That night as he lay wrapped around Dawn, her body relaxed in his arms he had the sudden realization that he would miss sleeping with her. She was not a fitful sleeper, pushing away from him during the night or jabbing him with flailing limbs. She remained tucked against him as if she was content being in his arms. And he had slept more peaceably than he ever had.
He tucked Dawn closer to him, resting his leg over hers and she didn’t protest; she snuggled contentedly against him.
He had to be done with this. There was too much at stake. This was the last time Dawn would ever lay in his arms; he would make sure of it.
Chapter Eleven
Dawn left Cree the next morning not sure what to think. All he had said to her was ‘go’ nothing more. It had sounded so final, as if he never wanted to lay eyes on her again. She didn’t have long to waste her thoughts on it since the guard John poked her in the back with a long stick urging her to the keep.
The sneer he wore told her all she needed to know and the stares, snickers, and whispers from the villagers who watched confirmed that news had spread that Cree had had his way with her.
Colum was waiting for her in the Great Hall, Goddard sat to his right, and those warriors he trusted the most occupied the other chairs on the dais.
“She stinks of rutting,” John announced proudly, as if it had been his doing.
Colum and his men laughed.
“Finally, you do something right,” Colum chortled. “Let us hope he left his seed in you and you bear him a voiceless son. It would be a fitting legacy for him to leave behind.”
Her legs went weak at his remark. Had that been why Cree had not entered her? He didn’t dare take the chance of leaving her with child? She admonished herself for letting the thought upset her. She should be glad such a monster did not leave his seed in her.
He was no monster.
Did she truly believe that? If he was a monster he would not have made certain she carried his scent. If he was a monster he would not have covered her naked body with his to keep from prying eyes. If he was a monster he would have taken her with no thought or care and he hadn’t. Cree was no monster. He couldn’t be… he cared.
“Now tell me you have learned something and you will have served me well,” Colum said.
Dawn was not foolish enough to believe that the information Cree had given her was accurate, she did not care. Colum wanted something and so she would give it to him. She quickly pointed to the bread on the table.
Colum shook his head.
She pointed to herself and back at the bread.
“You’ve hungry?”
She shook her head.
“Make yourself understood,” Colum shouted.
She pointed to the bread again and motioned as if she were tearing it apart.
Colum waved his hand at her. “Show me.”
Dawn quickly approached the table and just as quickly tore several pieces off the bread. She lined them up, pointed to them, and then pointed at all the warriors in the room.
“Warriors,” Goddard said understanding. “The pieces represent warriors. Cree’s warriors?”
Dawn nodded and then moved half of the pieces away crumpling them in her hand.
“He has fewer warriors than we think,” Colum said with a broad grin.
“Why would Cree tell her such a thing?” Goddard asked suspiciously and Dawn’s heart nearly stopped from fear.
“Why else?” Colum laughed. “He thinks her dumb like most, incapable of communicating.”
Goddard nodded agreeing.
“You’ve done well,” Colum said. “Now go get more food and get back to him and find out more.”
Dawn didn’t hesitate; she hurried out of the room to the kitchen. All movement and sound stopped as soon as she entered.
“Get back to your chores or I’ll see the lazy lot of you punished,” Flanna threatened and everyone did as she said. She then walked with Dawn outside.
There was a nip in the air. Soon the last of the harvest would be picked, the ground turned for winter, which would be upon them soon enough. Why Dawn should be thinking on mundane things she did not know. Life was no longer mundane; life was vastly different and she doubted it would ever be the same.
“Are you all right?” Flanna asked.
Dawn nodded and her hands moved letting Flanna know that she needed more food. She also wanted to let Flanna know that she wanted to wash up but thankfully the woman was perceptive.
“You’ll want to wash up before returning to him.”
Dawn smiled and tapped her chest. Those familiar with her gestures knew it meant she was grateful.
Flanna grabbed her hand. “Are you sure you’re all right? I saw—” Her eyes filled with tears, though she didn’t let one fall. “He’s powerfully built. Are you sure he didn’t hurt you?”