“Then she suffers her fate.”
Dawn admired Flora’s intelligence. She was right about speaking to the captive before the men got to her. But that would be difficult with Dermid constantly nearby.
The door burst open drawing all their attention and Dawn was surprised and pleased to see her husband with Henry at his side, and Newlin hurrying in behind them. Now she would be able to hear all Henry had to tell Cree.
“Sit,” he ordered Henry pointing to the table where Dawn sat with the other two women.
Tavia didn’t hesitate to get Henry a tankard of hot cider. “Warm yourself. You look cold.”
“I am grateful, mistress,” Henry said.
“It is Lady Tavia,” Torin said, hurrying his step toward them late to follow the other men in.
“My apologies, Lady Tavia,” Henry said.
“I am not used to it myself and it matters not to me,” Tavia said, annoyed at Torin for correcting the young man and also for reminding her of her new status she was not at all comfortable with and doubted she would ever be.
“It matters to your husband,” Torin reprimanded.
“It matters little now,” Cree said, his voice strong, drawing everyone’s attention while his attention turned to Henry. “Tell me all that happened.”
Henry placed his tankard on the table, having enjoyed a generous gulp and the warmth it spread through his body. “I left two warriors behind, concealed, as you suggested, my lord, to see if anyone would return for the buried heart. The woman arrived as morning barely made itself known. She crept quietly, the men not hearing her until she was upon the mound of snow.”
“Did she fight them?” Newlin asked.
“Aye, but she was no match for the two warriors,” Henry confirmed.
“If she is a demon, she would have easily been victorious,” Flora challenged.
Dawn tilted her head, her eyes going wide with question, showing her support of Flora’s remark.
Newlin jumped in, his voice anxious. “What if she wanted to be caught? What if she is here to wreak more havoc on the clan?”
It appears she is succeeding. Flora bit back the remark that almost fell from her lips. She silently warned herself to keep control of her tongue around her uncle or she would find herself wed to someone of his choice.
Dawn did not hold her tongue, she gestured.
“She may be only a woman, but she is a woman who cut the heart out of a man,” Cree said, and Dawn gestured again. “How do we know it was her, you ask?” Cree shook his head. “She returned for the heart.”
“Your husband is right, Torin said. “Why return for the heart if she had not cut it out?”
“She is the devil’s cohort. He made her do it,” Newlin said. “She deserves to burn before she can harm anyone else. The clan will demand it.”
Dawn glanced at Flora and could see the woman fought to hold her tongue. The look she settled on Dawn was easy to understand. They had to speak with the captured woman before the men did.
“All in good time,” Cree said. “I am sure your clan wishes to know what happened to those who disappeared so they can feel safe that it will not happen again.”
“Lord Cree is right, Da, and that is talk better left to men,” Tavia said, standing. “Lady Dawn, Flora, and I will retire to my solar and leave you men in peace.”
Flora was annoyed that her cousin surrendered so easily but did not argue. She stood ready to join Tavia.
Dawn, however, thought differently. Tavia had more strength than even she herself realized and with an arranged marriage to Lord Bhric, she fought in small ways to retain a certain degree of liberty.
Dawn turned to her husband, pointed to Dermid, and shook her head.
Cree knew his wife wanted to talk privately with the two women without Dermid lurking nearby and he would not deny her the chance.
“Dermid will remain here, and I will speak with you later,” he said and watched his wife walk off with the other two women, thinking she had agreed far too easily to leave the conversation. He would give her time to settle in the solar then send Dermid to check on her.
“Hurry,” Tavia said, redirecting them when they were out of sight. “I doubt we have much time.”
“And here I thought you had ceded to the men,” Flora said as she moved to follow behind Dawn down the narrow hallway that led to the dungeon.
The foul odor stung Dawn’s nostrils long before she reached the bottom of the steps. She covered her nose with her fingers hoping the scent on her hands would at least faint the odor. It didn’t and her stomach roiled.
“Are you all right?” Flora asked from behind, her own hand covering her nose, forcing her to speak above a whisper.
At the moment she was but she could make no promises. She nodded anyway.