Highlander Unchained(5)

“You listen well, woman,” he ordered with a stinging tongue. “And you find a way to let me know that you understand what I say.”

She nodded and swallowed her fear, though it stuck in a lump in her throat.

“You were present at our victorious return with the prisoner Cree.”

She nodded again and dread swelled like a rising ball of fire ready to scorch her. Had Colum seen the exchange between Cree and her? Was she to be punished for gazing upon him too long?

“Cree is to be held prisoner until I receive word from Lord Gerwan as to his fate. I have no doubt that Lord Gerwan will order his execution and will want to journey here to be in attendance for it.”

Her stomach tightened thinking of the horrible suffering Cree would endure before he died. Torture always preceded executions and in no time he would scream for mercy. It would not be given, it never was. And then there were those who would cheer at his pain. A shiver ran through her and she wondered why she should care. He certainly had not cared when he himself had slaughtered so many innocent people.

“Cree’s wounds need tending. I will not allow him to die before Lord Gerwan arrives and condemns him to death. But Cree is a wise warrior and I have no doubt he already makes plans to escape.”

Why was he telling her this? This was not something for a servant to know. What did he expect of her?

“He will try to retrieve information from whoever I send to tend him, for he knows all too well that I will see no harm come to him just yet.”

A dreadful thought hit her. Could Colum be thinking of appointing her as Cree’s caretaker? Her worst fear was confirmed when next he spoke.

“He can get no such information from you.” Colum sneered. “For once your evil affliction will serve a purpose.”

Evil? He believed evil had something to do with her inability to speak? The thought disturbed and worried her.

“Your duties are now that of caretaker to the prisoner Cree. You will see that he is kept well fed, I want him to believe himself safe and a full stomach will make him feel such.”

Suddenly, Dawn understood his reasoning, for he had used the same logic on the villagers. Keeping everyone well fed gave them a sense of security when truly there was none. It made her realize just how powerless she and the villagers were.

“Do you understand,” he shouted.

Dawn nodded rapidly while trying to comprehend what he expected of her. She simply could not foresee herself tending Cree. Those dark eyes of his had seemed to consume her from a distance. How would his intense glare affect her in close proximity?

Already the heat started rising in her body and prickled her skin. She grew anxious that it would rush to stain her cheeks and embarrass her. This was not good and yet how could she escape it.

“You will report everything he says to me.” Colum’s hands flew around him in a poor imitation of her precise gestures. “Those signals of yours, someone must understands them—” He pondered a moment and then it struck him. “The woman Lila; she will interpret.”

A sickening sensation settled in the pit of her stomach. She did not want Lila part of this. There was no telling what she would suffer being involved. And Paul? He would be insane with worry for his wife. She would do her best to make Colum understand her so there would be no need to rely on Lila.

“You will gather food and whatever is necessary to tend his wounds and you will spend as much time with him as possible. With you unable to speak he will do most of the talking and you will report what he says. Do you understand all I’ve said?”

Dawn bobbed her head.

“One more thing.” His sneer grew wide and made his narrow lips grow narrower until it looked like he had no lips at all. “You will keep the prisoner satisfied in whatever way is necessary.”

Dawn stared at him, not certain she understood.

Colum shook his head annoyed and leaned closer to shout in her face. “You will rut with him if he wants. You do know how to rut do you not?”

The few warriors that were present laughed.

One shouted, “I can show her.”

Colum glared at him. “What did I tell you about spilling your side in a dumb one? I will have no warrior of mine seeding an imbecile.” He grinned. “Cree on the other hand can leave his seed in her belly before he dies knowing he leaves an idiot in his memory.”

The warriors laughed again and Colum shouted at her. “Now be gone and do my bidding or suffer my wrath.”

She fled his presence; fear now a shadow that clung heavily to her. He was sending her to willingly submit to be ravished by Cree, and even hoped he would get her with child. Feed and satisfy his lust and the prisoner would what? Trust her? How did Colum think that such a savage would trust anyone?