Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 104340 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104340 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Panic rose to tighten Dawn’s throat and she nodded and hurried off. Colum looked for news already and she had none to give him. Whatever was she to do?
Dawn hurried around to the back of the keep to the kitchen, since it was the only way she was allowed to enter the Great Hall. Colum would fly into a rage if she dared enter the hall through the front of the keep.
Flanna caught her eye as she entered and shifted her eyes to the left as if directing Dawn’s glance behind her toward the archway that lead to the narrow hall that connected to the Great Hall.
Dawn followed her glance and there stood Goddard. He grinned when their eyes met and motioned her to him.
“Colum waits to speak to you,” he said.
She dropped her basket and followed him through the narrow passageway and into the Great Hall. Colum sat in the chair at the dais, his grin growing as she approached.
“The scent of him best be on her,” Colum said as she got close.
Goddard gave a hard sniff and snorted. “His stench is heavy on her.”
Colum waved her closer and Dawn took cautious steps forward while Goddard walked around her and took a seat at the dais.
“What have you learned?” Colum demanded.
Dawn clenched her hands to keep them from trembling and tried desperately to think of something, anything that might appease him.
It came in a flash to her and she made an angry face, tapped her chest and pressed a finger to her lips.
Colum stared at her a minute and then grinned. “Cree was angry because you cannot speak.”
She nodded, relief running through her.
“Good. This is good,” Colum said rubbing his hands together and then stopped and shoved a finger at her. “Now get me information.”
Dawn wasn’t sure what information he wanted and her expression showed her confusion.
“Not only mute but an idiot,” Colum grumbled and then shouted at her. “Find out why he was in the area where we captured him and if his men are nearby. I want to know his plans. His kind always has plans. Now go and get me answers.”
Dawn bobbed her head, turned, and hurried out of the hall.
Flanna was quick to jump at her when she entered the kitchen. “You’re a sight and need cleaning you do.” With that she took firm hold of Dawn’s arm and rushed her out, though not before shouting a warning to her staff that they better keep working in her absence or they’d be hell to pay for their laziness.
Dawn felt as gray and dreary as the overcast sky. She didn’t object as Flanna hurried her along a footpath that led to her cottage a few feet away. Flanna gave her a shove inside and while this was her first time ever in Flanna’s home she didn’t care to take note of anything. She was too tired and distraught.
“Are you all right?” Flanna asked.
Dawn was still stunned by the woman’s sudden concern, though perhaps it was as she had thought. They were two kindred spirits that no men wanted.
Dawn pretended to yawn.
“You’re tired. Didn’t the devil let you sleep at all?”
The idea that the villagers would now believe Cree had ravished her upset her and she was about to confide the truth to Flanna when she thought better of it. It was necessary that everyone assume what Colum already believed. She could not take the chance of anyone discovering the truth.
Dawn shook her head, for the devil hadn’t let her sleep but not for the reason Flanna thought.
“You need to get yourself washed and some good food into you. I have fresh warm bread that just finished baking, bramble jelly and oatmeal porridge. I’ll arrange a tub of hot water for you right here in front of the fire and then you can eat.”
Dawn touched the woman’s arm and Flanna stilled. She rubbed a hand over her face and chest to demonstrate washing and nodded and then she motioned shoveling food into her mouth and shook her head.
“You can wash here, but you must eat with the devil,” Flanna said understanding.
Dawn nodded and yawned.
“Fine,” she snapped. “Have a wash and then a nap since I was wrong about that bread it won’t be done for awhile.”
How she wished she could crawl in Flanna’s bed, not a pallet but a bed with a good-stuffed mattress and sleep for a few hours, but it was not meant to be.
Dawn shook her head. She rubbed, as if washing herself and then pointed at the door.
“You must return to him after you’re done washing.”
Dawn nodded. She didn’t want to hurry back to him, but she had to see what she could discover or Colum would do her harm.
Flanna seemed to understand and sorrow filled her eyes as well as her words. “You have two devils you must answer to.” She shook her head. “I’ll have a tub filled for you. At least you can get his scent off—for a time.”