Highlander's Promise (11 page)

The two women laughed, and Lila sat and talked with Dawn as she fed her restless son. They talked of pleasant things, about having a picnic with the children before the weather turned too cold, about how abundant the last harvest would be and how more plaids and blankets needed to be stitched before the winter set in.

It was only when Lila needed to go see to baby Thomas’ feeding that she remarked on the present circumstances. “All will go well with Minnoch’s arrival?”

Dawn smiled and gestured with Lizbeth’s tiny hands, the baby smiling wide.

Lila broke out in a grin. “Since you have such confidence, Lizbeth, that your da will see that all goes well, I shall not worry.”

Dawn nodded, agreeing with her. She spent some time with the twins after they finished feeding, tapping their tiny chests, then hers, and hugging them to let them know she loved them. She instructed the morning servants who looked after the babes that they were to remain here away from the visitors. After everyone left, Dawn would once again return to spend time outdoors with the twins. They loved when she and Cree would sit under a tree with them and their da would tell exciting tales. They would smile, coo, laugh, and eventually fall asleep in their parents’ loving arms and Dawn missed that time they spent together.

She kissed them both and returned to her bedchamber to find Sloan there and her husband dressed.

“I was just going to look for you,” Cree said, slipping his dagger into the sheath at his waist. “The sun is up and Minnoch will crest the hill shortly and be here soon after.” Cree shot her a glare after she gestured. “You ask me what I want you to do, but the true question is... will you obey my orders?” Cree watched her gesture quickly. “I know you promised me, but will you keep that promise?”

She had hoped he would not ask her that and she responded truthfully.

“You will try?”

Dawn nodded.

Cree looked to Sloan and he hurried from the room, closing the door behind him. Cree went to stand in front of his wife, slipping his finger down along the front of her robe to spread it apart and partially expose her breasts. He ran his finger slowly around her one breast until he circled her nipple, and then he squeezed the hard, little nub.

“This situation is more dangerous than you know and I need you to give me your word that you will remain out of sight until I send for you. You cannot show yourself before then.”

She nodded and gestured with a bit frustration.

“So you think it unfair that I leave you aroused?”

Dawn gave a quick, firm nod.

“Let it be a reminder of what awaits you later today when you prove how well you can keep your promise to me,” he warned.

Dawn’s brow shot up as she gestured.

“That is correct. If you do not keep your promise I will not finish what I started here.”

Dawn smiled and shook her head, knowing he would never be able to do that.

Cree grabbed her arms and yanked her hard against his chest. “You think I would threaten to bring you to the brink of climax and not satisfy you if this was not of the utmost importance? I will have your word on this and you will keep it.”

His anger was touched by a hint of fear and she knew that fear was for her. She nodded.

“You will do as I say?” he asked, needing her to confirm it again.

She nodded, then rested her hand gently on his arm as she scrunched her brow and shrugged in question.

He ran the back of his hand slowly along her cheek. “I do not want Minnoch to know it was you—my wife—he gave to me in the dungeon rather than a peasant lass. Only you, me, and Old Mary will ever know what happened there. And I have no worry that Old Mary will breathe a word of it.

Dawn tapped his chest, then his mouth, then her chest, and lastly tugged at her ear.

“All I had to do was tell you this and you would have listened... and obeyed?”

She nodded.

He smiled. “As you have listened to me how many times when I ordered you to do something?” His smile vanished. “I needed you to see the importance of this and I must know you will do as I say and keep out of sight of Minnoch and his men.”

Dawn tilted her head and scrunched her brow, this time in thought, and then her eyes turned wide and her hands flew.

“Yes, I have a plan and no, I will not tell you about it and for a good reason.”

Voices outside the door caught their attention and Cree went to the door and swung it open.

Sloan spoke as soon as he did. “Minnoch’s messenger waits for you in the Great Hall.”

Cree looked to Dawn. “You will do as I say?”

She gave him a vigorous nod and followed him out the door to watch him walk away. She wondered over his plan and his words.

Only you, me, and Old Mary will ever know.

He planned on killing Minnoch. But how, when he gave his word to the King not to harm the man?

Chapter Twelve

Obern was in the Great Hall and spoke up as soon as Cree entered. “You killed Minnoch’s warrior?” He did not let Cree answer. “Minnoch now believes himself in danger and after I sent word that he was welcome here and had nothing to fear.”

Cree remained silent, letting the man have his tirade.

“Do you wish to ruin everything for the King? I do not know how many times I must tell you how important Minnoch is to the King at the moment. You will do everything you can to make the man feel welcomed. You will do what the King instructed you to do or one word from me and you will find yourself in a far worse dungeon than Minnoch’s.”

Cree stepped in front of the man, towering over him. “
Never. Ever. Threaten me.
I have done what the King has instructed me to do. I have found out that the King cannot now or ever trust Minnoch, but the King wants what he wants and will trust a fool to get it for him.”

Obern sputtered and blustered as he struggled to find the words to speak.

“Do not dare say a word,” Cree shouted in the man’s face, and Obern drew his head back. “I am a loyal servant of the King and I gave my word to him and I will keep it. I will not harm Minnoch.”

Obern finally found his voice. “Nor will your warriors do him harm.”

“Nor my warriors,” Cree repeated. “Now let us be done with this farce so that I may rid myself of you and Minnoch.”

“The King will hear of this,” Obern warned with a quiver to his voice.

“Aye, he will, for I intend to make sure he knows what went on here.” Cree leaned over Obern and whispered, “You have no idea what I have done for the King, little man. The title, the land, does not begin to repay me and the King knows it. So be very careful how you talk to me, for if the King had to choose between you and me... he would choose me and order me to kill you—and I would.”

Obern took several quick steps away from Cree and made sure he kept distance between them.

“Flanna,” Cree yelled and the woman stepped up beside him.

“All is ready to receive our guest, my lord,” Flanna said.

Cree nodded and whispered, “My wife will be keeping to herself today. See that you keep her abreast of what goes on here.”

She nodded and Cree walked over to Sloan, leaving Obern to pout near the dais. The little fool had no idea how important Cree had been to the King and continued to be, though Cree was not foolish enough to think that that could change at any time, especially if a new king was crowned. But at the moment the King required his help and he would see that he got it.

“All is ready?” Cree asked when he reached Sloan.

“All has been seen to,” Sloan confirmed.

“Then let us wait outside to greet Minnoch.”

~~~

Cree watched Minnoch approach with four of his warriors. His large troop of warriors was stopped at the edge of the village and informed they could go no further, which no doubt produced the scowl that Minnoch wore. Cree would have to be a fool to allow him to enter the village with a troop of his warriors.

Minnoch was off his horse as soon as he brought the animal to a stop in front of the keep’s steps. He flew up them, nostrils flaring along with his temper. “How dare you keep my men from entering with me and how dare you kill one of my men.”

“I may have given the King my word that I would not harm you, but if you dare to threaten me, my family, my clan, it will negate any promise I made to the King, on that you have my word.” Cree stepped toward him. “So go ahead, Minnoch,
threaten me
.”

Minnoch tempered his anger, though it remained close to the surface. “Let me speak to the King’s advisor. He has an important message for me.”

“Afterwards you can leave,” Cree said.

That brought a smile to Minnoch’s face. “I was told I would be welcomed here.”

“You have no idea how pleased I am to have you here.”

“That sounds much better, Cree. Now take me to Obern.”

As soon as Minnoch and Obern were introduced, Minnoch insisted that Obern and he talk privately. Cree had them taken to his solar and a guard posted outside the door. Cree did not care what the pair discussed. One of his messengers was already on the way to the King with a missive that explained everything that had gone on here and how Minnoch could not be trusted and that it would be to the King’s advantage to deal directly with the chieftains of the Western Isles and the King of Norway himself then through Minnoch. He knew his word held sway with the King, for Cree had been nothing but truthful with the monarch since first meeting him.

It was near an hour later that Cree was summoned into his solar. Minnoch stood by the hearth like a man who believed himself victorious, his chest puffed out and a smug grin on his face.

“It is done,” Obern said. “Minnoch will help the King, he forgives you for stealing from him, and you will not harm him. Now let us feast and celebrate that the deed is done.”

~~~

Cree made sure that Minnoch, his warriors, and Obern not only got plenty of food to eat, but that they also had plenty to drink.

“Where is your wife? Will she not grace us with her presence?” Minnoch asked, holding his tankard high for a servant lass passing by to fill.

“She is not feeling well,” Cree said his tankard still full from when it was first poured over an hour ago.

Minnoch downed some ale, then said, “Such a shame. I was looking forward to meeting her. A voiceless wife no doubt can make a husband’s lot much easier, though at other times...” Minnoch grinned. “I was eager to inform your wife how you entertained yourself while in my dungeon. But no doubt she will learn soon enough when you pass on to her what my little gift gave to you.” He laughed and finished what ale was in his tankard, then raised it high to be filled again.

Cree did not respond, though it took a tremendous amount of will to sit in silence and wait.

The hour grew late with many of Minnoch’s warriors falling asleep at the tables where they sat while others laid passed out on the floor. Obern retired over an hour ago, having eaten and drank himself so full that he could barely walk from the room.

“A lass,” Minnoch said and belched loudly, “I need a lass to give a good plowing to tonight. There was a blonde servant with large breasts. She kept filling my tankard. Now I want to fill her.” He scratched his head. “Dorrie! I heard her called Dorrie and that she lives secluded from the village.”

“Better to entertain the men who thirst after her,” Cree said.

“Good, then she will enjoy a hard plowing and know how to please me. You will show me to her cottage,” Minnoch ordered, stumbling to his feet.

It was late, the village asleep, and not a soul stirred as they made their way through the village. They entered the woods and after a short time, Minnoch started laughing, and Cree stopped to stare at the man.

“I would never have been so foolish as to follow you in the woods if you had not given your word to the King not to harm me.”

“And of course you thought to remind me of that.”

He laughed again. “Aye, and I do it with great pleasure.”

“Tell me something, Minnoch, why did you falsely accuse me of stealing from you, imprison me, and plan to behead me?”

Minnoch grinned, stood tall, and gave a shout. Four of his warriors suddenly rushed out of the woods surrounding them, their swords drawn.

“I do not forgive and I do not forget,” he said with anger. “I once served the chieftain of the Clan Kellmara. He had told me that he wished he had a son like me rather than the son who disappointed him and fell in love with a peasant woman. I followed his orders and saw that his son was sent away and kept away until his father commanded his return. The chieftain sent me to make sure the woman never bothered with his son again. Your mother was more woman than I expected. She fought back and fired my loins until I was so hungry for her that I did not take heed and she...” He growled with anger. “She gave me this.” He pointed to the scar on his face. “When I returned to the chieftain wounded badly, he told me that if a woman could best me, then I was worthless to him. So, he cast me out. I had plans to eventually be Chieftain of the Clan Kellmara. It would have been easy to get rid of the son and convince the childless chieftain to pass the title and his lands on to me. I will not bore you with the hell I lived through after that. Or what I had to do to gain the pittance of what I have now to what I would have had if I had become Laird of the Clan Kellmara. It was a promise I made to myself that I would have my revenge one day that kept me going. I am going to take everything from you as your mother took from me, and you can do nothing to stop me.”

“I thought I killed the man who had attacked my mother,” Cree said more calmly than he felt.

Minnoch snorted as he laughed again. “You as well as Kellmara’s fool of a son. Now you know that you never revenged your mother and you never will. Once the King hears that you did not keep your word and that I killed you defending myself, he will give me your lands as compensation and victory will taste sweet. As for your wife and bairns, I will see they serve me.”

Cree stood with his hands clenched at his sides, an image of his mum bruised and bloody and struggling against the pain so that her son would not see her suffering hit him hard. He had to keep tight rein on his anger or he would lunge forward and snap the man’s neck, though not before beating him much worse than what he had done to his mum.