Highlander's Promise

by Donna Fletcher

  She nodded, then rested her hand gently on his arm as she scrunched her brow and shrugged in question.

  He ran the back of his hand slowly along her cheek. “I do not want Minnoch to know it was you—my wife—he gave to me in the dungeon rather than a peasant lass. Only you, me, and Old Mary will ever know what happened there. And I have no worry that Old Mary will breathe a word of it.

  Dawn tapped his chest, then his mouth, then her chest, and lastly tugged at her ear.

  “All I had to do was tell you this and you would have listened... and obeyed?”

  She nodded.

  He smiled. “As you have listened to me how many times when I ordered you to do something?” His smile vanished. “I needed you to see the importance of this and I must know you will do as I say and keep out of sight of Minnoch and his men.”

  Dawn tilted her head and scrunched her brow, this time in thought, and then her eyes turned wide and her hands flew.

  “Yes, I have a plan and no, I will not tell you about it and for a good reason.”

  Voices outside the door caught their attention and Cree went to the door and swung it open.

  Sloan spoke as soon as he did. “Minnoch’s messenger waits for you in the Great Hall.”

  Cree looked to Dawn. “You will do as I say?”

  She gave him a vigorous nod and followed him out the door to watch him walk away. She wondered over his plan and his words.

  Only you, me, and Old Mary will ever know.

  He planned on killing Minnoch. But how, when he gave his word to the King not to harm the man?

  Chapter Twelve

  Obern was in the Great Hall and spoke up as soon as Cree entered. “You killed Minnoch’s warrior?” He did not let Cree answer. “Minnoch now believes himself in danger and after I sent word that he was welcome here and had nothing to fear.”

  Cree remained silent, letting the man have his tirade.

  “Do you wish to ruin everything for the King? I do not know how many times I must tell you how important Minnoch is to the King at the moment. You will do everything you can to make the man feel welcomed. You will do what the King instructed you to do or one word from me and you will find yourself in a far worse dungeon than Minnoch’s.”

  Cree stepped in front of the man, towering over him. “Never. Ever. Threaten me. I have done what the King has instructed me to do. I have found out that the King cannot now or ever trust Minnoch, but the King wants what he wants and will trust a fool to get it for him.”

  Obern sputtered and blustered as he struggled to find the words to speak.

  “Do not dare say a word,” Cree shouted in the man’s face, and Obern drew his head back. “I am a loyal servant of the King and I gave my word to him and I will keep it. I will not harm Minnoch.”

  Obern finally found his voice. “Nor will your warriors do him harm.”

  “Nor my warriors,” Cree repeated. “Now let us be done with this farce so that I may rid myself of you and Minnoch.”

  “The King will hear of this,” Obern warned with a quiver to his voice.

  “Aye, he will, for I intend to make sure he knows what went on here.” Cree leaned over Obern and whispered, “You have no idea what I have done for the King, little man. The title, the land, does not begin to repay me and the King knows it. So be very careful how you talk to me, for if the King had to choose between you and me... he would choose me and order me to kill you—and I would.”

  Obern took several quick steps away from Cree and made sure he kept distance between them.

  “Flanna,” Cree yelled and the woman stepped up beside him.

  “All is ready to receive our guest, my lord,” Flanna said.

  Cree nodded and whispered, “My wife will be keeping to herself today. See that you keep her abreast of what goes on here.”

  She nodded and Cree walked over to Sloan, leaving Obern to pout near the dais. The little fool had no idea how important Cree had been to the King and continued to be, though Cree was not foolish enough to think that that could change at any time, especially if a new king was crowned. But at the moment the King required his help and he would see that he got it.

  “All is ready?” Cree asked when he reached Sloan.

  “All has been seen to,” Sloan confirmed.

  “Then let us wait outside to greet Minnoch.”

  ~~~

  Cree watched Minnoch approach with four of his warriors. His large troop of warriors was stopped at the edge of the village and informed they could go no further, which no doubt produced the scowl that Minnoch wore. Cree would have to be a fool to allow him to enter the village with a troop of his warriors.

  Minnoch was off his horse as soon as he brought the animal to a stop in front of the keep’s steps. He flew up them, nostrils flaring along with his temper. “How dare you keep my men from entering with me and how dare you kill one of my men.”

  “I may have given the King my word that I would not harm you, but if you dare to threaten me, my family, my clan, it will negate any promise I made to the King, on that you have my word.” Cree stepped toward him. “So go ahead, Minnoch, threaten me.”

  Minnoch tempered his anger, though it remained close to the surface. “Let me speak to the King’s advisor. He has an important message for me.”

  “Afterwards you can leave,” Cree said.

  That brought a smile to Minnoch’s face. “I was told I would be welcomed here.”

  “You have no idea how pleased I am to have you here.”

  “That sounds much better, Cree. Now take me to Obern.”

  As soon as Minnoch and Obern were introduced, Minnoch insisted that Obern and he talk privately. Cree had them taken to his solar and a guard posted outside the door. Cree did not care what the pair discussed. One of his messengers was already on the way to the King with a missive that explained everything that had gone on here and how Minnoch could not be trusted and that it would be to the King’s advantage to deal directly with the chieftains of the Western Isles and the King of Norway himself then through Minnoch. He knew his word held sway with the King, for Cree had been nothing but truthful with the monarch since first meeting him.

  It was near an hour later that Cree was summoned into his solar. Minnoch stood by the hearth like a man who believed himself victorious, his chest puffed out and a smug grin on his face.

  “It is done,” Obern said. “Minnoch will help the King, he forgives you for stealing from him, and you will not harm him. Now let us feast and celebrate that the deed is done.”

  ~~~

  Cree made sure that Minnoch, his warriors, and Obern not only got plenty of food to eat, but that they also had plenty to drink.

  “Where is your wife? Will she not grace us with her presence?” Minnoch asked, holding his tankard high for a servant lass passing by to fill.

  “She is not feeling well,” Cree said his tankard still full from when it was first poured over an hour ago.

  Minnoch downed some ale, then said, “Such a shame. I was looking forward to meeting her. A voiceless wife no doubt can make a husband’s lot much easier, though at other times...” Minnoch grinned. “I was eager to inform your wife how you entertained yourself while in my dungeon. But no doubt she will learn soon enough when you pass on to her what my little gift gave to you.” He laughed and finished what ale was in his tankard, then raised it high to be filled again.

  Cree did not respond, though it took a tremendous amount of will to sit in silence and wait.

  The hour grew late with many of Minnoch’s warriors falling asleep at the tables where they sat while others laid passed out on the floor. Obern retired over an hour ago, having eaten and drank himself so full that he could barely walk from the room.

  “A lass,” Minnoch said and belched loudly, “I need a lass to give a good plowing to tonight. There was a blonde servant with large breasts. She kept filling my tankard. Now I want to fill her.” He scratched his head. “Dorrie! I heard her called Dorrie and that she lives sec
luded from the village.”

  “Better to entertain the men who thirst after her,” Cree said.

  “Good, then she will enjoy a hard plowing and know how to please me. You will show me to her cottage,” Minnoch ordered, stumbling to his feet.

  It was late, the village asleep, and not a soul stirred as they made their way through the village. They entered the woods and after a short time, Minnoch started laughing, and Cree stopped to stare at the man.

  “I would never have been so foolish as to follow you in the woods if you had not given your word to the King not to harm me.”

  “And of course you thought to remind me of that.”

  He laughed again. “Aye, and I do it with great pleasure.”

  “Tell me something, Minnoch, why did you falsely accuse me of stealing from you, imprison me, and plan to behead me?”

  Minnoch grinned, stood tall, and gave a shout. Four of his warriors suddenly rushed out of the woods surrounding them, their swords drawn.

  “I do not forgive and I do not forget,” he said with anger. “I once served the chieftain of the Clan Kellmara. He had told me that he wished he had a son like me rather than the son who disappointed him and fell in love with a peasant woman. I followed his orders and saw that his son was sent away and kept away until his father commanded his return. The chieftain sent me to make sure the woman never bothered with his son again. Your mother was more woman than I expected. She fought back and fired my loins until I was so hungry for her that I did not take heed and she...” He growled with anger. “She gave me this.” He pointed to the scar on his face. “When I returned to the chieftain wounded badly, he told me that if a woman could best me, then I was worthless to him. So, he cast me out. I had plans to eventually be Chieftain of the Clan Kellmara. It would have been easy to get rid of the son and convince the childless chieftain to pass the title and his lands on to me. I will not bore you with the hell I lived through after that. Or what I had to do to gain the pittance of what I have now to what I would have had if I had become Laird of the Clan Kellmara. It was a promise I made to myself that I would have my revenge one day that kept me going. I am going to take everything from you as your mother took from me, and you can do nothing to stop me.”

  “I thought I killed the man who had attacked my mother,” Cree said more calmly than he felt.

  Minnoch snorted as he laughed again. “You as well as Kellmara’s fool of a son. Now you know that you never revenged your mother and you never will. Once the King hears that you did not keep your word and that I killed you defending myself, he will give me your lands as compensation and victory will taste sweet. As for your wife and bairns, I will see they serve me.”

  Cree stood with his hands clenched at his sides, an image of his mum bruised and bloody and struggling against the pain so that her son would not see her suffering hit him hard. He had to keep tight rein on his anger or he would lunge forward and snap the man’s neck, though not before beating him much worse than what he had done to his mum.

  “I do not forgive or forget either, Minnoch,” Cree said his fury on the verge of erupting.

  “Perhaps,” he grinned, “but you stand without a weapon before me and with a promise to the King not to harm me. You can do nothing about it.”

  “You are right. I can do nothing... but he can,” Cree said with a nod toward the dark woods.

  There was a rustling of leaves in the dense line of trees and a shadow slowly emerged, the full moon giving light to the man who stood sword in hand, rage burning in his eyes...Kellmara. His warriors poured out of the woods from behind him and to his sides, surrounding Minnoch and his men.”

  “This was a trap. You lured me here!” Minnoch shouted.

  This time Cree laughed, though there was no humor in it. “Is that not what you did to me? Lure me here with intentions of killing me? Did you really believe me such a fool that I would walk alone in the dark woods with you,” —Cree took a quick step toward the man— “especially when I knew what you had done to my mother?”

  Shock contorted Minnoch’s face. “You knew?”

  Kellmara explained. “I recognized you, though it took me a moment, when I saw you speaking with one of your guards in the woods. You were gone when I returned home to my family all those years ago and, when I inquired about you, I was told you disappointed my father and was sent away. It was not until much later that I learned the truth. By then I heard you had died and I thought it done. My only regret was that I did not get to kill you myself. I am pleased that shortly, I will no longer have that regret.”

  “My men here will see that the truth is known,” Minnoch warned his eyes shifting nervously.

  “They die with you,” Cree said not a hint of regret in his voice. “That woman you so callously had these guards give to me while imprisoned was my wife... and no one treats my wife that way and lives.”

  Minnoch stared at him speechless.

  Cree looked to Kellmara. “Make him suffer.”

  “With pleasure, but you should go. Return to the keep and make sure Minnoch’s drunken men see you,” Kellmara said. “I will send word when it is done.”

  Cree looked to Minnoch. “Now you know why I was so pleased to have you here. I knew you would take your last breath on my land.”

  “You cannot do this, Cree. You gave your word,” Minnoch shouted as Cree turned his back and walked off.

  “And I am keeping it,” Cree called out and disappeared into the dark woods.

  He came upon Elwin and Dorrie at the edge of the woods. Her garments were ripped, her hair strewn with dirt, and her nose and mouth dripping blood.

  “Are you certain you are comfortable with this, Dorrie?” Cree asked.

  “Aye, my lord, anything to help my lady,” Dorrie said.

  Cree thought about Dawn’s throat and he looked to Elwin. “The blood?”

  “Flanna gave it to us.”

  Cree nodded, approvingly. “I will see you soon, Dorrie.”

  “Aye, my lord, and I will not fail you.”

  “Of that I have no doubt,” Cree said and hurried to the keep.

  Minnoch’s men were passed out, some snoring so loudly that he wondered how it did not wake the others. He gave a shove to a few who had their hands grasped on their tankards. “Another drink?”

  “Aye,” they shouted, though it was garbled.

  Cree made sure they saw him take a seat at the dais and raise a tankard to his lips, and then he waited. He was pleased that his wife had kept her word and not shown herself. He would explain it all later to her. It would not be long now. The sun was just rising and the servants entered to clean the hall and ready it for the morning meal, and that was when he had Flanna send for his wife.

  He was not surprised that she joined him in only a matter of minutes. He imagined she was sitting in their bedchamber the whole evening, dressed and waiting for him to summon her.

  “Good morning, wife, feeling better?” he asked his strong voice carrying across the hall and stirring some of the drunken warriors awake.

  Dawn smiled and nodded and rubbed her stomach, following her husband’s lead that all was well, though eager to know what went on here last night.

  Obern entered the Great Hall a few minutes later, delighted to see the table being made ready and he took a seat next to Cree, while looking over the hall. “A good feast last night, but where is Minnoch?”

  “He requested a woman and I saw that he got one,” Cree said.

  “That was good of you,” Obern said. “I am going to let the King know how cooperative you were once the pact was agreed upon.”

  The terrifying screams rang through the Great Hall like a bell that refused to stop tolling. Minnoch’s warriors rushed to their feet, as did his wife, and when Dorrie came barreling into the Great Hall screaming, crying, and begging for help, Dawn hurried to her side, wrapping her arms around Dorrie who all but collapsed in them.

  “They killed him! They killed him!” Dorrie screeched.

&nbs
p; Cree had gotten to his feet when the screaming had begun and he rushed around the table, Obern following him.

  “They killed him!” Dorrie screamed again, turning horrified eyes on Cree.

  “Calm down, Dorrie,” he ordered. “Who killed who?”

  “His warriors,” she gasped. “Minnoch’s warriors killed him.”

  “Good lord,” Obern shouted and Minnoch’s warriors quickly gathered closer.

  “What happened?” Cree demanded.

  “Minnoch did not want to share me, not until he was done. His warriors were drunk and thought differently. They tried to—” Dorrie shook her head and pulled her torn garments tighter over her chest. “Minnoch lashed out with his sword and the next thing I knew they were all fighting, and then they...” Tears poured from her eyes. “They all lay dead.”

  Obern turned angry eyes on Cree. “Where were you last night? And do not tell me with your wife since she was ill.”

  Dawn shook her head, pointed at her husband and patted her chest, letting Obern know that her husband had not been with her. She prayed that was what Cree wanted her to admit to since Obern mentioned she had been ill.

  “He was here with us,” one of Minnoch’s men called out.

  “Aye, I saw him,” another said.

  “He had a drink with me,” another chimed in.

  “This cannot be happening,” Obern said, patting his chest, attempting to calm himself, “not after all my hard work.”

  “Where are they?” Cree asked Dorrie.

  “Near my cottage,” she said through heavy gasps.

  Cree looked to his wife. “See to Dorrie.”

  She nodded and hurried the woman off to Cree’s solar, wanting to know the truth.

  Obern followed after Cree. “I am going with you.”

  “Are you sure you want to see this?” Cree asked.

  “I must report back to the King,” Obern insisted.

  A short time later Obern was being helped away from the scene, his stomach roiling from the horrible sight. He sat on a stump, pale and shaken. “Whatever will the King do now?”

  Hearing Obern lamenting, Cree approached. “The King will do whatever he must; he always does, and you shall be there to help him.”