Highlander's Promise

by Donna Fletcher

  “If she cannot talk, how do you know that is what happened to her?” the one guard demanded.

  “She is my granddaughter and I got tossed out with her.”

  The guard on Dawn’s side stepped closer, wrinkling is nose against the foul odor, and pointed his spear at her. “Raise your chin.”

  Dawn did as told.

  The guard used the tip of his spear to tug the cloth down, revealing the wound that began to bleed from his weapon roughly tugging the cloth away from it. He cringed and shook his head. “Disgusting and probably well-deserved. Take the path on the right to the end, and you are not to stay for more than a day or two. We need the room for those who soon will be arriving and are willing to pay to see the execution,” the guard said and waved them through.

  “As you say, kind sir,” Old Mary said and drove the cart through, the gate closing shut for the night behind them.

  Dawn gripped the sides of her skirt. Execution? Who was being executed? And why had Old Mary not asked.

  As if reading her thoughts, the old woman whispered, “The less interest we show the better. Now pay attention. We need to know our surroundings.”

  The village was quiet, but then autumn had arrived with a chill, chasing many inside their cottages once night fell. Dawn took in all she could, though it was difficult not to take her eyes off the castle in the distance as the cart ambled down the path. It rose like a mighty beast, the narrow windows more like eyes that spied on all and somewhere deep in its bowels was her husband.

  “Do not stare,” Old Mary whispered.

  Dawn quickly lowered her head, fighting against the tears that threatened her eyes. She forced them away since tears would not help save her husband.

  Old Mary kept her voice low. “Those in need are not the only ones to seek shelter here for the night. Thieves pick on the most vulnerable and the soldiers here care little if they do. We must stay watchful.”

  Dawn nodded.

  Old Mary brought the cart to a stop at the far end of the village, where other travelers were already camped. Some were asleep under their wagons and some lingered by the campfires they had lit, eating what meager food they possessed. A few men cast curious glances their way, one man blatantly rubbing himself when his eyes settled on Dawn.

  She ignored him and was grateful for the dagger she carried in her boot. She hurried off the cart, then went to help Old Mary down.

  “Away with your hands,” Old Mary snapped loudly. “It is bad enough your husband threw you out and me along with you. I will not see my skin rot as yours does beneath your garments.”

  Dawn lowered her head and scratched at her arms as she backed away, understanding Old Mary’s intentions. No man would touch Dawn if he believed he would be left with rotting flesh.

  “See to the horse,” Old Mary ordered.

  Dawn hurried to tend the animal and after that she got a small fire going, worried that the night chill would cause Old Mary’s bones to ache. They ate a small amount of food, taking care not to let anyone see they had more. They were saving some for barter and some for Cree once they freed him, if either proved necessary.

  “In the morning, I will ask around and see what I can find out,” Old Mary whispered as she stretched out on the blanket Dawn had spread on the ground, knowing her bones would surely protest tomorrow.

  Dawn could not sleep. She was not only concerned for their safety. She was worried for Cree. Sloan had avoided given her an explanation as to why Minnoch had taken Cree prisoner or what plans the man had for her husband. Did he mean him harm? The guard’s words came back to haunt her. Execution. Could it be Cree who was going to be put to death? And if so why? It made no sense to her, but she had learned that men needed little reason to do harm to others, though women were also not exempt from doing harm, her own birth mother having been one of them.

  She yawned and closed her eyes, only to open them moments later. The camp remained quiet as did the village. The only movement was the sentries on the wall walks. It would not be easy to free Cree from this place with sentries patrolling the wall walks and the gatehouse closing at dusk. The only way would be to sneak him out in the cart during the day. But how did she get him out of the dungeon with enough time to spare before someone discovered him gone?

  Dawn slept on and off throughout the night and the more she pondered over how to free Cree, the more she lost hope. It was when the sun rose on a new day that hope returned to her, for she knew there and then that if she did not free her husband... she would join him in his cell.

  Chapter Three

  “Word has gone out. He is going to be beheaded.”

  Old Mary laid a hand on Dawn’s leg to calm her. It had not been long after everyone in camp had woken that talk had turned to the infamous prisoner held in Minnoch’s dungeons.

  “Wagers are being taken that Cree will break free before that,” someone said.

  Laughter circled the small group of men talking and one voice was heard saying, “That is a fool’s wager. No one escapes Minnoch’s dungeons.”

  Another chimed in, “Death is the only escape from that hell hole.”

  The small band of men dispersed after agreeing they would wait and see who won the wager for themselves.

  “We need to hurry,” Old Mary urged and Dawn nodded eagerly.

  Dawn refused to let the grim talk defeat her or think that the suddenly gray skies were an omen of doom. If anything, knowing her husband’s fate made her more determined than ever to free him, nothing would stop her now.

  It was market day in the village and the stalls were busy with people trading their wares. Everywhere Dawn and Old Mary went talk was of the prisoner Cree and his fate. Wagers were being made, mostly in Minnoch’s favor.

  “Make way for Lord Minnoch! Make way!” a solider shouted and people scurried out of the way.

  Dawn turned to take a look and grabbed Old Mary’s arm, rushing her behind a cart. It was not the sight of Minnoch that made her take cover, though one look at him did instill fear. He was fair in height, thick in muscle, his head completely bald and a vicious scar ran from the top of his brow down to the corner of his eye. His features were not appealing, though they were memorable in an ominous way. No, it was not Minnoch she hid from, it was the two men who rode behind him... Sloan and Elwin.

  Several warriors formed two lines on either side of one of several wooden doors that ran along the stone wall of the keep. The door opened and a guard appeared. He gave a respectful bob of his head to Minnoch and limped to the side. Two of Minnoch’s warriors entered before him, followed by Sloan and Elwin and two more of Minnoch’s warrior’s trailed behind them.

  The door closed and several warriors stepped in front of it.

  Old Mary whispered to Dawn. “Stay here and watch.”

  Dawn gave Old Mary a quick glance as she trailed after the guard who had limped away, then she turned her attention to the closed door and waited.

  ~~~

  Cree heard several footfalls approach long before the group reached his cell. He was on his feet when the cell door swung open and when the guard entered with a torch, he stumbled back upon seeing Cree standing there as powerful as ever.

  Sloan entered along with Elwin, Minnoch following them in.

  Minnoch approached Cree. “Tell your men why you are rotting in my dungeon.”

  “Tell them your lies yourself,” Cree said.

  Minnoch turned and spat the words out with anger. “He stole from me.”

  “What lies do you spew?” Sloan demanded.

  “Not lies,” Minnoch said and stretched his hand out to one of his soldiers. The man dropped something into Minnoch’s hand. “I left him alone in my solar for a moment and I returned to find he had broken the seal on my chest and had these in his hands.”

  Cree was the only one who did not glance at his hand. He knew what he held, rubies and emeralds that Minnoch himself had taken out of the chest in his solar.

  “King Alexander insults me, sending a th
ief to see if I am truly loyal to the crown. I will show the King just how loyal I am by beheading the man who no doubt would steal from the King himself,” Minnoch said.

  While Elwin drew everyone’s attention by protesting loudly, Cree looked to Sloan and without a word being exchanged, gave Sloan a barely noticeable nod.

  “Your complaints are useless. This thief will die in three days’ time and Loudon Village will celebrate,” Minnoch said.

  “I will have time alone with Lord Cree,” Sloan demanded.

  Minnoch laughed. “So you can attempt to plan an escape? I am no fool. Say your good-byes, for the next time you see him will be when the axe comes down upon his neck.” He turned to one of his men. “Take them out of here.”

  Sloan and Elwin protested loudly as they were led out, while Minnoch remained behind with two warriors.

  “The King underestimated me as did you. I will see you dead and claim your lands as mine and the King will have no choice but to grant me them for ridding him of such a dishonorable warrior.” He turned to go, then stopped and turned to face Cree once more. “As for your wife, I have wondered what it would be like to poke a voiceless woman.” He laughed and turned to go.

  “Minnoch,” Cree said with such command that the man could not help but turn and face him. “I am going to enjoy killing you.”

  Minnoch could not stop the shudder that ran like a cold chill through his body when for a brief moment he believed that Cree would see him dead, and he was relieved when the key turned and clicked in the lock behind him.

  ~~~

  Dawn glanced around while she waited, taking in all she could, from the constant stream of sentries on the walk wall, to the double guards at the dungeon’s entrance and the continuous presence of guards wherever one looked. From what she saw, the prison was a stronghold and she wondered how she would ever get inside let alone get Cree out.

  The door suddenly swung open and Sloan burst out, Elwin behind him, both men angrier than she had ever seen them.

  “You cannot be serious,” Sloan said, turning on Minnoch when he joined them outside.

  “Cree stole from me and will pay the price... death. I will lay claim to his lands just as he did with Dowell, and the King will thank me for it.”

  “You falsely accuse Cree and plan to behead him before the King can even be made aware of it, and you think the King will be pleased? And you think the King will allow you Cree’s lands? Are you a fool?” Sloan asked as if he could not believe the man’s ignorance.

  Minnoch took a brisk step toward Sloan. “Never dare to call me a fool again. Your chieftain will suffer the executioner’s axe in three days’ time. I will seize all his holdings and as for his wife and children? Their fate will be at my discretion. And if you think the King will bother himself with such a trivial matter, then you are the fool. I will pledge my fealty to King Alexander and he will be glad of it.”

  Dawn pressed her hand tightly against her stomach, his words roiling her insides until she thought she would lose what little she had eaten this morning. She could not believe his words. Cree condemned to death and she and the twin’s fate left to Minnoch? It could not be allowed to happen.

  “And if you think to attack me, think again. I have more than enough warriors to defeat you,” Minnoch said with the confidence of one who had already tasted victory.

  Dawn knew that Sloan would not stand by and see Cree beheaded. He had brought more warriors with him when he returned and she had no doubt he had informed clan leaders loyal to Cree of the situation. The problem was time and Minnoch was using it to his advantage. It would take time to amass enough warriors to breach these castle walls. Sloan would not wait. He would attack and attempt to free Cree and no doubt Sloan and Cree’s warriors would be slaughtered along with him. Cree had to be freed before it was too late.

  “You will regret this, Minnoch,” Sloan said and he and Elwin hurried off.

  Minnoch lingered, talking to his guards and Dawn slowly wandered closer, hoping to hear what they were discussing and hoping it might be of some help in freeing Cree. When she realized one guard had begun to stare at her, she casually moved away... but not soon enough.

  “You there!” the guard shouted and that was when Dawn realized it was the guard who had been at the gatehouse and had pushed her neck bandage down with his spear.

  Dawn froze, knowing she had no other choice but to obey.

  The guard said something to Minnoch and he grinned like a man who was about to do something that would bring him much pleasure.

  “What are you doing?” Old Mary said, coming up behind her and slapping her in the back of the head. “Have you not gotten us into enough trouble?”

  Two guards followed Minnoch as he approached the women. “She has no voice?” he asked of Old Mary.

  “No, sir,” Old Mary said with a bob of her head. “The fool could not keep her mouth shut, so her husband slit her throat and kicked her out of the house.”

  “Why not simply cut her tongue out?”

  Old Mary shrugged. “I cannot speak for him. I do not know.”

  “I have use for her, two days should do, and then I will return her to you,” Minnoch said.

  Old Mary was quick to try and dissuade him, knowing he was not a man to trust. Once he had hold of Dawn, she might never see her again. “She is not a clean one, sir. Her skin rots in private places.”

  “All the better,” Minnoch said with a laugh.

  “Please, sir,” Old Mary begged with tears in her eyes. “She is my granddaughter and she is all I have. Please do not hurt her.”

  Minnoch laughed again. “That will be up to the prisoner Cree. He either accepts the generous gift I give him or I give her to the soldiers.”

  Old Mary looked to Dawn. “You please the prisoner whatever way he wants.” She hugged Dawn and whispered, “I give you my word, I will come for you and Cree tomorrow night.”

  “Take her!” Minnoch ordered.

  The soldier poked Dawn with the opposite end of his spear and Dawn trembled as she made her way to the door in the stone wall, though it was not out of fear. She was going to be exactly where she wanted to be... with her husband. And tomorrow night, she and Cree would be free, for when Old Mary gave her word, she kept it.

  Dawn stepped through the door and made sure to take in everything she could, though with the guard continuing to prod her in the back, hurrying her along, did not give her much time to see as much as she would have liked to. Besides, the place was dank and dark with barely enough torches to light the passageway. They passed the guards’ quarters and from what she could see there were many. How Old Mary would get them out, she did not know? But Dawn trusted her word.

  With a guard in front of her and the one with the spear behind her and Minnoch following them, they made their way down a flight of stairs and into a narrow passageway with two cells on the left and two on the right, and Dawn’s stomach roiled from the foul odor. She was grateful they did not stop. The thought that Cree would have to endure such a horrid stench turned her stomach even more. They continued on, taking another set of stone stairs down. The deeper they went the more worried Dawn grew. How would they ever get out of this place?

  They entered another passageway, two torches barely casting sufficient light on the area. The guard in front of her stopped and the guard with the spear took tight hold of her arm.

  Minnoch stepped to her side and Dawn was surprised to see two more guards enter the narrow passage and flank the door of the lone cell with a narrow slit at the top that could barely be seen.

  “I have a very special gift for you, Cree... a woman to entertain you for a couple of days. And since I am aware that you like a woman who has no voice, I found you one. Have a look.”

  Minnoch did not wait for Cree to respond, he gave a nod to the guard who held her, and he and the other guard yanked and tore at her garments until she stood naked before them.

  Dawn shut her eyes, no man but Cree had ever seen her naked and the only
solace she took in suffering such an indignity was that it would possibly save her husband’s life. Nothing was more important than that.

  “You are lucky, Cree, she has a fine body, one I would not mind plowing, but I like to hear a women scream when I take her.” Minnoch nodded to the one guard.

  He quickly drew a dagger from the sheath at his waist and sliced the bandage at her neck, letting it fall to the ground.

  Minnoch laughed. “Her husband grew tired of her endless chatter and slit her throat then threw her out. She is all yours now, though if you do not want her she can service the guards for the night.” He nodded to a guard by the door.

  The guard inserted a key in the lock and swung the door open.

  One of the guards shoved her toward the door, though it looked more like a yawning black hole she stumbled toward it.

  “Your choice, Cree,” Minnoch said with a laugh.

  Silence hung heavy, not even a breath was heard as all eyes looked upon the black hole and waited.

  A hand suddenly shot out of the darkness, grabbed her arm, and yanked her in. The door slammed shut, the key clicking in the lock.

  Chapter Four

  Dawn was never so glad to feel her husband’s arms close tightly around her and she pressed her cheek against his naked chest. She fought back the tears that threatened to spill. She would not cry. She would not let Minnoch bring her to tears.

  “I do not hear you plowing her, Cree. Do I need to send one of my warriors in there to show you how it is done?” Minnoch said and laughter echoed in the passageway.

  Cree lifted her and she barely had time to get her legs around his waist before he slammed her back against the door so that it creaked in protest, then he pretended to take her, pounding his hand viciously against the door as he held her firm against him with his other hand. He grunted repeatedly, and then let out one last, long grunt.

  “I will be sure to let your wife know how you spent your last few days and do my best to console her,” Minnoch said and loud laughter soon drifted off as the passage emptied.