“Please, my lady, please do not leave me here with the demon,” Stuart pleaded, hurrying from where he sat scrunched in a corner to grip the metal bar door as soon as he spotted Dawn.
“You are in separate cells,” Tavia pointed out bravely trying to ignore the stench.
“She is a demon. She can do as she will,” Stuart pleaded, his fear palpable.
“Then why is she still a prisoner here?” Flora asked. “If she was a demon, she could take her leave anytime she pleased.”
Stuart had no response, but he kept his pleading eyes on Dawn.
Dawn gestured to the man, tapping her lips, then holding her hand high next to her, showing someone of height.
Stuart appeared confused.
“Lady Dawn is telling you she will speak to her husband on your behalf,” Flora said.
Stuart dropped his brow against the bars with relief. “Thank you, my lady, thank you.”
“You have no voice?” a gentle voice asked.
The women turned to the cell one over from Stuart, the supposed demon stood back away from the bars staring at Dawn.
“Be careful, she does not trick you, my lady. You should not be down here. You should return to Lord Cree,” Stuart warned.
Flora shook her head at Stuart. “So, you think it wise to feed the demon more information she may use to her advantage?”
The man gasped in realization.
“Be wise and keep your tongue in your mouth,” Flora advised.
The woman stepped closer to the metal bars. “Your throat needs healing. You need the earth nut in the heather. It will help greatly.” Her intense dark eyes turned back to Dawn. “Your voice is no more?”
Dawn nodded and held her arm cradled and rocked it as if rocking a bairn.
“Since birth you have not been able to talk, not a sound?” the woman asked.
Dawn nodded.
By the questions the woman asked, Flora surmised… “You are a healer.”
“Aye, I am a healer from a long history of wise healers. I am Fia,” the woman said, introducing herself. “I mean no one harm. I could never intentionally harm anyone. It would go against my beliefs.”
“You killed a man,” Tavia said, wondering if it was truth or lies the woman spoke.
Fia shook her head. “Nay, I did not kill that man you found in the woods.” Her eyes went wide and to the stairs. “They come for me.”
Dawn’s annoyance was with herself not her husband. She should have never agreed so easily to leave with Tavia and Flora. It had left her husband suspicious.
To Dawn’s surprise Fia hurried to the bars, her arm stretching out to rest her hand on Dawn’s rounded stomach. Dawn was fascinated by the way the woman remained still and focused almost as if she was hearing the bairn inside Dawn.
“Do not linger long here. Your son is eager to be born, he arrives early,” Fia whispered so no one but Dawn would hear.
“Get your hand off my wife,” Cree warn with a shout.
Fia wisely stepped back away from the bars. “I mean no harm.”
Dawn turned and went to her husband before he could reach the cell and saw that Newlin and Torin remained standing on the steps.
“I told you not to go to the dungeon again,” Cree reprimanded, though could not keep the relief he felt from showing after seeing his wife had come to no harm.
Dawn gestured casually.
“You think to blame this on me, that I gave you no choice?” Cree asked. He should have known better than to think she might be contrite. He shook his head when she nodded, confirming that was exactly what she meant. “You will go wait in the Great Hall for me.”
Dawn took a stubborn stance, folding her arms across her chest and shook her head.
Cree brought his face close to his wife’s. “Do not challenge me on this, Dawn!”
“Lord Cree is right, Lady Dawn,” Tavia said, a nervous tremor to her voice. “It is cold and dank down here. It is not good for you and the bairn.”
“I am glad to see that Lord Bhric’s wife knows her place, though you should have advised Lady Dawn against her foolish plan to come down here and done something to prevent it,” Torin admonished.
Cree went to defend the petite woman knowing his wife could not be deterred when she set her mind to something, but two taps to his arm was a nay from his wife and he held his tongue. He would ask her later why.
“My lady,” Fia called out as Dawn went to leave. “I did not cut the heart out of that man.”
CHAPTER 16
Cree glared at the woman in the cell. What ill-will had she placed on Dawn and their unborn bairn by touching her? He had Newlin unlock the cell and he entered it without fear. He went straight to the woman. She backed up with hasty steps until she was flat against the wall and Cree’s arm shot out, his hand grabbing her by the throat and pinning her hard against the damp, stone wall.