Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 36428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
A howl sounded outside followed by another one, and Cree slipped his arm around his wife, catching the sound of faint footfalls.
“The wolves hunt tonight.”
Dawn was startled by Olwen’s sudden appearance, not having heard her enter the room. Her husband hadn’t budged, but even if he didn’t hear her, he was too well-trained to show that anyone could startle him, except her of course. Dawn was still capable of surprising him at times.
“But worry not,” Olwen said. “The men will spend the night protecting the village and the livestock.”
“My horse—”
“Is safe,” Olwen assured him. “As are both of you, so rest well and do not worry.”
“Yawn the next time she returns, so she thinks we are ready for sleep,” Cree whispered to his wife after Olwen left the room. “And eat more while you can.”
His order confirmed his concern, but she could not abide the thought of taking another bite. She shook her head and patted her stomach.
“You’re not feeling well?” he asked.
She nodded and drew a never-endling circle on her stomach.
“Your stomach is upset.”
She nodded, sighed, and rested her head on his shoulder.
“Have no worry, Dawn. I will get us out of here safely and we will not be going anywhere for some time after this. I have traveled enough. I prefer my home and the company of family and friends.”
She tapped her chest and nodded, letting him know she felt the same.
When Olwen returned, Dawn had to force herself to yawn, the prospect of exploring with Cree boosting her strength and resolve.
“I left a nice brew in your chambers to enjoy just before bed,” Olwen said. “Have a good rest and I will see you in the morning.”
“Your generosity is appreciated,” Cree said, and stood, then helped his wife to stand and with a nod to Olwen they left the room.
As soon as they reached their bedchamber, Dawn warned him to stay away from the brew, pointing to the jug and shaking her head and finger.
“I agree. We don’t drink the brew, though I have a feeling that Olwen may make sure we did. So, in a short while we will lie in bed and wait for her visit before we explore.”
Dawn took the jug and first poured some into the two tankards, then emptied them and more from the jug into the bucket of water, planning to accidentally spill it in the morning so that no one was the wiser. Not long after she got into bed and was lying on her side, then her husband curled himself around her, tucking her close against him, and she smiled. She rested her hand on his arm that hugged her waist and feeling his strength and his heart beat with confidence, she felt less anxious since arriving here.
“Footfalls. Close your eyes,” Cree whispered in her ear after they had laid there for a while.
Cree had made sure they faced the door, so Olwen didn’t need to enter the room, but he thought she might anyway, and he was right. He heard a slight tap to the door, then it creaked open slowly. He listened as her footfalls neared the bed. He felt a slight poke at his arm, then he heard her walk away but not toward the door, to the table. Dawn had been wise in making it seem like they had drunk quite a bit of the brew.
Her footfalls headed to the door and the door creaked open then closed, but he waited as he advised Dawn they would, to make sure Olwen made it appear that she left when she didn’t. Once again, he was right. After a few moments, the door creaked open again and shut. Still, Cree waited since he heard no footfalls along the passageway and once more the door opened and shut. Olwen was thorough in making sure that he and Dawn had drunk enough of the brew to keep them asleep for the rest of the night.
Finally, he heard her footfalls fade down the passageway and he alerted Dawn. “She’s gone.” He helped her out of bed. “You will stay close to me.”
She nodded, intending to do just that. She did not want to chance getting separated from him in an unfamiliar and odd place, especially since she had no voice, no way of calling out to him. She had learned through the years to clap her hands or make noise with whatever was at hand to attract his attention when needed. But that was not always possible, so she did not like to take risks. Besides, this place left her feeling uneasy and only feeling the strength of her husband’s muscled body against hers could ease her anxiousness.
Cree had opened the door enough times to know that if he lifted it some the creak could barely be heard. So, he and Dawn managed to leave the bedchamber making as little noise as possible. He grabbed a torch from one of the few sconces before they climbed the stairs to the next floor. The torch flickered in his hand, cutting a light through the suffocating darkness. The flames cast shadows that danced and twisted on the cold, uneven walls, forming shapes that looked like clawed hands reaching out to seize them. His other hand gripped Dawn’s hand to make sure she kept close.