Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

C ree woke with a start realizing his wife wasn’t in his arms or in bed with him and that he had fallen asleep. He jumped out of bed ready to tear the keep apart to find her only to see her sitting in one of the two chairs in the room, combing her hair, and to his relief looking better than yesterday.

She smiled and gestured.

“So, you think I am getting old that I did not remain awake all night, do you?” he asked with a playful scowl as he walked toward her. She laughed, though it couldn’t be heard, but to Cree her laughter rang in his ears, having imagined how it would sound time and again. With one arm, he caught her around her waist and brought her up on her feet. He was about to teasingly take her to task for her comment when she kissed him.

The strength of her kiss told him that she was feeling better and for that he was grateful, but he also felt the tenseness in her slim body. Her concern remained and rightfully so. A beast stalked the keep and after last night, Cree wondered if it stalked them.

A rap sounded at the door and Cree released Dawn to step in front of her, instinctively shielding her before calling out for the person to enter.

Olwen stepped in. “The morning meal awaits.”

“Thank you. We will be there shortly,” Cree said and when she turned to leave, he asked, “Has the fog lifted?”

“I’m afraid not,” Olwen said, shaking her head, “if anything it has worsened.”

“Is that usual for this area?” Cree asked.

“It happens from time to time, but it passes,” Olwen assured him.

“And the wolves? They are more brazen in where they wander when the fog is heavy?”

“This was their land long before it became ours, so we are the trespassers. Do not take too long. The food is hot,” Olwen said and walked out, closing the door behind her.

Cree turned a scrunched brow at his wife. “She defends the wolves.”

Dawn shivered as she gestured.

“Aye, this is a strange place. I should have brought Beast then?—”

Dawn interrupted him with a frantic wave of her hand, then gestured.

“You’re right. With so many wolves about, he would have been in danger and would have fought to the death to protect you.”

Dawn rested her hand on her chest and shook her head, letting him know how much that would hurt her. Then she hurried to gesture again.

“You want me to go check on my horse?”

Dawn nodded as he spoke, then talked with her hands once again.

“True. I am told my horse is safe, but I have not seen that for myself.”

Her hands continued to gesture.

“I will not leave you alone to explore the village and see what I can learn. Besides, you heard Olwen, the fog has grown denser. I won’t be able to see anything.” This time he was the one who shook his head. “But I don’t know that for sure if I don’t see it for myself.”

Dawn nodded, her hands once again speaking for her.

“We agreed we wouldn’t separate, and you should know where the stable is located just in case?—”

She shook her head slowly but waved her hand vigorously in front of her face to remind him of what they discussed last night and that she would not leave without him.

He grabbed her hands to stop her from arguing with him. “I remember well what was said last night. It is my concern of leaving you alone that disturbs me.”

She slipped her hands out of his to gesture more calmly.

“I agree that you would probably be safe in the Great Hall with some servants about while I am gone. And we do not know enough about this place to know the danger we might face.”

She nodded.

“I admit your suggestion makes sense, but I don’t like leaving you alone and last night you made it clear you didn’t want to be left alone,” he said, realizing last night’s sleep had allowed her to regain a good part of her strength since she now appeared less reluctant to remain alone.

He saw a hint of fear but more determination in her eyes when she once again gestured.

He repeated her silent words. “You don’t want to remain captive of the fog, of this place, of what might await us here.”

She nodded and stepped closer to him, his arm instinctively reaching out to capture her around her waist and draw her against him.

He wasn’t planning on telling her about the animal outside their bedchamber door last night but thought better of it. If an animal was able to enter the keep, then she had to be made aware of it.

“I need to tell you something,” he said, and he told her about the incident. Her eyes went wide, and her body pressed against him, seeking his strength, and knowing he would shield her from any danger. “You must promise me that you will not leave the Great Hall while I am gone, not even to return here to our room. And I forbid you to go exploring on your own.”

She nodded and rested her head on his shoulder, wishing they were home.

Cree didn’t wait long after they had their meal to take his leave but not before reminding his wife to stay put. When she didn’t confirm with a quick nod, he eyed her suspiciously and reminded, “You made a promise.”

She shrugged and scrunched her brow.

“I know perfectly well what you’re thinking. What if an opportunity presents itself for you to discover something? That you even would give such a foolish notion a thought means you are willing to place yourself in harm’s way, which tells me you are feeling much better and could possibly get yourself into trouble.” He brought his face close to hers. “You will go nowhere. You will remain here, and do not disobey me on this.”

“Is there a problem, Lord Cree?”

Cree cast a scowl at his wife to remind her to obey his order before he turned to greet Lord Tiernan. “Not at all, but if there were, it would be between me and my wife.”

“Of course,” Lord Tiernan said with a nod. “It is just that people who are not used to such a lingering fog, curtailing tasks and activities, often find it difficult to adapt to the confinement it causes even for a short time.”

“Being wed to me, my wife has learned to adapt more easily than most people,” Cree said and sent his wife a glance.

Dawn’s smile bordered on laughter as she nodded in agreement.

He looked back at Lord Tiernan. “Besides, we never tire of seeing each other and we never lack for conversation.”

It always touched her heart when Cree spoke as if she had a voice that he could actually hear. He never thought of her as different and never let anyone else think that as well.

“Then you are a lucky man,” Lord Tiernan said and didn’t hide the envy in his eyes.

“You have not wed yet?” Cree asked.

“Not for lack of trying,” Lord Tiernan said with a chuckle. “But Clan MacMadadh is a small clan with little to offer a prospective wife. Besides, the area is far too remote for most young women. One day, perhaps, I will find a woman who wishes to share a life here with me.”

“She will need to be mindful of wolves,” Cree said.

“Aye, that she would, which means she would need to be an exceptional woman much like your wife,” Lord Tiernan said with a nod to Dawn.

Dawn smiled pleasantly at the compliment.

“Aye, my wife is exceptional, and she belongs to me,” Cree said, making it clear he would let no one take her from him.

“I admire and respect how you protect your wife, for I would do the same for my wife. So, please let me know, or Olwen, if there is anything you need while you are here. I do want your stay with us to be as pleasant as possible.”

“I want to see my horse,” Cree said with his usual authoritative tone.

“The fog is quite heavy,” Lord Tiernan cautioned.

“And my stallion is no doubt anxious since I have not been to see him since shortly after we arrived here. He will think I deserted him.”

Lord Tiernan nodded and waved Olwen over. “Send for Sim.”

Olwen bobbed her head and left the Great Hall.

“Sim is probably in the kitchen with Tade, trying to sweet talk the cook into sharing some of the food she’s cooking even though Brigid probably already fed them both.”

A laughing screech had them turning to see a young lad racing into the room trying to avoid Sim’s arms that reached out to grab him but missed him. The light-haired little lad hurried to climb on the bench at the table where Dawn sat, and he snatched up a piece of meat from one of the platters.

“Tade, that is not polite,” Lord Tiernan scolded.

“Sorry,” Tade said and popped the meat into his mouth. He went to grab another piece when he spotted Cree and smiled. Then he saw Dawn and he hurried off the bench and around the table to climb up on the bench beside her. “I, Tade.”

Lord Tiernan went to explain to the lad that Dawn could not speak, but Cree shook his head at him, so Tiernan held his tongue.

Dawn smiled, tapped her closed lips, then shook her head.

Tade scrunched his face. “No tongue?”

Dawn kept her smile as she shook her head and stuck her tongue out.

Tade stuck his tongue out as well and scrunched his brow again. “Voice got lost?”

Dawn nodded, knowing it was the easiest explanation for him to understand.

Tade rested his hand on hers. “You be all right.”

Dawn’s smile widened as she nodded and tapped her chest.

Tade tapped his chest in return.

Cree noticed the cloth around the lad’s forearm and as soon as he did Sim snatched him up into his arms.

“You summoned me, Lord Tiernan,” Sim said, grabbing a piece of meat from the platter to give to the lad to keep him occupied.

“Lord Cree wishes to see his horse, please take him there.”

“Aye, my lord,” Sim said and turned to Cree. “Follow me.”

Cree cast a quick glance at his wife, a look in his eyes warning her to be there when he returned before he followed Sim out of the room.

To Dawn’s surprise, Lord Tiernan joined her at the table.

“I shall share a hot brew for a short while before duty calls.”

She smiled and nodded, and a servant hurried to fill a tankard for him and refill hers.

Dawn jumped, startled by a howl that sounded as if it could very well come from within the keep.

“Worry not,” Lord Tiernan assured her. “The wolves call their pack together. It is time for them to rest so they will be ready to hunt when night falls. Do you fear the wolves, Lady Dawn?”

Dawn nodded and tapped her temple and hoped he would understand her response.

Lord Tiernan smiled. “You wisely fear them.”

She smiled, pleased he understood.

“They protect their kind just as we do ours, just as your husband protects you. They have no interest in humans.”

She drew her brow together in question and walked two fingers in a circle while glancing around the room, hoping once again he would understand her.

“If they have no interest in humans, you wonder why they prowl so close to the village,” he said, and she nodded. “Curiosity perhaps and, they are intelligent enough to know the fog provides cover. Wolves have been wrongly blamed for attacks and deaths they had nothing to do with, but unable to find blame elsewhere, people blame the wolves. False tales are often told about them, causing them to be hunted and slaughtered.”

Dawn patted her chest and pointed to him.

“You ask if I care about them?” he asked, and she nodded. “I respect them, my family having dealt with them for generations. There is a story told about a chieftain of the clan, who like many, blamed a wolf for the death of a woman in the village. He gathered men and hunted the wolves, returning with a female wolf he had killed, and the village rejoiced. He kept her fur pelt, wearing it over his shoulder for all to envy. One morning when the chieftain failed to arrive for breakfast, a favorite meal of his, a servant went to his room. He was found with his throat ripped nearly apart, leaving his head barely attached to his neck. The white wolf pelt was gone and not far from the door leading to the bedchamber were claw marks dug deeply into the wood floor. My ancestor, who became the new chieftain, treated the wolves differently and ever since then we have learned to live in peace with one another. And I will say that the old chieftain got what he deserved since he was the one who killed the woman and blamed it on the wolves.”

“Excuse me, my lord,” Olwen said, approaching the table. “Someone needs to speak with you. He waits in your solar.”

“Duty calls,” Lord Tiernan said and stood. He paused before following Olwen who was nearly out of the room. “You should know that wolves have exceptional scent, making it easy for them to track from where they first pick up a scent to where it takes them, leaving it difficult for their prey to avoid them. Do rest, Lady Dawn. You never know when you may need your strength.”

Dawn watched him go and shivered. He was warning her that he knew that she and Cree had explored the upper floors, and they had been tracked back to their bedchamber. But by who? A wolf or Lord Tiernan or were they one in the same?

A heavy fog rushed at Cree as soon as the door opened. Olwen had spoken the truth. The fog was far thicker than he expected. It was eerie to step into since it was like stepping into the unknown, not knowing where your feet would land or even if your feet would touch land.

“You need to stay close to me, Lord Cree, or you will get lost in the fog,” Sim cautioned.

“I have gotten caught in fog before now but never as thick as this fog,” Cree said.

“It’s rare even for us, how thick this fog is,” Sim said, then suddenly called out, “Brigid, come take Tade.”

“Aye,” Brigid called back and suddenly appeared, Sim handing Tade over to her.

“I won’t be long. I am taking Lord Cree to the stables,” Sim said.

“Be careful,” she warned. “The fog is not friendly today.”

Cree thought it strange that Sim called out to Brigid, and she responded so quickly. It was almost as if he could see that she was nearby, but that wasn’t possible with the fog. It was also strange that Sim got them to the stable without difficulty. His steps nor direction never faltered even though the fog engulfed them. Cree could not help but wonder how he had managed it.

Sim lit a small torch kept there for use after they entered the stable.

His stallion whinnied as soon as he caught sight of Cree, and he could tell with one touch that the animal was as uneasy as he and Dawn were about being stuck here. He stroked the horse’s neck and with soft whispers assured him the best he could that he had not abandoned him, and they would be leaving together when the time was right, and the stallion calmed and nodded.

A frantic shout from Brigid had Sim rushing to the stable door.

“Tade ran off and I cannot find him,” Brigid said, suddenly appearing at the open door.

Sim turned to Cree. “Stay here. I will return for you.”

“I can help,” Cree offered.

“Nay. You will only get lost in the fog and we will have to search for you when we need to concentrate on finding Tade,” Sim said and rushed out, grabbing the torch before he closed the door behind him and before Cree could say another word.

Plunged into darkness, Cree continued to stroke the horse’s neck. “This is a very strange place, indeed, and I will get us out of here as soon as I can.”

The stallion agreed, nodding his head.

Cree did not like being stuck in the stable, engulfed in darkness where he could see nothing and not know what was going on, and worst of all he was away from his wife in the keep. He hadn’t planned on being gone long and there was no telling how long it would take to find Tade. He was a little devil of a lad, getting himself into things he shouldn’t, much like his daughter Lizbeth. The thought of his capricious daughter made him even more determined to get home with Dawn safely.

His stallion’s head went up alerting Cree before he caught the creaking sound of the stable door opening.

Cree ran his hand gently down his horse’s face to his mouth, a signal the horse had learned meant to keep silent, and he did. Cree kept silent as well, and it allowed him to hear a whisper.

“Kee?”

Cree recognized the voice. “Is that you, Tade?”

“Aye,” Tade said.

Hearing the lad enter the stable, Cree made his way toward the door, relying on his recall of the layout of the place to get him there without incident. He was able to see the shadow of the lad in the mist.

“Your parents are looking for you, Tade,” Cree said, crouching down in front of the lad when he reached him.

Tade made a face and pressed his small finger against Cree’s lips and shook his head, cautioning him not to speak. Then he pushed his sleeve back, tapped his bandage, smiled, and threw his small arms around Cree’s neck and hugged him.

Cree could have sworn he heard the lad growl softly in his ear. Then he was gone, disappearing into the fog.

“Tade! There you are. How many times have I warned you not to go off in the fog on your own,” Sim admonished.

Cree stood listening to Sim chastise the lad, his thoughts more on Tade and what his actions were meant to tell Cree. It was obvious. He couldn’t deny it. Tade had thanked him for tending to his wound, not the wound of a child, but the wound of a wolf pup.