Highlander Unchained(19)

“Perhaps it’s what she didn’t do,” Goddard suggested.

Colum’s face contorted in rage and his hand came down hard across Dawn’s cheek. She stumbled and Goddard grabbed her before she could fall. His hand closed like a band of steel around her arm that already ached from John’s abuse. She fought against the pain that radiated through her arm and feared it was only the beginning of her suffering.

Spittle flew everywhere as Colum continued his tirade. “You were given specific orders. You were to give him whatever he wanted. Are you too stupid to understand that? Did you refuse to rut with him?”

“Maybe she doesn’t know how?” Goddard said.

“Is that it?” Colum yelled in her face spittle hitting her cheeks and eye. “Do I need to have someone teach you?”

“I can do it right now, right here,” Goddard said with a smile that disgusted Dawn.

She had to think fast. She could not let Goddard take her like an animal in front of everyone. She could not bear the thought of such humiliation or the consequences. Would other warriors feel that she was now free territory for them to enjoy and toss aside?

The thought turned her stomach and she shook her head and tapped her chest to get Colum’s attention.

“You better tell me something good, lass, or I’ll let Goddard take you until you beg him to stop.” Colum leaned in close to her. “He likes to play rough with his women.”

“It’s the only way,” Goddard said proudly. “You give a woman a good rough tumble that she never forgets and she obeys you quick enough the next time. I’ll have the dumb one obeying Cree’s every touch in no time.”

Instinct had Dawn wanting to cringe, but instead she bravely stood her ground. Though with her legs trembling so badly, she had no idea how she remained standing.

She didn’t know where the thought came from but she thanked the heavens for it. She eased her arm free and frantically patted her chest and then quickly demonstrated shoveling food into her mouth. Then she stopped and shook her head making a sour expression and threw her hands up in the air repeatedly.

Colum scratched his head. “What are you trying to say?”

Dawn tried again. She held her wrists together trying to show that she spoke of Cree and went through the process again.

“I don’t understand the idiot,” Cree yelled. “Go get her friend so that she can explain her senseless ranting.”

Dawn panicked. She didn’t want Lila involved at all. Before John could do as Colum bid, she ran to the table grabbed a piece of meat, pretended to chew and then spit it out and made a face that showed disgust.

“Cree didn’t like the food,” John said.

“Is that it?” Colum asked without yelling. “He didn’t like the food so he tossed you out?”

She nodded vigorously and her stomach turned in relief. That was until Colum spoke.

“Who prepared the food for him?” Colum asked with anger.

Dawn couldn’t let Flanna take the blame for this so she was quick to tap her chest. She wasn’t prepared for the slap Colum delivered to the same cheek as before and she stumbled to her knees.

He grabbed her by the hair and yanked her up. “You will spend the afternoon preparing Cree a decent meal and tonight you will rut with him and tomorrow... you better have information for me or I’ll hand you over to Goddard to enjoy.”

She could have sworn that Goddard licked his lips.

Colum gave her a hard shove. “Go and prepare.”

She stumbled though remained on her feet and hurried to the archway leading to the kitchen. She almost reached it when Colum stopped her yelling out her name. She turned fearful she would not escape further wrath.

“You’ll take candles with you tonight,” he ordered. “The devil’s son will enjoy the flames.” Laughter erupted in the hall though stopped abruptly when Colum raised his hand. “And least you think to lie to me then think again, for it’s the smell of rutting I will be looking for on you tomorrow.”

Laughter burst loud again and followed her out of the hall and down the narrow passageway. She stopped a moment to lean against the stone wall and take a breath. How she wished she could scream and cry, but with no voice that wasn’t possible and silent tears would not help her. She had a choice to make. It really was no choice. Either way she would lay with a devil, it only mattered which devil she could tolerate. And she already knew the answer to that.

Tonight she would give herself to the devil’s son and she prayed that God would help see her through it.

~~~

Flanna hadn’t been in the kitchen when Dawn had entered and so she got busy preparing a good stew for Cree’s supper. No one stopped her or offered help, especially when they caught sight of her bruised cheek. It was swollen and growing ever darker and when she chewed it hurt. But there was no time to tend to it now or to her leg that continued to sting. She had to get the stew cooking and make fresh bread and then she would clean herself up and tend to her wounds.