That was when Lila caught sight of her and Dawn quickly shook her head in warning, knowing her friend would rush to her aid and suffer for it. Paul realized the same and hastily hurried to his wife’s side, wrapping his arm around her and holding her tight.
The fearful expression on Lila’s face and tears pooling in her eyes sent a chill through Dawn. And as she was dragged and pulled up the steps to the keep she knew her situation was more direr than she had imagined, for John was taking her through the front doors of the keep.
The Great Hall turned silent as soon as John tossed her at Colum’s feet. Dawn didn’t get up or raise her head. She kept it down fearful of what she would see in Colum’s eyes.
“He threw her out he did,” John said, “and ordered her not to return until tonight.”
“Get up,” Colum screamed.
Dawn scrambled to her feet and the fury she saw in his eyes ran her blood cold. Goddard stood beside Colum in front of the dais grinning. All were aware that the man enjoyed inflicting pain and he was anticipating what Colum would do to her or if she was lucky what he would order Goddard to do to her.
Colum continued screaming. “What did you do?”
“Perhaps it’s what she didn’t do,” Goddard suggested.
Colum’s face contorted in rage and his hand came down hard across Dawn’s cheek. She stumbled and Goddard grabbed her before she could fall. His hand closed like a band of steel around her arm that already ached from John’s abuse. She fought against the pain that radiated through her arm and feared it was only the beginning of her suffering.
Spittle flew everywhere as Colum continued his tirade. “You were given specific orders. You were to give him whatever he wanted. Are you too stupid to understand that? Did you refuse to rut with him?”
“Maybe she doesn’t know how?” Goddard said.
“Is that it?” Colum yelled in her face spittle hitting her cheeks and eye. “Do I need to have someone teach you?”
“I can do it right now, right here,” Goddard said with a smile that disgusted Dawn.
She had to think fast. She could not let Goddard take her like an animal in front of everyone. She could not bear the thought of such humiliation or the consequences. Would other warriors feel that she was now free territory for them to enjoy and toss aside?
The thought turned her stomach and she shook her head and tapped her chest to get Colum’s attention.
“You better tell me something good, lass, or I’ll let Goddard take you until you beg him to stop.” Colum leaned in close to her. “He likes to play rough with his women.”
“It’s the only way,” Goddard said proudly. “You give a woman a good rough tumble that she never forgets and she obeys you quick enough the next time. I’ll have the dumb one obeying Cree’s every touch in no time.”
Instinct had Dawn wanting to cringe, but instead she bravely stood her ground. Though with her legs trembling so badly, she had no idea how she remained standing.
She didn’t know where the thought came from but she thanked the heavens for it. She eased her arm free and frantically patted her chest and then quickly demonstrated shoveling food into her mouth. Then she stopped and shook her head making a sour expression and threw her hands up in the air repeatedly.
Colum scratched his head. “What are you trying to say?”
Dawn tried again. She held her wrists together trying to show that she spoke of Cree and went through the process again.
“I don’t understand the idiot,” Cree yelled. “Go get her friend so that she can explain her senseless ranting.”
Dawn panicked. She didn’t want Lila involved at all. Before John could do as Colum bid, she ran to the table grabbed a piece of meat, pretended to chew and then spit it out and made a face that showed disgust.
“Cree didn’t like the food,” John said.
“Is that it?” Colum asked without yelling. “He didn’t like the food so he tossed you out?”
She nodded vigorously and her stomach turned in relief. That was until Colum spoke.
“Who prepared the food for him?” Colum asked with anger.
Dawn couldn’t let Flanna take the blame for this so she was quick to tap her chest. She wasn’t prepared for the slap Colum delivered to the same cheek as before and she stumbled to her knees.
He grabbed her by the hair and yanked her up. “You will spend the afternoon preparing Cree a decent meal and tonight you will rut with him and tomorrow… you better have information for me or I’ll hand you over to Goddard to enjoy.”
She could have sworn that Goddard licked his lips.
Colum gave her a hard shove. “Go and prepare.”