Highlander Unchained (Highlander Trilogy 1)

“Hurry, he does not like to be kept waiting,” she ordered and Dawn thought she caught a tear glisten in one eye.

After giving Dawn a shove to send her on her way, Flanna hurried off herself.

Dawn worked fast, all too aware of the suffering Colum could inflict if his summons was not answered quickly enough. She did not want to think of the punishment he could order, if she had somehow offended him. It was best she hurry and be done with the ordeal as quickly as possible.

When she finished removing the odor of onions from her hands she entered the kitchen. Silence struck and all stared wide-eyed at her until Flanna ordered the workers to tend to their chores. Dawn continued to pass through, it being the only assigned entry way for the servants to the Great Hall.

She tucked her long, dark hair behind her ears, silently recited a prayer of mercy as she walked through the narrow stone passageway until she finally came to the wooden arch. Once she stepped past, she would be in the Great Hall.

Dawn prayed for courage, but fear remained her companion as she forced herself to step forward. It was not a large room, the keep having been built small, the feudal lord having not been in residence here since long before she had arrived. It had sat in disrepair until Colum had appeared. He had the hall repaired first and a small dais was erected, the large chair in the middle more representative of a throne.

“Dawn!”

The shout startled her, so loud was it that it echoed off the stone walls. And she realized Colum like others assumed that along with being dumb she was also deaf. She hurried over and bobbed her head respectfully and kept it lowered.

“Look at me,” Colum said, though it sounded like a shout.

She raised her head cautiously, her heart beating ever so wildly that she thought it would burst. This was the closest she had ever been to Colum. She was surprised to note that his pudgy face wore a pinched expression and there were many more lines and wrinkles than could be seen from a distance. His lips were so narrow it appeared as if he had none at all. And his shoulder length brown hair was sparse on top and sprinkled with gray.

“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.