Dawn made two gestures and Lila said, “Goddard and Dorrie, my lord.”
Cree turned to Sloan and without a word exchanged between them, Sloan nodded and left the room.
“The healer will examine your bruises now, Dawn,” Cree said then turned to Lila. “You are no longer needed. You will leave.”
Lila bowed and turned to leave but Dawn stopped her, gave her a hug and gestured something to her. Lila smiled and hurried out of the room.
Elsa spent a few minutes looking Dawn over and told Cree that it appeared Dawn was well and that the bruises would heal with time. She then left, quietly closing the door behind her.
“Rest,” he said to Dawn and handed her the tankard of cider kept warm by the fire. “And do not leave this room until I give you permission.”
She nodded and he walked out of the room in no rush and yet Dawn thought she sensed his need to hurry off.
Dawn sat staring at the fire her thoughts on Cree. How could he be angry and demanding and yet at the same time have a tender touch. At least that was how his arm had felt around her waist tender and… possessive. But then she was his property and he had warned her that he protected what belonged to him.
She sighed though it could not be heard, only felt deep down inside her. She took a drink of cider, rested the tankard on the small bench and let herself relax in the chair. The quiet and warmth lolled her, as did the sense of safety and having had a troubled sleep last night, her body surrendered to the peaceful quiet and she drifted off into a contented slumber.
~~~
Cree glared at the shivering woman, though did not feel an ounce of sorrow for her.
“Please, my lord, I beg you, I did nothing wrong, I only took a message to the dumb one’s cottage,” Dorrie pleaded.
Cree pushed away from the dais he leaned against and approached her. “Dawn. Her name is Dawn.”
“I meant Dawn no harm, I but delivered the message,” she said her eyes downcast.
“Who gave you the message?” he asked stopping only inches away from her.
“One of Colum’s warriors who pledged allegiance to you after the attack, my lord.”
“You know his name?”
She shook her head. “No, my lord.”
“That’s odd, I hear you know all of Colum’s warriors.”
Dorrie’s cheeks flamed red.
“I don’t give second chances, Dorrie,” he warned.
“I believe it was Seth, my lord,” she said quickly.
“It is good that you recalled his name,” he said, though he had already known it. Sloan had taken stock of all the Colum’s warriors who had remained after the attack and there was one missing… Seth. He had his men searching for him now.
“I am sorry, my lord,” Dorrie apologized again. “I truly meant no harm.”
Cree doubted that very much. “Whether you meant it or not you were the cause of one of your own being harmed and that cannot go unpunished.”
Dorrie fell to her knees in front of him, her head bowed, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Please, please, my lord, I am sorry, so very sorry,” she pleaded through sobs.
“I’m sure you are and will be even more so when you are made to suffer for your misdeed.”
Dorrie’s sobs stopped and she raised a stark white face to him.
Cree turned to Sloan. “Put her in the stocks until I say otherwise.”
“No, no please, my lord, I meant no harm,” Dorrie begged and continued to do so as two warriors dragged her away.
Sloan poured them each a tankard of ale and handed one to Cree as he rounded the dais and sat.
“You know what you need to do if you want the silent one protected,” Sloan said.
“Dawn,” Cree snapped. “Her name is Dawn.”
“You must make Dawn your mistress, then no one will dare do her harm.”
“Mistresses can be a troubling lot,” Cree said after a swallow of ale.
Sloan raised his tankard. “They can also prove beneficial. But we’re not talking about whether she would truly be your mistress or not. As long as others believe that she is then it is enough to keep her safe.”
“So I give her the title without the benefits?”
“Are there benefits in bedding a woman without a voice?”
“Watch what you say about her. She did right by me while I was held prisoner here.”
Sloan nodded. “True enough and I must admit that I respect and admire her.”
Cree quirked a brow.
“She has strength and courage for one who cannot speak up for herself, though from the way her friend understood her I’d say she communicates more clearly than some who have voices. She also protected herself admirably against her attacker and did not even seek help from anyone after the deed was done. “
“I doubt many would have helped her, the fools that they are.”