Newlin looked perplexed. “Nay, there is no need to. A fellow was taken from the kitchen.”
Cree looked ready to throttle the man. “You have not seen if everyone in the keep is safe? What of Tavia and Flora? Have you seen if they are still in their beds?”
Newlin appeared shocked at the thought. “I never gave it thought. Only one goes missing at a time and never from within the keep.” He rushed off, yelling for several warriors to follow him.
Cree shook his head. “Ah dinnae know what happened to Newlin. He was a wise warrior at one time.”
“Part of him died when his wife died.”
Cree and Dawn turned to face Auda.
“They were inseparable, and I do believe Newlin does not know how to live without her. And now with Tavia leaving and Flora, who he does not understand at all, to look after, it has all been too much for him.”
That explained why Newlin was not the man Cree remembered him to be. He felt for Newlin’s loss and better understood why he had accumulated so many problems… heartache could truly damage a man. He was now more determined than ever to see that he left Newlin much better off than when he arrived.
“Is my help required in any way?” Auda asked. “I saw far too many warriors rushing around the outside of the keep and worried something was afoot, so I came to see if I could be of help.”
“Another clan member has gone missing,” Cree said.
“Who?” Auda asked anxiously.
Cree realized he did not know who, only that the person had gone missing from the kitchen. He summoned Dermid, standing nearby, with a snap of his hand. “Do you know who has gone missing from the kitchen?”
“Hume, my lord,” Dermid said and explained further. “He is the one who kept Lady Dawn from moving the bench when we were in the kitchen.”
Dawn’s face lit with concern.
“Oh dear,” Auda said. “Hume is such a meek and kind young man. He would not hurt a soul.” She shook her head. “I should go see how Tavia is. She thought fondly of Hume.”
Dawn pointed to the doorway that led to the archway that led to the kitchen as Auda hurried off.
Cree nodded. “I was thinking the same. We need to go to the kitchen.”
Cree did not have to command Dermid to follow, he knew his orders were to remain close to Dawn, especially in a situation like this. Everyone in the kitchen halted what they were doing when Cree entered with his wife.
Beast did not waste a minute running out the door that suddenly opened, a servant entering but stopping in shock upon seeing Cree.
“Who can tell me what happened to Hume?” Cree asked and watched as all eyes looked to a woman, short in height and thick in width.
She chewed nervously at her bottom lip as she hugged her hands.
“Your name,” Cree demanded.
“Cora, my lord,” she said with a quiver to her voice.
“Tell me what happened,” Cree ordered.
“Hume resides here in the room off the kitchen.” Cora nodded at a partially open door near to the archway. “He tends the fire we keep going so no meals are delayed. He gets the bread started in the morning. I can smell it cooking before I reach the door. There was no scent of it this morning. I thought maybe Hume slept late,” —she gnawed at her lip again— “though he has never done so. I was surprised to find the kitchen empty and even more surprised to find Hume was not in his room. I alerted the sentinels nearby and they began a search.”
Cree saw that Dawn’s eyes searched the room. He did not have to ask her what she was thinking, for he was certain his own thoughts mirrored hers.
“There was nothing out of place here when you arrived?” Cree asked.
Cora shook her head. “Nothing, my lord.”
Beast came in then, pushing the door the rest of the way open with his large head. He was covered with snow and once inside, he shook his big body sending the snow flying everywhere.
Dawn shook her head and pointed to the open arch. He followed her silent command without question, trotting out of the room, ready for his meal that would be waiting for him by the hearth.
“Would there be any reason for Hume to leave here last night?” Cree asked.
“He is not permitted to leave,” Cora said. “He must tend the fire. If for some reason he needed to leave, he would have asked one of us to stay until his return. Besides, by the time we finish the evening meal and clean up we want nothing more than to seek our beds.”
“And you arrive here the same time each morning?” Cree asked.
“Nay, my lord,” Cora said.
When she did not continue, Cree ordered, “Explain.”