“Where is that tenacity of yours that is so much like your brother’s?” Old Mary asked. “You would surrender without a fight for the man you love? Cree would move heaven and hell for Dawn, and Torr would do the same for you, which, again I remind you, can place him in a seriously dangerous situation. So do you fight or surrender?”
Wintra threw her shoulders back as if shrugging off the weight that had rested there. “You’re right. It is time to stop feeling sorry for myself and fight for what is not only mine, but what I want.”
Old Mary grinned and rubbed her hands together. “Good. And while you do we must find a way to keep you and Torr apart, yet together.”
Dawn grinned, tapped her temple, and then her chest.
“You have a plan?” Wintra asked excited. “Tell us.”
~~~
Cree had not been surprised to see that Dawn had disappeared shortly after Wintra. He knew she would go to comfort Wintra and he was relieved that she did. He had no choice but to remain here and talk with Kellmara. There was much to find out from him and to find out if he truly cared about Wintra or if this was some type of ploy to use Wintra to his advantage. He had seen it too often with the nobles. Daughters were given away, their fate sealed, in exchange for combining clans and land or to appease an enemy. And he could only imagine the ones that had suffered at the hands of unscrupulous men. If he had a daughter, he would make certain she suffered no such fate. And he would make certain that Wintra did not as well. She loved Torr and he loved her, and he would make certain that the two remained together—no matter what it took.
“You will order your sister to return here so that I may speak with her,” Kellmara demanded of Cree.
“He has no say over Wintra,” Torr said. “She is my wife and obeys me.”
Kellmara’s nostrils flared and his eyes narrowed. “Not for long.”
“So say you, but until that is determined Wintra is still my wife and obeys me.”
“Need I remind you to stay away from her by order of the King?” Kellmara spat.
Torr gave a cursory glance around the Great Hall. “Where is the King’s emissary? Let me hear it from his lips.”
“He is at a different camp and will be here in a day or two.”
“Until I hear it directly from the King’s man, I will obey no such order.”
“I would think twice about that,” Kellmara warned.
“And I would think twice about taking my wife away from me.”
“Are you threatening me?” Kellmara said, taking a step toward Torr, his men quickly following.
“Enough,” Cree shouted. “Torr has every right to threaten you. How dare you walk into my home and demand that I turn my sister over to you without proof of anything.”
“Watch what you say, Cree, I am a powerful man and not afraid of you.”
“You should be,” Cree warned, “for you may be powerful, but I am brutal and I have no doubt that the King warned you of that and is the reason why you arrived with a large contingent and have more men waiting in other camps. But be aware of one thing, one of my men are equal to two of yours. They will decimate your warriors, and I personally will see that you never bother my sister ever again.”
“Is that a threat?” Kellmara asked fury sparking in his blue eyes.
“It is a promise if you do not conduct yourself in a more cordial manner.”
Kellmara was ready to retaliate when he caught movement to the side and he turned to see Cree’s warriors lining the side wall two deep. He swerved around to take in the Great Hall and saw that it was filled with Cree’s warriors. His men saw the same, their eyes wide with surprise. Kellmara could not believe that that many warriors had entered the room without him or his men hearing or seeing them. And Cree had been right about the King warning him. What Cree did not know was that the King told him he was on his own when he stepped on Cree’s land. He would offer Kellmara no help. Now he understood why.
“I suggest we eat and drink and discuss this matter more calmly,” Cree said. “Your men must be hungry, as are mine.”
Kellmara almost laughed at the way Cree discreetly let him know that his warriors would easily devour the few men that protected him. “That is hospitable of you, Cree.”
Though tempers continued to remain high, caution prevailed and the three men took seats at the dais while the warriors in the Great Hall retreated to the tables. Once full, the remaining warriors stood along the walls until a warrior who finished his meal exchanged places with one standing.