Colum was waiting for her in the Great Hall, Goddard sat to his right, and those warriors he trusted the most occupied the other chairs on the dais.
“She stinks of rutting,” John announced proudly, as if it had been his doing.
Colum and his men laughed.
“Finally, you do something right,” Colum chortled. “Let us hope he left his seed in you and you bear him a voiceless son. It would be a fitting legacy for him to leave behind.”
Her legs went weak at his remark. Had that been why Cree had not entered her? He didn’t dare take the chance of leaving her with child? She admonished herself for letting the thought upset her. She should be glad such a monster did not leave his seed in her.
He was no monster.
Did she truly believe that? If he was a monster he would not have made certain she carried his scent. If he was a monster he would not have covered her naked body with his to keep from prying eyes. If he was a monster he would have taken her with no thought or care and he hadn’t. Cree was no monster. He couldn’t be... he cared.
“Now tell me you have learned something and you will have served me well,” Colum said.
Dawn was not foolish enough to believe that the information Cree had given her was accurate, she did not care. Colum wanted something and so she would give it to him. She quickly pointed to the bread on the table.
Colum shook his head.
She pointed to herself and back at the bread.
“You’ve hungry?”
She shook her head.
“Make yourself understood,” Colum shouted.
She pointed to the bread again and motioned as if she were tearing it apart.
Colum waved his hand at her. “Show me.”
Dawn quickly approached the table and just as quickly tore several pieces off the bread. She lined them up, pointed to them, and then pointed at all the warriors in the room.
“Warriors,” Goddard said understanding. “The pieces represent warriors. Cree’s warriors?”
Dawn nodded and then moved half of the pieces away crumpling them in her hand.
“He has fewer warriors than we think,” Colum said with a broad grin.
“Why would Cree tell her such a thing?” Goddard asked suspiciously and Dawn’s heart nearly stopped from fear.
“Why else?” Colum laughed. “He thinks her dumb like most, incapable of communicating.”
Goddard nodded agreeing.
“You’ve done well,” Colum said. “Now go get more food and get back to him and find out more.”
Dawn didn’t hesitate; she hurried out of the room to the kitchen. All movement and sound stopped as soon as she entered.
“Get back to your chores or I’ll see the lazy lot of you punished,” Flanna threatened and everyone did as she said. She then walked with Dawn outside.
There was a nip in the air. Soon the last of the harvest would be picked, the ground turned for winter, which would be upon them soon enough. Why Dawn should be thinking on mundane things she did not know. Life was no longer mundane; life was vastly different and she doubted it would ever be the same.
“Are you all right?” Flanna asked.
Dawn nodded and her hands moved letting Flanna know that she needed more food. She also wanted to let Flanna know that she wanted to wash up but thankfully the woman was perceptive.
“You’ll want to wash up before returning to him.”
Dawn smiled and tapped her chest. Those familiar with her gestures knew it meant she was grateful.
Flanna grabbed her hand. “Are you sure you’re all right? I saw—” Her eyes filled with tears, though she didn’t let one fall. “He’s powerfully built. Are you sure he didn’t hurt you?”
She could tell Flanna the truth but odd as it seemed, it would be better to let things remain as they were. Otherwise gossiping tongues would be wagging about how the mighty warrior Cree wouldn’t waste his seed on her. She would be ridiculed even more.
She cupped both hands and with palms down ran one over the other.
Flanna confirmed she understood with a nod. “It’s over.”
Dawn smiled.
Flanna shook her head sadly. “It’s only just begun.”
Dawn walked to her small cottage, keeping her head down and avoiding glancing at anyone. She heard the whispers, the chortling, though she was surprised when Old Mary grabbed her arm and stopped her.
“They should all be grateful to you. You saved them from his wrath.”
Dawn watched Old Mary hobble away and wasn’t sure if it was Colum or Cree’s wrath she meant.
She continued to her cottage and wasn’t surprised to see Lila waiting in her doorway. As soon as Drawn was a few feet from her, Lila spread her arms wide and Dawn hurried into them. Lila ushered Dawn inside and the two cried together.