Dawn stepped outside to hear Beast’s happy bark drawing closer. The large black dog came bolting around the corner of a nearby cottage, tail wagging and a happy grin on his face when he spotted Dawn.
She squatted down to greet him with a hug and a kiss to the top of his snout and he returned it with a lick to her cheek.
“I knew he sensed you near when he took off barking and wagging his tail,” Cree said after coming around the corner of the same cottage as Beast. He reached down to help her up and kissed her other cheek. “Tell me you prefer my kisses.”
Beast barked as if he understood and sat to lean against Dawn’s leg.
She laughed at her husband’s playfulness and Beast’s reaction. She patted her chest, then Cree’s and reached down and patted Beast’s head.
Cree circled Dawn’s waist with his arm as he looked down at the dog. “She patted me first, remember that.” He turned his eyes on Dawn and his heart felt as if it rammed against his chest so caught by her lovely features. She was not a striking beauty that turned a man’s head, and he was glad of that. He would forever be laying a man low if he looked her way. She had more of a subtle beauty about her. One that took time to notice but once seen stole the heart and he thanked the heavens every day that she was his wife and that she loved him more than he thought anyone possibly could.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, keeping her close.
She pointed to both cottages.
“They are the cottages of ones that have gone missing?” he asked, having planned to have a look at them and should have known that his wife would have thought the same.
Dawn nodded and tapped her chest.
“Two of the women who have gone missing?” he asked, and she nodded again.
“You will tell me later what you found. I still need to finish the tasks I set for myself,” he said, wanting this problem solved so they could be on their way home.
She nodded.
“Dermid will go where you go anytime you step outside the keep,” Cree said.
She pointed to Dermid, then gestured opening a door and pointed to the young warrior again, then gestured closing the door.
“Dermid can wait inside if you promise me you won’t sneak out without him,” Cree said, turning a warning look on his wife.
She crossed her chest with her hand and mouthed, promise.
“Dermid, you can wait inside the keep. Lady Dawn will let you know when she is about to leave.”
“As you say, my lord,” Dermid said with a respectful nod.
“I will see you later,” he said and kissed his wife, a kiss that let her know he was looking forward to later.
She smiled broadly letting him know she felt the same.
Dawn found Tavia alone in the Great Hall, not even a servant lingered about. The young woman quickly got to her feet when Dawn reached the table.
Tavia hurriedly offered an invitation. “Please join me in my solar for a hot brew, Lady Dawn. I am sure you can use one after being out in the cold.”
Whatever it was Tavia wished to discuss with her, she meant it to be private. Dawn rubbed her hands together and nodded, letting her know she could do with a hot brew and was pleased to see a smile of relief on the young woman’s face.
Dawn tapped her chest, pointed to Tavia, and walked her fingers in front of her, then pointed to Dermid.
Tavia appeared confused for a moment, then her eyes went wide. “You want me to let the warrior know where we are going?”
Dawn nodded.
“Of course, my lady, and I will have drink and food brought for him as well.”
Dawn smiled widely and nodded her appreciation.
After entering Tavia’s solar and Dawn taking a seat in one of the two chairs by the fire, Tavia hurried a soft wool blanket over her legs.
“A chill often settles in the stone walls in spite of the hearth’s roaring flames,” Tavia said and sat, tucking a blanket over her lap as well.
A servant entered and left two tankards on the small table between the chairs and left the room without a word, closing the door behind her.
Dawn eagerly reached for the tankard, hugging it so its warmth would chase the chill in her hands. She took a sip, then looked to Tavia and smiled.
“You wonder why I asked to talk with you?” Tavia said, her hands clenched tightly in her lap.
Dawn nodded.
“I do not know if it is proper to ask you, but I worry over it and I have no one to speak with about it.”
Dawn tapped her chest, then her lips, and pointed to Tavia encouraging her to talk.
“It is amazing how comfortable I feel speaking with you when you cannae say a word yet, I still feel you speak to me.”