She combed the tangles out of her hair with a worn bone comb and then plaited it and let the braid fall down her back. Then she went in search of something to eat. She was disappointed when she found that no food had been left for her on the table and laughed silently. Had she gotten spoiled with having food brought to her? She certainly was capable of cooking for herself. It was just that right now, she was so hungry she wished that she didn’t have to wait to eat.
With a quick glance at her cloak, she thought about walking to the kitchen and getting something that was already prepared. She went to grab her cloak and stopped suddenly recalling that Gerwan had been due to arrive and not knowing how long she had slept meant that his troop could be arriving this very moment. And she had no desire to watch his entrance into a village that no longer belonged to him.
A knock sounded and the door opened and in came Dorrie with a basket of food. Dawn smiled brightly and ushered her in with an eager wave.
“We were ordered to let you sleep, but being it’s close to noon Flanna insisted food be brought to you.” Dorrie sat the basket on the table and began taking things out.
Dawn didn’t wait. She reached for a piece of bread and began munching on it, her eyes growing wide with each delicious item Dorrie placed on the table. When she finished Dawn handed her a tankard of hot cider.
Dorrie took it with a smile and sat. “I can’t stay long. The kitchen is busy. The Gerwan party will be here any moment and though none wish to greet him, all have agreed that it would be a poor reflection on Cree if they didn’t.”
Dawn smiled and nodded agreeing with the villagers and happy to know that they thought highly of Cree and chose to show respect for him.
Dorrie leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “Are you truly Kirk McClusky’s bastard daughter?”
Dawn shrugged, for what proof was there?
“The villagers continue to worry that there will be a battle over this.”
Dawn shook her head and tapped her chest, then waved her hand back and forth.
Dorrie smiled. “You won’t let that happen.”
Dawn nodded.
“I told everyone that. I told them that you would do what was best for the village just as you did when Colum sent you to tend Cree. You are an unselfish soul and your choice would be for the good of all or even one person.” She smiled. “Just as you protected me, you would protect others.” She jumped up then. “I must go or Turbett will get upset. He is so much more than he appears. He gives extra food to his workers and he teaches them. I have learned so much about food from him that when it came time for my punishment to end I asked to stay on and Turbett was pleased to have me. Another thing I have you to thank for.” Dorrie gave Dawn a quick hug and left the cottage.
Dawn ate with a cluttered mind. She certainly didn’t think of herself as a selfless soul. She had done what she had to do to survive just like many of the villagers. Cree’s capture of the village had heralded in a prosperous time for all and no one wanted to see that change. Life was good and everyone wanted it to remain that way.
Another knock sounded and in walked Kirk. “I came to see how you were feeling.”
Panic rose in Dawn. How did he know she had been ill this morning?
“Your wound does not cause you too much pain I hope,” he said as he approached the table.
Dawn smiled having again forgotten about her wound and waved for him to join her. He hurried to do so. She shook her head, pointing to her side that truly did not cause her as much discomfit as everyone assumed.
“I am glad you are feeling well.”
Dawn pointed to the food and her mouth.
“You are hungry.”
She nodded and handed him a piece of bread.
He shook his head. “I have eaten, though my appetite is not what it should be. I worry about you and your mother. I do not want to see her suffer after all these years and I do not want any harm to befall you.”
Dawn wondered what Ann Gerwan would do when she laid eyes on Kirk after all this time. And what would she do when she learned of Dawn? Would she want to meet her or would she want nothing to do with her? But more importantly what did she herself want from her true mother?
~~~
“The King has sent a cleric?” Lucerne all but screamed at Cree when she learned the news. “But we are not to wed for at least a month’s time yet. Does he expect us to wed sooner?”