Highland Secrets (Cree & Dawn)

“Non sum daemonium,” the woman whispered.

Cree grabbed the woman by the arm, yanking her to stop. “Say another word to my wife and you lose your tongue.”

He could feel his wife cringe behind him as he shoved the woman away. He knew full well she hated when he threatened that, due to her having no voice, but at the moment he did not care. Demon, witch, evil woman, he did not know, and he would take no chances with the safety of his wife and unborn bairn.

Cree knew Dawn understood Latin, but he also knew she might be stubborn enough not to tell him what the woman said. Being Flora stood close, he asked, “Did you hear what she said to my wife?”

Flora nodded.

“Tell me,” Cree ordered.

“I am no demon.”

“You most certainly are not coming with me when I speak to her,” Cree said, a warning look in his dark eyes. “Besides, I will speak with Henry before I even attempt to talk with her to see what he can tell me.”

Dawn was glad to hear that, it would give her time to try and change his mind. She gestured quickly.

Cree tried to keep his voice low and his temper down, standing with his back to the others in the Great Hall where they had gathered to talk. “You dinnae believe she is a demon because she claims she isn’t one?”

Frustrated that he would not even consider it, she pointed to Beast sitting beside her.

“What has Beast got to do with it?”

Dawn made a face as if she was snarling and Beast joined in.

“Enough,” Cree ordered the large dog and Beast quieted after looking to Dawn who nodded. “That Beast did not snarl at her means nothing, and did you ever stop to think that with the supposed demon saying unrecognizable words to you, and Beast not taking it as a threat, that people might think that her words had somehow captured you and you would now obey her?”

Dawn went to laugh at such foolishness and stopped.

“Your husband is right,” Flora said, her voice low and her eyes anxiously glancing around to make sure no one was close by. “Ignorance can be more evil than evil itself.”

“Heed her words,” Cree warned. “And do what I say… stay away from the woman.” He turned, looking for Dermid and waved the warrior over. “You will stay with Dawn. Do not let her out of your sight and do not let her go down into the dungeon.”

“Aye, my lord,” Dermid said, his face tight with determination.

“If you think to disobey me on this, Dawn, know Dermid will suffer punishment for failing to do as I ordered.”

Dawn narrowed her eyes at her husband.

“Be angry with me if you wish, but I will see you and our unborn bairn kept safe. Now I must go and find Henry and see what he can tell me about this woman.” Cree did not wait for his wife to respond, he turned away. “Newlin, Torin, come with me. We will talk with my tracker and see what he has to say about the woman before I question her.”

Dawn understood that he took the two men with him so that neither of them would attempt to talk with the captured woman alone.

“I will send word to Bhric about this and alert him to what he faces upon his arrival,” Torin said as he reached Cree.

“That would be wise,” Newlin said. “He may want to bring more warriors with him.”

Cree could not believe Newlin could be so foolish. “And perhaps he will decide it is too much trouble to take on and ask for the new marriage to be dissolved.”

Newlin looked anxiously to Torin. “He would not do that, would he?”

“Ah cannae speak for him, but you ask much of him to take on a demon.” Torin hurried ahead of them to the door.

Newlin turned an apprehensive look on Cree. “Please end this before Bhric arrives.”

“Then hold your tongue and do as I say,” Cree ordered and strode off, Newlin hurrying to follow.

Flora waited until the men were gone before she spoke. “You understand Latin, don’t you?”

Tavia heard as she approached the two women. “Is that true? You know Latin?”

Dawn nodded, her eyes shifting to glance at Dermid not far from them, a warning for the women to keep their voices low.

“We need to talk to that woman,” Flora said.

“Do not be foolish, Flora,” Tavia argued.

“What is foolish is letting the men get to her before we do. There may be nothing left of her after that.”

“Your voice,” Tavia warned, hearing the strain it took for her to speak.

Flora dismissed her concern with a wave. “This is more important. How do we stand by and do nothing to help an innocent woman?”

“What if she is not innocent?” Tavia continued to argue.