Highlander Unchained(36)

Dawn didn’t wait for him to ask, she motioned that they would go together.

Paul gave an appreciative nod and turned his attention on the babe who was yawning.

“Let us talk. I am curious about your loss of voice,” Elsa said slipping her arm around Dawn’s and moving her along right out the door.

Dawn shivered when Elsa closed the door. She understood that this time was for Paul and Lila and their newborn, so why did she suddenly feel left out?

“There’s a good place,” Elsa said pointing to a bench on the far side of Lila’s garden.

Dawn followed along recalling how she and Lila had often worked in the garden together. And how Paul had built the bench from a fallen tree branch he had found in the woods. It was sturdy enough, though he would have been sturdier if Paul had been permitted to cut down a tree instead of picking from the decaying ones on the ground. But the villagers were not allowed to cut the trees or hunt the animals. The woods, and all in it, belonged to their feudal lord Roland Gerwan the Earl of Carrick.

Elsa sat, the bench creaking under her ample weight. “So you have been without a voice since you were born?”

Dawn nodded.

“You made not a sound when you were born? Not a cry, grunt or groan?”

Dawn shook her head. Elsa looked perplexed as most people did.

“Usually, at least in my experience, a voiceless person can still manage a grunt or a groan. Never have I known someone to be completely voiceless. It is quite odd. How do you manage to speak with others?”

Dawn held up her hands and then snatched up a stick off the ground and did a quick drawing of the cottage.

Elsa smiled, her full cheeks plumping. “Amazing. Your drawing helps you to communicate. You are talented.”

Dawn gave a nod of thanks.

“I wish there was something I could do to help you. But I fear that since you were born voiceless, there is nothing that can be done. It was simply meant to be.”

Dawn had never thought, hoped, or prayed that one day she would suddenly start speaking. She had accepted her lot a long time ago. This was who she was, a voiceless person, not that she could not make herself heard, though she had learned that silence had its own rewards.

“I look forward to getting to know you and I would be pleased to have you visit my cottage as soon as I am settled in,” Elsa said.

Dawn pointed to the cottage and back at Elsa, and then shrugged.

Elsa smiled again, though Dawn realized it was simply an extension of the warm smile that she seemed to constantly wear.

“I understand you perfectly,” Elsa said with joy. “You want to know where my cottage will be.”

Dawn nodded fearful that perhaps someone would be forced to give their home to Elsa.

“Cree will find a suitable and an unoccupied one for me and make repairs if necessary. He will want me to make a place available to all who require healing.”

Dawn tapped her chest, pointed at the cottage, and then all around.

“You do make it easy to understand you. Yes, available to everyone, villagers and warriors alike. I am here to serve the ill and needy.”

Dawn wondered if her words would prove true. Colum had his healer serve him and his warriors. No villager had dared approach the healer for help. They relied on the older women in the village who had some knowledge of healing.

“I would love to sit and talk with you more but a brief reprise is all I can spare. I must go and see how the wounded do and if anyone else needs me.” Elsa stood. “And I’m sure your friends are wondering where you are. Lila would not stop worrying about you. She was frantic for your safety. It was only when I reassured her that Cree protected the weak and afflicted that she finally calmed. We will talk soon, Dawn.” And with that she walked off at a brisk pace.

Dawn remained on the bench. She had thought Cree an unfeeling soul and yet he had not been cruel to her. He had not caused her harm. Were the tales about him just that... tales? He certainly had to have done something to have people fear him so badly or where would the rumors have come from?

She was curious to hear what Cree would have to say to the villagers and she would not have long to wait since Cree’s warriors were walking through the village herding the people toward the keep. A warrior waved her toward him and she stood and hurried to the cottage door and gave a knock.

Paul opened the door his finger pressed to his lips. Then in a whisper said, “Mum and babe just fell asleep though—”

Dawn tugged on his arm and Paul hurried the door closed behind him after catching sight of the warrior making his way toward them. Dawn slipped her arm around his shoulder to lend him support. He was pale and obviously in pain and no doubt had not wanted to leave his wife and newborn son but he, like her, knew they had no choice.