Forbidden Highlander (Highlander Trilogy 2)

Dawn allowed Flanna to do as she wished. She was more concerned with finding out how her father was doing and preparing herself for Lucerne’s reaction when the woman found out the truth about her birth. In a way she felt sorry for her. Dawn was now a noble while Lucerne was now a peasant. And she did not think that Lucerne could survive a peasant’s life. And she fretted over how she would survive being a noble.

One thing she was happy about was that she had free reign of the keep. Cree had posted guards throughout the entire keep and while he had insisted that Dawn remain by his side, he soon found it a difficult order to maintain, thus the guards being posted throughout the keep and Elwin following her wherever she went.

She had been at the keep only a couple of hours and was already missing the solitude of her cottage. Everywhere she ventured someone was there. She was not used to so many people being around and it unnerved her. She much preferred her solitude or a cozy chat with her best friend Lila. That was how she had spent most of her time, and she favored it that way. How she would adapt, she didn’t know.

Dawn was pleased when Flanna finally finished settling her things and after giving her friend an appreciative hug and seeing her out the door, Dawn found that she was tired. It had been an eventful day and it was only a couple of hours after noon. And though she was a bit fatigued, she wanted to see how her father was doing. She grabbed her cloak and went to the door, hoping she would not meet resistance to her plan.

Elwin, as usual, was outside the door and when he saw that she wore her cloak, he shook his head. “Cree says you are to stay in the keep.”

Dawn gestured that she wished to see how Kirk was doing.

Elwin smiled. “In that case we don’t have a problem. Kirk was moved here to the keep. Cree and Torr thought it best that way.”

She was pleased that she’d face no resistance, though she did wonder over the true reason why Kirk had been moved here. Did Cree and Torr believe his life was in danger? She tossed her cloak on the bed and followed Elwin down one floor. With each step her mind churned wondering over different possibilities as to why with Gerwan’s death, her life should still be in danger. What was it this person or persons were after? What value did her identity hold now with Gerwan dead?

Elwin opened the door to the room and stepped in. She was surprised to see him acknowledge someone with a bow of his head and was more surprised to see that it was the cleric who the King had sent to wed Lucerne and Cree.

“I came to pray for the lord’s servant Kirk in his hour of need,” the cleric said, his eyes narrowing as he spoke until his expression turned to a scowl. “You are Cree’s harlot.”

Dawn sent him such a scathing look that the cleric actually took a step back.

“It is not too late to redeem your soul,” he urged. “We can pray together and cleanse you of the devil.”

Dawn let him rattle on, her attention caught by the small vial in his hand. She pointed to it.

“I was anointing him,” the cleric snapped and you should wait outside until I finish and then I will hear your confession.”

She didn’t move, she continued to stare at his hands that looked weathered and worn from toiling in the field. But if he was one of the King’s cleric’s what would he be doing toiling in the field?

He stepped toward her and before she could move he grabbed hold of her arm, his other hand held a dagger, the point pressed to her stomach. The vial he had held had fallen to the floor beside the bed.

“Unless you want me to cut your guard’s throat, you better agree when I tell him that we are going to Cree’s bedchamber where I will hear your confession.”

She nodded, not wishing any harm to come to Elwin.

The long sleeve of his robe covered the dagger as they walked out of the room. “She wishes to confess her sins and cleanse her soul,” the cleric announced and Elwin looked at him oddly.

Dawn nodded and placed her hand on Elwin tapping his arm twice, though the cleric could not see it.

Elwin returned with them to Cree’s bedchamber passing Lady Ann on the way. She seemed in a hurry, claiming Lucerne was upset and needed her. When Elwin opened the door to the bedchamber, the cleric blocked him from entering the room.

“Confession is private, my son,” he said.

Elwin looked conflicted and Dawn hoped he would remain outside the door and attempt to find out what she had been trying to tell him. She had grown fond of Elwin and didn’t want to see him hurt and Dorrie would be devastated if she lost him, the pair having grown to love each other.