Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

“ T he warrior wasn’t here to kill Lynall, he was here to abduct her, to stop her from marrying into the clan, though I worry what her fate would be if she was returned home,” Tiernan said.

Cree shook his head, pushing his tankard away from him. “I am growing more impatient. Tell me the whole of it and be done.” He calmed his annoyance and let the commanding and decisive warrior in him take rein and immediately focused on the problem. He glared at Tiernan. “You worry how I may respond to the truth, so you keep it from me.”

“Wolves and human have one thing in common, they protect their own.”

A logical assumption that pinpointed the issue. “You worry that I will side with my own kind which confirms much of what I suspect but find difficult to believe. That I have a daughter of my own and I would do anything to protect her. So, you assume my instincts would have me believing Lynall should be returned to her family. Tell me why I should think otherwise.”

“What I tell you will make little difference to the outcome. The man who loves her deeply will never let her go and Lynall does not wish to leave here.”

“I have seen no man show her favors. If he loves her so much, where is he that he doesn’t make himself known?”

“I thought it best you did not know of their love since I was not sure if your unexpected appearance wasn’t planned.”

That accusation stung and annoyance jabbed at Cree once again. “Are you accusing me of spying on you?”

“You just came from a week-long event, summoned there to meet the king’s consultant, Lord Clouston.”

“What does that have to do—” Cree shook his head, not liking his sudden thought.

“You grasp the situation quickly, Lord Cree,” Tiernan said and continued to explain. “Lynall is his niece and was living comfortably with a family Lord Clouston left her with when she was barely eight years. She loved the forest and showed no fear of the wolves, and they did not bother her. She learned her healing skills from a local healer unbeknownst to the family who looked after her. She received news that her uncle had arranged a politically advantageous marriage for her in Edinburgh to an older man. She could not bear the thought of leaving the Highlands, so she sought refuge here and fell in love.”

“With you?” Cree asked.

“My brother Sim.”

Cree’s brow wrinkled. “I thought Sim was wed to Brigid.”

Tiernan shook his head. “Nay, Brigid is wed to Gillean, who is presently on a mission for the clan. Sim and Gillean have been friends since they were young. With Tade being a handful, Gillean asked Sim to look after Brigid and Tade while he was gone. Besides, not knowing if you were here on behalf of Lord Clouston, Sim and Lynall thought it best to avoid each other. Believe me when I say they are anxious for you to leave even more so than you want to leave.”

“Lord Clouston is not a man you want to cross. He has the support of the king,” Cree warned, recalling how highly the man thought of himself. “If he asked, the king would send help, and you would have no choice but to turn Lynall over to them and more than likely you would still be made to suffer. Though before Clouston took such drastic measures, he would probably hire a mercenary troop to abduct his niece.”

“Dolan confirmed that when I spoke with him, the day you interrupted our meeting here in my solar. He spotted signs near the village when hunting. It is the reason I doubled the sentinels after that. But right now, the fog is our worst foe.”

“The fog will be the least of your worries if Lord Clouston’s niece is not returned to him. He is far from a nice man. One thing I can tell you that might help put your mind somewhat at ease is that I am no spy for Clouston and no friend of his. I tolerate him as many do. An accident and the fog brought me here. And I am forever grateful for your help. However, going against Clouston in any way can put my family in danger and it is something you should have made me aware of sooner.”

“But I am sure you can understand why I didn’t.”

“Of course I can,” Cree snapped, irritated by the turn of events, “but that doesn’t help in any way the dilemma you have created for me.”

The door to the solar flew open and Sim rushed in. “They are missing, Lynall and Lady Dawn.”

Cree flew off the bench, his heart pounding furiously in his chest. “Have you searched the keep?”

Sim nodded. “Every bit of it.”

“No one saw or heard anything?” Tiernan asked.

“None that we heard of as yet,” Sim said.

“I saw how you knew Brigid was in the fog without seeing her. I assume it was by scent. Have any scents been picked up by anyone?” Cree asked, having to stop himself from running out of the keep in search of his wife, a foolish response since he needed to know more before he started searching for Dawn, and angry with himself for leaving her alone.

“Whoever is doing this is masking their scent,” Sim said.

Cree shook his head and glared at Tiernan. “Masking their scent, another thing you failed to tell me. That’s how the Ulfr warrior managed to make it into the keep. His scent wasn’t detected.” He shook a fist at Tiernan. “The only thing I care about is finding my wife and I imagine Sim’s only thought is for Lynall.”

Sim cast an anxious glance at Tiernan.

“He knows. I told him everything,” Tiernan said. “Right now, we need to find Lady Dawn and Lynall before they are taken too far away from us.” He looked at his brother. “We hunt.”

“The pack is ready,” Sim said.

Cree looked from Sim to Tiernan. “Is this a hunt I can join?”

“Nay, you will remain here in the keep,” Tiernan said.

Cree’s fist came down hard on the table. “I will not sit around while my wife is missing.”

“You will not help her by getting lost in the fog,” Tiernan said. “Besides, it’s Lynall they want not Lady Dawn, and I doubt she will be harmed once they discover that she is the infamous Lord Cree’s wife.”

“You cannot be sure about that,” Cree said with a snarl.

“I am sure enough. You will wait here,” Tiernan said and turned to Sim. “We waste time. Let’s go.”

Cree didn’t rush after them as they hurried out of the room. He waited until he was sure they would be gone from the keep and went in search of Olwen. He found her in the Great Hall.

“I need a wolf, Olwen, to track my wife’s scent.”

“I don’t know what you mean, sir. I?—”

He lunged at her with a menacing glare, their faces nearly touching. “I have no time for games, Olwen. I know the truth about Clan MacMadadh. Now get me to someone who can help me before I tear this village apart.”

Olwen trembled. “Dolan can help you.”

“He’s not?—”

“Maybe so, but he tracks wolves better than wolves track.”

“Then he is the man I need. Take me to him,” Cree ordered.

“You idiots,” the short, wiry man said, then pointed to Dawn. “Do you have any idea who you abducted?”

“One of them is the one we were supposed to abduct,” one of the four men who had taken Lynall and Dawn said with a smug grin.

“So, what if we got an extra one, Larkin? We can enjoy her, then sell her. Besides, she’s a quiet one. Hasn’t said a word since we took her.”

“Is that so, Penn?” Larkin said, his nostrils flaring as he nodded his head. “Tell me, Penn, what lord in the Highlands has a wife with no voice?”

“Everybody knows it’s—” Penn muttered several oaths beneath his breath.

“Good, Lord! We abducted Lord Cree’s wife,” one of the other men said.

“He’ll kill us, every one of us, but not before he tortures us,” another man said. “I’m out of here. I want nothing to do with Lord Cree.”

“Too late,” Larkin snapped. “He’ll hunt you down no matter where you go.”

“What do we do?” the man asked.

“We leave her,” Penn said. “Lord Cree will be happy to find her and won’t bother with us.”

“You are an absolute idiot,” Larkin said. “I don’t know why I brought you with us.”

Penn stuck out his thin chest. “You brought me along because I’m a fog man, born and bred in it. There isn’t a fog I can’t make my way through. We take Lady Dawn with us and once we’re beyond the fog we leave her someplace safe where Lord Cree can find her.”

The other men there nodded, agreeing with Penn.

“That sounds perfect,” Larkin said with a forced smile and Penn and the other three men smiled along with him. “Except for one thing,” he snapped. “Lord Cree is probably searching for her as we speak.”

“No one can get through this fog except for me,” Penn said.

“You really think a fog will stop Lord Cree from finding his wife?” Larkin asked and watched as the men’s smiles faded and they stared past Penn to Lady Dawn, who stood by the cold hearth shaking her head.

“We’re dead men,” one of the men said, and shivered.

Dawn kept her arm snug around Lynall. She hadn’t stopped shivering since they were abducted. She wished for the warmth of a fire but knew they wouldn’t get one, the smoke too easy to scent. She was relieved that they had at least taken shelter in an abandoned home, away from the fog and chill. She hoped the men would continue to waste time arguing, giving her husband more time to find her.

“We leave her here and get moving,” one man said.

A lone howl sounded, and every man’s hand went to the hilt of their sword.

“We need to get moving,” Larkin said. “Lord Clouston has probably grown impatient with us being late in delivering his niece to him.”

“What about her?” Penn asked with a nod at Dawn.

“We take her with us and drop her at that small abbey we passed on our way here. The nuns will look after her until Cree finds her, and he may look kindly on us that we left her in a safe place,” Larkin said, hoping it would be so. “Now let’s go before the wolves find us.”

“We have a better chance surviving the wolves than Lord Cree,” one of the men said and the others mumbled, agreeing.

“I cannot let my uncle get me,” Lynall whispered to Dawn as the men began to file out of the shelter. “He intends to wed me to a cruel man in exchange for more influence and power. But I am already wed,” —her hand went to rest on her stomach— “and with child barely two moon cycles now, and I have yet to tell Sim.”

Dawn wrinkled her brow.

Lynall understood Dawn’s expression. “You thought Sim was wed to Brigid. Brigid’s husband Gillean is away, though due back soon. He and Sim are longtime friends and he watches over Brigid and Tade for him while he is gone.”

“Move!” Penn ordered the two women and gave Dawn a shove in the side to get them moving.

She cringed and Lynall tightened her hold on Dawn’s arm and whispered, “He disturbed your wound.”

Dawn nodded, the pain still radiating through her.

“Lean on me, walking will not be easy for you now,” Lynall urged.

Dawn nodded again, praying that Cree would not take long to find them.

Once all were gathered outside, Larkin ordered. “Stay close. The wolves cannot find us with our scents masked.”

“Are you sure the women’s scent is masked enough?” one of the men asked.

“Aye,” Penn said, “that Ulfr warrior left enough for us to use on them.”

After walking for a while, Dawn wondered how Penn could make his way through the fog so easily. He didn’t hesitate or falter in his steps. He walked as if the path was clear to him.

Werewolf.

She was being foolish. She was seeing werewolves everywhere since lodging at Clan MacMadadh. But what other than being a werewolf could explain his ability to navigate the fog so easily?

“How far to the horses, Penn?” Larkin asked.

Lynall’s grip tightened on Dawn’s arm hearing that. Dawn understood. If they reached the horses, more distance could be gained, delaying a rescue or worse, preventing it.

“We have a way to go yet,” Penn said, not breaking his stride as he remained in the lead.

“Keep moving,” Larkin ordered.

They had taken only a few steps when a scream was heard. It brought everyone to an abrupt stop.

“Call out, men,” Larkin ordered and all, but one man responded.

“The wolves,” one man said.

“I heard no growl,” Larkin said.

A sudden thud was heard but no scream.

“Call out!” Larkin ordered again.

Only Penn and another man responded.

“It’s no wolf,” Larkin said and yelled out, “Take your wife, Lord Cree, and leave us be. We had no intention of keeping her.”

“I will not raise a sword against you,” the one man called out.

“You raised your sword when you took my wife,” Cree shouted with snarling anger. “And you will pay for it. Lynall, have you or my wife been harmed.”

“Nay, sir, though Lady Dawn is in pain from a shove she received and being forced to walk.”

A raging roar more frightening than any wolf growl pierced the fog and when it was done, Cree called out, “Dolan is moving toward you, Lynall. He will bring you and my wife to me.”

“You can have your wife, Lord Cree, but not Lynall. She comes with us,” Larkin called out.

“I think not,” Cree shouted.

“Lord Clouston sent us to get her. She is his niece. I caution you on making him your foe,” Larkin said.

“And I caution you,” Cree called out with a warning that no fool would ignore. “Stop Lynall from leaving and I will see you all dead.”

“I’m done. I want no more of this,” the one man said and ran off into the fog and a thud was heard after he took only a few steps.

“You’re not going to let any of us live, are you?” Larkin called out.

“Your men are not dead… YET,” Cree shouted. “Now let my wife and Lynall go.”

“It’s not worth it. Let’s go,” Larkin said, seeing a shadow emerge from the fog. “We leave now!”

Penn turned, grabbed the dagger at Larkin’s waist and slit his throat, then he turned back and reached out, giving Dawn a powerful shove as he ripped Lynall away from her, and sent Dawn tumbling to the ground.

Dolan hurried to help Dawn up as a furious roar broke through the fog once again.

“I’m going to kill you!” Cree screamed as his shadow rushed through the fog toward Penn.

Dolan threw out his arm to stop Cree from going any further and Cree turned a furious glare on him.

“Leave him to Lord Tiernan,” Dolan said. “They are old friends.”

“I will not leave Lynall with him,” Cree said, his wife’s eyes pleading with him to help the healer.

“Lynall has served her purpose. Penn no longer needs her,” Dolan said, easing Dawn into her husband’s arm. “Leave the wolves to deal with him.” He nodded, looking beyond Penn.

Cree saw endless pairs of yellow eyes and one pair of green eyes glowing through the fog right behind Penn.

Dolan looked directly at Penn. “Let her go. You got what you wanted.”

“When I lead this pack, Dolan. You will be the first to go.” Penn sneered.

“You always were a fool, Penn,” Dolan said. “Release Lynall so you can have your fabled victory.”

Penn shoved Lynall toward Dolan as he stepped forward to catch her before she could fall.

“Time for all of us to return to the keep,” Dolan said, keeping hold of Lynall. “Follow me.”

“Where is Sim?” Lynall asked anxiously.

“Gone to end your problem once and for all,” Dolan said.

Cree lifted his wife in his arms and kissed her brow. “I cannot wait to go home.”

Dawn nodded and patted her chest, then rested her head on her husband’s shoulder.

They hadn’t taken that many steps when the snarling and growling wolves in a vicious fight could be heard echoing through the woods.