“If you harmed my wife and bairn, I will make you suffer horribly before I take your life,” he threatened.
Fia did not try to fight him. It would prove useless. The only weapon she had was the truth. “I brought no harm to your wife or bairn,” she struggled to say.
Cree eased his grip on her. “Your tongue better be truthful, or you will suffer endless pain.”
“I have no need to lie to you.”
Cree did not let go of her. “You say you did not cut out the man’s heart.”
“I speak the truth. I came upon him that way, the heart already cut out,” she said, trying to keep her fear at bay, but it was difficult. While her knowledge was her greatest asset it was also her greatest enemy. The ignorant and foolish would strike out at her when things could not be explained to their satisfaction. Everything was blamed on the devil and his minions. And, of course, she was blamed for being one of them. No one ever realized that evil lived in the heart of many men and even women. They needed no devil to blame it on.
“Yet you took the heart,” Cree accused.
“Aye, I did, but out of curiosity,” she admitted.
“You are depraved,” Newlin said with disgust.
“The heart would have been eaten and probably already has by the animals in the forest. I took it so I could learn more about the inner workings of the body,” she explained.
“Devil’s work,” Newlin spat. “Where are the people you took and ate?”
“I took no one and I ate no one, but when a man is found dead with his heart cut out, then you know there is evil in the forest,” she said.
“YOU!” Newlin shouted. “And you will burn for it.”
Fia kept her courage strong. How many of those before her had suffered as she now did? How many had lost their lives to ignorance? It was only a matter of time before it happened to her. No matter how much she explained, she would not be believed and yet she had to try. She had to try and make people see reason.
“I have done nothing wrong. I do not harm, I heal,” she said.
“Have you come across anyone in the forest?” Cree asked.
“Nay,” she said. “I keep to myself as much as possible, for reasons such as this, being falsely accused.”
Cree caught a flash of something in her eyes when she denied seeing anyone. Was she hiding something? There was much more to learn from her, but he did not think it would be easy to find out or discover why. Could she truly be a demon, a cohort of the devil? Surely if she was, she could easily defend herself against him, but she had not. Did that prove her innocence? Or was she bidding her time for the right moment to strike?
“Come away from her before she harms you,” Newlin said, waving his hand for Cree to hurry.
“Newlin is right, Lord Cree,” Torin said. “Until we know more, we should keep our distance from her.”
“Lord Cree,” Stuart called out. “I beg you to let me out of here. Please do not let the demon get me. Put me back in the stocks if you wish, but please do not leave me here with this creature.”
Cree went to release her, and her hand clamped onto his wrist, the strength of it shocking him.
“Evil lurks in the forest, but that evil is not me. Tread carefully,” she warned, keeping her words for him alone.
“I have known evil, and I have been evil. I know well the devil, and he fears me. You will too if I find out differently from what you claim,” Cree warned, and her hand fell off his wrist.
He exited the cell and Newlin quickly locked it, backing away as soon as he did.
“We talk again tomorrow,” Cree said without looking at the woman. “Newlin release Stuart.”
“To the stocks, my lord?” Newlin asked.
“Nay, to the kitchen so he can resume his work,” Cree said and heard Stuart yell out how grateful he was as he climbed the stairs.
Torin followed quickly behind him. “Why do you not question her more?”
Cree waited until he reached the top step, then stopped and turned to Torin, looking down on him. “A night in a dark, damp dungeon, no food or drink to be had, and wondering what the next day will bring can loosen a tight tongue.”
“Torture gets a quicker result.”
“But not always a true one, most times the prisoner will tell you whatever you want to hear to stop the pain. How then do their lies help you?” Cree asked and didn’t wait for a response, he walked off.
Torin kept pace with him. “But what of those missing?”
Cree stopped abruptly and turned, Torin catching himself before he slammed into Cree. “It is difficult for you with me in command, isn’t it?”