Dorrie smiled as she unloaded the basket full of food. “You have become much admired by the villagers. They believe you bring good luck to them, though they also fear that war will be waged in your honor. I tell them it will never come to that, that you would never permit it and would do what must be done to keep peace and the village protected just as you did when Cree arrived here.” She grabbed the breakfast basket as she went to leave. “One thing everyone agrees on is that you are a brave soul. You have more courage than the fiercest warrior, for you have commanded the devil.”
Dorrie disappeared out the door and into Elwin’s arms.
Dawn’s status in the village certainly had changed and continued to change, not that she minded. Going from mostly being ignored to being acknowledged and now praised was nice, though she could have done without the praise. She had done what she had to do; she had no choice, though she supposed it did take courage to do things that you feared or didn’t want to do. But it wasn’t until later that you realized that you had courage after all.
The day turned quiet and as night settled in, Dawn began to miss Cree more and more. It was rare that he didn’t spend the night with her. Missing him, she crawled into bed earlier that night not bothering to wait for supper to be delivered. If she woke later she could eat. She found the bed much too empty. She tried reassuring herself that he would return in a day or two and soon be back in her bed. But all the reassuring in the world didn’t help chase the loneliness or fill the empty spot beside her or ease the ache in her heart.
Hours passed with her twisting so much that she became entangled in the blankets. Finally, exhaustion claimed her and her eyes drifted shut. Hours, though perhaps it had been minutes, Dawn was so disoriented she couldn’t be sure how much time had passed. She had to focus a moment to see what had jostled her from her sleep. She bolted up when she heard pounding at her door and a voice shouting her name.
She hurried into a skirt, blouse, and boots and grabbed her fur-lined cloak from the peg as she rushed to open the front door.
Elwin stood there, his face solemn. “A messenger just arrived. There’s been an attack on Cree and the Gerwan troop.”
Dawn felt as if her heart slammed against her chest.
“The news sounds bad, though we can’t be sure if anyone has been killed or injured. Sloan gathers men now to ride.”
“Go with them, I will see that Dawn is kept safe,” Torr said stepping out of the night shadows. “I give you my word. I’ll see no harm comes to her.”
Dawn could see how badly Elwin wanted to join the warriors who would go to help Cree. And so she also urged him to go, stepping out of the cottage to shoo him away with her hands and then pointing to Torr and nodding that she would be fine. With only a bit more of coaxing Elwin left, though not before telling Torr that he would cut his heart out if anything happened to Dawn.
“We can watch them leave if you’d like,” Torr offered.
Dawn nodded and Torr shut the cottage door before they turned and walked to the keep. Torches flickered in the dark night as the warriors mounted their horses. Sloan vaulted down the keep steps and hurried to his horse waiting in the lead.
He stopped before mounting when he caught sight of Dawn and Torr and walked over to them. “If you let anything happen to her Cree will kill you and it won’t be a slow death.”
“I understand,” Torr said, “and I’ve already given my word that I’ll see that no harm comes to her. Now go and help your fearless lord.”
Dawn grabbed Sloan’s arm before he could leave and hoping he’d understand, slowly gestured for him to bring Cree home safe and unharmed.
Sloan patted her arm. “Cree is a heartless soul; he can’t die.”
Tears sprang to Dawn’s eyes as she watched Sloan hurry off and mount his horse. His remark was meant to ease her concerns but it only made her worry more. Cree was no heartless soul. He had a generous and loving heart that was as silent as her voice.
Soon the troop disappeared into the night and when she turned to return to her cottage Kirk was standing there.
“I am so sorry we have to do this, Dawn, but I have no choice. I know that you’re my daughter and I must protect you.”
Dawn didn’t have a chance to react. Torr scooped her up, tossed her over his shoulder and hurried off into the night.