“You speak with your hands,” Cathan said more with surprise than disdain.
Dawn pointed to her mouth and shook her head.
“You have no voice. I have heard that Cree wed a voiceless woman, but I thought it a tale.”
“Dawn is not voiceless,” Cree snapped. “She makes herself heard more than most.”
Dawn was not surprised that Cathan was astonished by how Cree defended his wife or was it that he had wed a voiceless woman that had astonished her?
“Wintra will be glad to see Dawn,” Torr said. “They are like sisters, and I am sure she is as relieved as I am to know that, at least, Wintra has a healer with her,”
Ardit stepped forward. “Netty is no healer. It is Cathan that is the healer.”
“Are you saying that my wife has no healer with her?” Torr snapped, turning such a fierce glare on the woman that it had her cringing.
“The warriors assumed that since she was older, she was the wiser one, and so they believed she was the healer.”
More worry deepened the lines on Torr’s face. “Can she at least help birth a bairn?”
“She has attended some births that have all gone well. She would not know what to do if there was a problem,” Cathan said.
“We have to go get Wintra now,” Torr demanded, looking to Cree.
It was Cree’s first instinct as well, but not a good one. “My thoughts as well, though we have to find out what awaits us inside the keep and also find out where inside Wintra is being held before we go charging in or she may be harmed.”
Torr’s glance went to Cathan. “They will let a healer in to help Netty.” He looked to Ardit. “Two would learn faster what goes on in there.”
“It would be better if your wife saw a familiar face, then another stranger’s face,” Cathan said, her eyes going to Dawn.
Cree felt his fury build at the young woman. It rippled through him and he clenched his hands to stop them from reaching out at her. If he denied his wife the opportunity to save his sister, how would it look? It would say to all that he cared not what happened to others, only to his wife and that was not true. But how did he send Dawn into an unfamiliar keep without his protection? How could he refuse with his sister being in such dire circumstances? Dawn would never forgive him. He was sure of one thing. He had much to say to Cathan when this was done.
Cree kept his surprise to himself when Dawn stepped closer to him and gestured that it would be her husband’s decision to make and she would abide by it as should everyone else. But then his wife was no fool, she knew what Cathan was doing and her actions let the woman know she was well aware of it.
Pride that his wife showed such courage and love for him had him showing the same for her. “My wife has the courage of a mighty warrior and she will do anything to help free my sister, and I will not stand in her way.”
Dawn smiled at him and gestured.
Torr interpreted, her gestures giving him hope. “Dawn will see Wintra is kept safe and do what she can to free her.” He reached out and grabbed Dawn, hugged her as he whispered, “Bless you for helping Wintra.”
“Come in and warm yourselves while we discuss plans for the morrow,” Ardit offered, gesturing toward the small cottage.
“We cannot wait another day. We go now,” Torr demanded.
“I would be cautious of rushing off,” Ardit said compassion in her soft voice and concern in her dark eyes. “The warriors that took Netty were a motley bunch that had little patience and would run you through with a sword quick enough.”
A tight grip to Cree’s stomach had him looking to his wife. He was truly sending her into harm’s way by letting her enter Cross Hill keep.
Torr’s brow narrowed with concern as he asked, “How will you explain away Dawn’s inability to speak? You certainly cannot say it is an illness, for you will not be permitted to enter.”
Cathan thought a moment. “I will think of something. Now please, come and do as Ardit said, warm yourself at our fire and we can continue to talk.”
Cree let the two women and Torr go ahead. He remained where he was and took hold of his wife’s arm to see that she remained beside him. He gave Torr a nod when he looked expectantly at him from the open doorway.
Torr returned his nod, knowing Cree wanted a few moments with his wife, and he closed the door.
Cree’s arms slipped past her cloak to close around her waist. “You know I do not want you doing this, though you know I will not stop you. I would ask you to promise me that you will take care and keep yourself and Wintra safe, but your courage will do that for you.”
Dawn kissed his lips lightly, and he took hold of her face. “I know you will not want to leave Wintra there when you find her and no doubt she will want to leave with you. But you must return to me and let me know what you find within so that she suffers no harm when Torr and I rescue her.”
Dawn eased her husband’s hand off her face and nodded, though they both were aware that if Dawn found Wintra in dire circumstances, she would not leave her. She would send word with Cathan to her husband.
A wind suddenly whipped at them, as if in warning, and Dawn shuddered and rested her face on her husband’s chest as her arms circled him.
Cree tucked her closer against him, though he would need to be inside her to be any closer and that was where he wanted to be, making love to her, warming every inch of her, loving her. “I love you, Dawn, never forget that.” He whispered what he had said since first meeting her, “You are mine. You belong to me and always will.”
She eased away from him enough to gesture, letting him know that he belonged to her as well and always would.
“Aye, that I do and though I never thought to belong to anyone ever—I have no argument with belonging to you.” He kissed her quickly, fearing if he lingered he would not deny himself or her from wanting more and now was not the time to be rushing her off into the forest for a fast poke. “Let us join the others, warm ourselves, and finish making plans.”
Dawn eagerly followed beside him, feeling a chill that seemed to soak into her bones, and looking forward to the heat of a fire.
Before he followed his wife into the cottage, Cree called out to his men to make camp.
They drank a warm brew and while they talked, Ardit prepared a thick porridge that she promised would help to keep them warm throughout the cold night.
“I would be grateful if my wife could share your cottage for the night,” Cree said.
Dawn shook her head, seeing there was one bed that barely could hold one person. She did not know how three slept here.
“I will not see you sleep on the snow and in the cold another night. You will stay here,” Cree ordered.
Dawn shook her head again. Unless they were unforeseeably separated, they never slept apart and she would not start doing so now. Though, she would not say so in front of others. She would tell him later when it was time to bed down for the night.
Cathan outlined a plan that sounded reasonable. They would seek entrance under the guise that word had reached them that an illness was fast spreading throughout the area. They would tell them of a potion they had that needed brewing and would help everyone there avoid the sickness. Since Netty did not know how to brew it, they would brew it and administer it to all, then be on their way. This would give them an accurate account of who occupied the keep and where Wintra was located within it.
When they finished, Ardit and Cathan requested Cree’s help in taking a cauldron with the hot porridge out to his men to share. Ardit grabbed a ladle and the two bowls they had and followed Cree and Cathan outside.
Dawn walked over to Torr, sitting on the edge of the bed. She ached for him, knowing the suffering he was going through. She had experienced it herself when Cree had been taken prisoner by a vengeful man and almost beheaded.
Torr raked his hand through his hair, then shook his head. “I do not think I will ever sleep again, always fearing she will do something rash.”
She shook her
head and swiped two fingers against each other repeatedly.
“Why do you believe she will never do it again?”
She patted her stomach, then her chest, and then Torr’s chest.
“She will love our child and me too much to do such a foolish thing again?”
She nodded.
“She did not love me enough to stop her foolish actions this time?”
Dawn crossed fisted hands over her chest, opened her eyes wide, and shivered.
“She was too fearful?”
Dawn nodded again and tapped her stomach.
“The bairn,” Torr said with a nod. “She worried so much that she would be alone when her birthing time came, even though women in the village assured her they would be there to help her. She wanted you there, and I think she would have preferred Elsa there as well.”
Dawn tapped her chest harder and nodded vigorously.
“You will be there for her.” Torr nodded. “I told her you would not fail her that you would arrive in time, but she can be so stubborn.”
She smiled, scowled, and puffed her chest out.
Torr laughed. “Aye, she is like Cree.”
She fisted her hands, holding them up.
Torr nodded again. “Aye, and a fighter as well.”
Dawn tapped her chest and walked her fingers in the air toward him, tapped his chest, and held two fingers together.
“You will bring Wintra to me?”
Dawn nodded.
“All I ask is that you keep her and our bairn safe until I come for them.”
Dawn nodded again.
“We will bring Wintra and the bairn home safely,” Torr said with the confidence that she was used to hearing in her brother. He hugged her. “I will see you both safe. You have my word.”
Ardit entered to make another batch of the hot porridge for the men and Dawn offered to help her.
Torr took his leave, leaving the two women to the task.
The women talked as they worked, Dawn using simple gestures to speak with her and Ardit easily understanding them. She also helped Ardit distribute the brew and it was not until dusk that she realized Torr was not there and neither was her husband.
Chapter Four
Torr waited until dust faded and when darkness finally fell over the land, he crept slowly along the edge of the woods until he came upon the structure behind Cross Hill keep. It was larger than he thought it would be. Grateful there was only a sliver of a moon, he made his way across the barren stretch of land to duck behind the building. He waited and listened for footfalls, hearing none he kept flat against the side and crouched down to sneak a peek around the corner. Not one warrior stood guard, which led Torr to believe they were not expecting any trouble. They thought themselves safe from any kind of attack.
He eased the door open and slipped inside. It was dark, but the distinct odor and a snort or two told him the place housed horses. He moved along slowly, not wanting to upset the animals and for the most part he received only snorts until he approached the last stall. The horse was restless and as soon as he saw the animal he knew why. It was Wintra’s mare—Wintra was in the keep.
With a gentle hand he soothed the familiar mare and whispered reassuring words to her. “I will have you and Wintra out of here soon enough.” He stilled when he heard the door creak open and someone enter and close the door behind him.
Torr slipped beneath the rope that kept the horse contained, soothing the animal with a tender touch so the mare did not alert anyone to his presence, and waited. Since whoever entered carried no light, he assumed the person had snuck in just as he had. But why and was it someone from the keep or had someone followed him here? He shook his head, hoping Dawn had not followed after him. Cree would be furious if she had and he could not blame him. He was worried enough about sending Dawn into the keep tomorrow, though he was relieved Cree had not stopped her from going. At least with Dawn inside, there would be someone there to help Wintra. She would not be alone.
A hoof hit the ground, startling him out of his thoughts, and he got annoyed at himself for not remaining alert to his present problem. He cleared his head, listened, and waited. After hearing nothing for some time, he wondered if he had heard anything at all.
He could not spend the night here and take the chance of getting caught. He had to return to the others and be ready for tomorrow when he would free his wife, and he would let no one—absolutely no one—stop him.
With silent steps, he left the stall and proceeded cautiously toward the door. He kept to the shadows so no one could see him and he listened for the slightest sound that would tell him that he was not alone.
He only had a short distance to go to reach the door, though it seemed much farther away, since any moment he expected someone to jump out at him. Finally, the door was but a step away. He reached his hand out, with relief, to open it and a hand clamped down on his shoulder.
~~~
Dawn’s temper burst and she gestured wildly at the warrior who followed her every move. She had been so busy helping Ardit that she had not realized that he had been trailing her until she stopped and noticed that her husband was nowhere to be seen.
“I am sorry, Lady Dawn, but I do not understand you,” the warrior said. “All I know is that Lord Cree gave me orders to remain by your side and I was not to allow you to leave the camp. He told me to tell you he would not be long and you were not to worry.”
Dawn shook her finger vigorously at the warrior, as if reprimanding him when she truly wished it was her husband she was chastising.
“I see that you are angry, and again I am sorry, but I much rather face your anger, my lady, then face Lord Cree’s wrath for failing to keep you safe in his absence.”
Dawn looked to Ardit who had just finished passing around the last of the porridge to the warriors who devoured it in haste.
Ardit shook her head and shrugged, letting Dawn know that she knew nothing of Cree’s departure.
And what of Torr, she wanted to ask, but knew the warrior would not understand her. It was at a time like this she wished she had a voice and could make herself truly heard. Her hands spoke clearly enough for her most of the time, but times like now when she could barely be understood were the most difficult. Of course, it did not help getting angry, but it was more worry than anger that had fueled her outburst.
She believed she knew where both men went. They went to see if Wintra’s horse was at Cross Hill. It would prove that Wintra was there and once inside Dawn would only need to locate her, make sure she was well, and assure her that she would be free soon. She hoped it would go as smoothly as she thought.
She paced beside the campfire, waiting and praying for her husband and Torr’s safe and quick return, since there would have been no keeping Torr from going with him. Though when Cree did return, there was plenty she would have to say to him.
~~~
“You are not alone in this.”
Torr turned, relieved to hear Cree’s familiar voice, though barely able to see him in the dark. “I know, but this was for me to do. Wintra is in there and tomorrow one way or another I intend to rescue my wife.”
“Agreed,” Cree said. “I do not want my sister stuck in that awful keep one more day. We formed a good plan and it will go well. But I do want to know what brought Cathan here to the barn to hide.”
Torr was quick to turn and peruse the darkness.
“The plan will fail if you do not leave here now,” Cathan said, stepping out of the shadows.
Cree had seen Cathan sneak away from the cottage and had followed her here. He was curious as to why she was sneaking into the barn. Shortly after, Torr had emerged from the woods and had snuck into the barn as well. He knew why Torr was here, to see if Wintra’s mare was here. But why was Cathan here?
Cathan spoke up. “One of the warriors comes out here at night. He seems to prefer the company and smell of the horses rather to what is inside.”
The only way she could know that was if s
he had been watching the structures for several nights, and if she had been—why? Cree intended to find out.
“Then we should take our leave now,” Cree said and stepped aside with Torr to let her depart first, not wanting her at his or Torr’s back. He did not trust her.
Cathan peered beyond the door as she opened it slowly and waved the two men to follow, and they did, though with cautious steps. When they were a short distance into the forest, she stopped and they did as well. She turned and walked to a spot that gave her a good view past the trees to the barn. She pointed to it.
Cree realized she wanted them to watch and they fell in place at either side of her. It was not long before they spotted a man walking toward the barn. He turned back now and again, as if making certain no one followed him, then he slipped inside, closing the door silently behind him. She had been right, which meant Cree had also been right—she had been watching the place. The question remained—why?
~~~
After pacing the snow-covered ground until Dawn wore the snow down to the earth, Ardit convinced her to wait in the cottage and warm herself. Though, her anger was keeping her warm enough. She was annoyed at her husband for having gone off without having said a word to her or was she annoyed because he had snuck off without her? Or had he been worried that she would have snuck off without him? But to leave it to one of his warrior’s to tell her that he was gone and she was not to worry, incensed her all the more.
What did it matter what angered her. He had gone off without a word and she could not stop from worrying. What if he and Torr ran into trouble? She shivered, not wanting to think that way. Cree was cautious when need be and an extremely skilled warrior as was Torr. They both could easily defend themselves, unless of course a troop of warriors descended on them, though that was unlikely. She worried for no reason. They both would return soon and report what they had found and she would speak her piece to her husband.
As time passed, her anger grew stronger than her worry as did her pacing. She had not realized that she was alone in the cottage until she halted her anxious steps for a moment and glanced around and saw that Ardit was gone. When she had left, Dawn could not say and could not blame her for doing so, since she had been far from a pleasant guest.
Highlander's Rescue A Cree & Dawn Short Story (Cree & Dawn Short Stories Book 4) Page 3