to show how pleased the news made her. She tapped her chest, then his, pointed to her lips and held up two fingers.
“You want to be with me when I speak with them?”
She nodded.
“Is that a request or a demand?” he asked.
Dawn could hear the teasing in his voice. She softened her smile before mouthing… hope.
He had had no intentions of denying her, but that she should offer a silent plea of hope had him lowering his brow to rest on hers and admitting, “You tug at my heart far too often, wife.”
Her smile grew and she pressed her cheek to his, then kissed his lips ever so gently.
“There you go tempting me again with those demanding kisses.”
She laughed, the slight shake of her body the only evidence of it.
He kissed her just as gently and briefly. “You have no idea how much your innocent kisses arouse me.”
She brushed her lips over his in a feather-light kiss, then tapped her chest.
“Now that I know they arouse you as well, I will kiss you that way more often.”
Dawn hurried to draw a cross over her heart with her finger.
“Aye, wife, I promise,” Cree said with a tender laugh before he kissed her again, though not as lightly as before.
They entered the keep together. Once in the Great Hall, Cree called for warm brews to be brought to his solar.
Cree saw that his wife was settled in a chair near the fire and a hot brew placed on the small table beside her. He was telling her about James Macardle’s arrival tomorrow when there was a rap at the door.
The two clergymen were escorted into the room by two warriors and Sloan. When the door closed behind the two warriors, the younger clergyman spoke.
“Why were we forced to return here, my lord? We have duties to see to.”
“I have a few questions for you,” Cree said and pointed to two chairs. “Sit.”
The commanding tone let it be known that it was not a request.
Both clergymen nodded and sat, though the younger of the two kept poised on the edge of his chair, appearing ready to take his leave or run if necessary.
Cree looked to the older clergyman. He had never gotten a good look at him. His short hair was completely white, pure white like the stark white clouds. He had multiple lines and wrinkles, though they did not distract from his fine features. And Cree noticed that he held himself with distinct dignity, no longer slumped over like when he had first seen him.
“You are feeling better?” he asked the man.
“Aye, my lord, thanks to your generosity,” the man said with a nod.
Cree turned to the other clergyman. “It was good of you to ease the wounded man’s suffering as he took his last breath.”
“It is what we do, my lord,” the younger clergyman said.
“Did the man say anything to you before he died?” Cree asked.
The clergyman shook his head vehemently. “It is forbidden to reveal anything that is confessed.”
“I did not ask you to reveal a confession. I asked if the man said anything to you,” Cree said and saw the man tense, his shoulders drawing back defensively.
“He wanted absolution and I gave it to him.”
“You blessed his soul,” Cree said.
“Aye, my lord, I sent his soul where it belonged.”
“To rot in hell, Slatter?” Cree asked and watched the man change before his eyes.
His head went up straight, his shoulder drew back even more, his chest broadened, and he removed his hands from his sleeves.
He looked to Dawn and grinned. “You know Latin.”
“You will address me, not my wife,” Cree ordered.
“You know who I am,” Slatter said and went to stand.
“Do not dare get out of that chair,” Cree warned and took a step closer to him. “What role did you play in my wife’s abduction?”
“Abduction? I had nothing to do with any abduction,” Slatter said as if affronted to be accused of such a crime. “Rutland had information I needed, nothing more.”
“What information?” Cree demanded.
Slatter shook his head. “That is not your concern.”
“Everything here is my concern!” Cree all but bellowed, causing the older man to jump. “Is it the same information you wanted Lara to get you? Is that why you returned here and killed her?”
Slatter once again looked ready to pound out of the chair, but a sudden, sharp rap at the door interrupted his response, then the door flew open.
“I gave you no permission to enter, Tarass?” Cree snapped.
“I heard you had Slatter here. I need to speak with him.”
“Take your leave and wait until I summon you or I will deny you time with him,” Cree ordered.
Tarass looked ready to argue, clamping his lips shut for a moment to get control of his tongue. “I will wait outside the door.”
“You will wait in the Great Hall,” Cree commanded.
Sloan went to the door and instructed one of the two warriors stationed outside it to escort Tarass to the Great Hall.
“I do not know that man,” Slatter said.
“That matters not to me,” Cree said. “I want the truth and I want it now.”
“The truth is I know nothing about your wife’s abduction or this Lara you mentioned.”
“I have two men who say differently about Lara and how you enticed her to do your bidding and get information you wanted. Now she is dead.”
“Not by my hand,” Slatter insisted with a firm shake of his head.
“We will see who tells the truth,” Cree said and turned to his wife. “Wait here.”
She nodded.
Cree looked to the two men. “Follow me.”
Sloan followed behind the two men and the two warriors followed behind him until they left the keep, then they walked alongside either of the two prisoners.
Tarass wasted no time in tailing the group.
“Rouse them,” Cree ordered the warriors who stood guard over Gillie and Bram.
It took a few moments for the two men to gather their wit and focus after having water thrown in their faces.
Gillie was the first one to call out, wincing with every word, his face a bloody mess. “That is him. That is the man who met with the woman in the woods.”
Bram nodded. “Gillie’s right. That is him, but he was not wearing the robe of a clergyman.”
“What do you have to say now, Slatter?” Cree asked.
“You caught me,” Slatter said with an indifferent shrug. “What is there for me to say.”
“I beg mercy, my lord,” the white-haired man said, his hands clenched together begging. “I had no part in this. He demanded I repay him for saving my life from robbers.”
“You are a sniveling coward, Newlin.”
Newlin continued to beg. “Truly, my lord, I harmed none and I know nothing of this woman called Lara.”
“What of my wife’s abduction? Do you know if he had any part in that?”
“I told you he had no hand in that,” Gillie said.
“Do you want to feel my fist again?” Cree asked, turning a fierce scowl on him.
“No, I beg you, my lord. No.”
“Then hold your tongue unless spoken to,” Cree warned.
Gillie clamped his swollen mouth shut with a wince and a nod.
Cree looked to Newlin.
“He spoke of no abduction to me, my lord.”
“How long have you been with him?”
“Two weeks now, and hopefully by your mercy I will be free of him. I have a sister who offered to take me in. I am not well and she will look after me. I was on my way there when our paths crossed.”
Cree signaled one of his warriors. “Take him to the Great Hall to wait and do not leave his side.”
“I am most grateful, my lord,” Newlin said and before leaving, turned to Slatter and spat at him. “You lying bastard. Now you will get what you deserve.”
“And so will you,” Slatter said in warning.
“Secure his wrists,” Cree ordered and once done turned to Tarass. “Ask what you will of him.”
“What do you know of a man called Ruddock?”
“I know no such man,” Slatter said.
“You are lying?” Tarass said.
Slatter shrugged. “Believe what you will. I care not.”
“From what I have learned you were imprisoned with him.”
Slatter remained silent.
“Do you owe him something that you protect him?” Tarass demanded.
Slatter continued to remain silent.
“What price to tell me where he is?”
“Now you have my attention, though where will I spend my newfound wealth when I am kept prisoner here?” Slatter asked and looked to Cree. “And for what? Having some fun with a woman?”
