Forbidden Highlander (Highlander Trilogy 2)

She was suddenly hungry and eagerly snatched the cloth off the basket.

“I will do that,” Flanna said chasing her hands away. “You sit and rest yourself.”

No more rest, Dawn thought. She had had enough of it.

Flanna placed bread and cheese on the table in front of Dawn and filled a tankard with cider as she talked. “Cree is furious that more men have been sent to do you harm. He worries greatly over your well-being and well he should. There is talk—” Flanna stopped and shook her head as if silently scolding herself.

Dawn was pleased that Flanna spoke freely in front of her and curious why she suddenly stopped. She patted Flanna’s arm, shrugged, and wrinkled her brow in question.

“I do not wish to add to your ailing. You have enough to concern yourself with.”

Flanna worried about her as did others and it pleased Dawn to know that people cared for her, though she wanted no one feeling sorry for her. Dawn thumped her chest and grinned as she threw her arms wide.

Flanna laughed. “You feel better.”

Dawn threw her hands up and around as if forming a big ball.

“Much better,” Flanna corrected and Dawn confirmed with a nod.

Dawn pointed to the chair across from her, tapped her mouth, and then waved her hand and Flanna understood that she wanted her to sit and tell her more and she obliged.

“There is talk that Rem, the culprit who saved your life, had told Cree that the attempts on your life would not stop until you were dead. And it puzzles him as it does many as to why someone wants you dead.”

Dawn tapped her chest.

“Of course it puzzles you as well since it makes no sense at all. No one wishes you ill will, except…” Flanna frowned and shook her head. “The soon-to-be lady of the keep is one to watch out for, a nasty one she is, barely a day here and she has already raised her hand to her one servant several times. And such a lovely lass Bree is, with bright curly red hair and a pleasant smile for all. I feel sorry for her other servant Magda. The poor woman’s hands are gnarled from years of stitching and must certainly pain her, yet Lucerne has her busy stitching away day and night. The woman has enough garments to last her forever. The servants worry that she will do the same to them, work them until they’re gnarled with pain, once she weds Cree and takes over the running of the keep.” She smiled. “Though there was an incident between Turbett and Lucerne and Cree has forbidden Lucerne to enter the kitchen and he has given me orders to remind her if necessary. He also told me to report any problems concerning Lucerne to him.”

She shook her head again. “I digress. We were discussing the attacks, which started before Lucerne arrived and she has yet to learn,” —Flanna paused— “your status in the village. And she won’t be hearing it from any of my servants, I can tell you that. I warned every one of them that they’d answer to me if their tongues wagged. ”

Dawn placed a hand to her chest and nodded her thanks, then tapped her finger to her temple.

“You have a thought,” Flanna confirmed.

She gestured with her hands as if two mouths talked and then tapped her brow.

“We can learn from wagging tongues.”

Dawn nodded, patted her chest, and tapped her brow.

Flanna leaned closer. “You want to learn what’s going on.”

Dawn nodded, pointed to Flanna and then to herself.

“Of course, I’ll help you. If it wasn’t for you I would still be putting up with that bear of a man, Turbett.” She smiled. “Once I became his equal and he could no longer dictate to me in the kitchen he changed.” She sighed. “Or perhaps I changed and realized that his constant badgering had been his inability to show that he favored me.”

Dawn patted her chest rapidly and smiled.

“You are happy for me.” Flanna sniffled back a tear. “I am grateful to you. You have been a good friend and I will help you all I can.”

Dawn pointed to her ear.

“You want me to listen,” Flanna nodded. “A good tactic since most nobility think servants hear nothing, though Cree is more cautious, lowering his voice when a servant drifts near. I have noticed that recently Cree and Sloan often seek the privacy of his solar and it makes me wonder if plans are being made.”

A questioning gesture from Dawn had Flanna responding.

“Plans for what I don’t know, though I will do my best to find out.”

Dawn pointed to her and back to herself, and then locked her hands tight.

“I will tell no one about what we’ve discussed. It will be our secret.”

For a moment Dawn wondered if she was being fair to Flanna. If Cree discovered that the woman helped her she would certainly suffer for it.