Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 42873 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42873 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Cree pulled his mouth away, his breathing ragged, and he dropped his brow against hers. “If I do not stop, I will toss you over the table and make you scream with pleasure.”
A smile rushed to her face that he would hear her silent scream of pleasure, and she teased him, pointing to the table then pressing her finger to her lips.
He raised his head to look intently at her. “So, you will be silent if I poke you here in the Great Hall?”
She nodded eagerly, her smile wickedly playful.
He cupped her chin. “Do not tempt me, wife, or I may find a nook to turn that playful smile to a much satisfied one.”
Servants entered the room chattering and stopped and grew silent when they spotted the couple.
Cree took his wife’s hand and whispered, “Behave… even though I do not want you to.” Then he called out, “See to your duties, we were just leaving.”
Sloan was at the keep stairs when Cree and Dawn stepped outside.
“What is it?” Cree asked, seeing the worry on his friend’s face.
“William and our warriors were attacked on their way here. The renegades who captured them are demanding payment or they will kill them all.”
CHAPTER 3
Cree and Dawn returned with Sloan to the old keep while Kirk kept his grandchildren occupied. Beast had sensed something was not right and had gone to Dawn’s side, but she hugged him to let him know all was well and pointed for him to return to the children.
The warrior who had been released to bring Cree the message was pacing in the Great Hall waiting Cree’s arrival.
“You suffered no injury? Gerald?” Cree asked, approaching the young warrior, anxiousness in his wide eyes and grime mingling with sweat across his wrinkled brow.
“Nay, my lord.”
“Tell me what happened?” Cree ordered, with a nod for his wife to sit at the nearby table while he remained standing.
Dawn sat eager to hear what the young warrior had to say.
“We were but a couple of hours away from here when attacked,” Gerald said and shook his head. “It was as if they came out of nowhere, they were upon us so suddenly.”
The only anger Cree allowed to show was his right hand fisted at his side. “Were any of our warriors injured or killed?”
“Nay, my lord. The attack came so swiftly that by the time we pulled our weapons we were surrounded and had no choice but to surrender.” Gerald hung his head, ashamed of the failure.
“A wise choice,” Cree praised, and the young warrior’s head shot up. “With all our warriors uninjured it will make rescue that much easier.”
Gerald nodded his head rigorously. “Aye, my lord, and the warriors stand ready. They know you will come to get them.”
“Of that there is no doubt,” Cree confirmed various plans already forming in his head. “Tell me their price for the safe return of William and our warriors.”
“Coin and—” Gerald scratched his head. “This is a strange one, my lord. The man who leads them demands a portion of your land. I spoke with the other warriors before I left, and William as well, and they all believe the leader wants no land but uses the demand to negotiate, thus getting his true intention—substantial coin.”
“This man must be a fool to demand a portion of your land,” Sloan said. “No one would submit to such an outrageous demand.”
“Think on what you say, Sloan,” Cree advised. “Who do we know that is fearless enough to make such an outrageous demand?”
Sloan’s brow scrunched in thought, trying to recall such a person and it took only a minute for his brow to grow wide. “Cavell.”
“Aye! That is the leader’s name,” Gerald said, surprised they knew it. “Auburn hair, taller than most, and a face marred with several scars and that shows not an ounce of fear.”
“That would be Cavell, though the scars are new which must upset him since his fine features once attracted endless women,” Sloan said, recalling the man.
“You have fought him, my lord?’ Gerald asked.
“Cavell fought beside me many years ago,” Cree said. “He was a fearless warrior then.”
“Probably even more so now since suffering so many scars, a sign of many battles,” Sloan said.
“I would imagine so,” Cree agreed, then looked to Gerald. “Have you seen your wife yet, Gerald?”
“Not yet, my lord, and I fear there is little time for me to do so. I came straight here to give you the message since I was ordered to return within a day’s time with your response or Cavell promises to make one of our warriors suffer. I am ready to return whenever you say, my lord.”
“And so you shall, but until that time you will see your wife, rest, and eat,” Cree ordered.
“Aye, my lord,” Gerald said and after a respectful bob of his head, hurried out of the keep.