Highlander's Promise Read Online Free

matter, then you are the fool. I will pledge my fealty to King Alexander and he will be glad of it.”
    Dawn pressed her hand tightly against her stomach, his words roiling her insides until she thought she would lose what little she had eaten this morning. She could not believe his words. Cree condemned to death and she and the twin’s fate left to Minnoch? It could not be allowed to happen.
    “And if you think to attack me, think again. I have more than enough warriors to defeat you,” Minnoch said with the confidence of one who had already tasted victory.
    Dawn knew that Sloan would not stand by and see Cree beheaded. He had brought more warriors with him when he returned and she had no doubt he had informed clan leaders loyal to Cree of the situation. The problem was time and Minnoch was using it to his advantage. It would take time to amass enough warriors to breach these castle walls. Sloan would not wait. He would attack and attempt to free Cree and no doubt Sloan and Cree’s warriors would be slaughtered along with him. Cree had to be freed before it was too late.
    “You will regret this, Minnoch,” Sloan said and he and Elwin hurried off.
    Minnoch lingered, talking to his guards and Dawn slowly wandered closer, hoping to hear what they were discussing and hoping it might be of some help in freeing Cree. When she realized one guard had begun to stare at her, she casually moved away... but not soon enough.
    “You there!” the guard shouted and that was when Dawn realized it was the guard who had been at the gatehouse and had pushed her neck bandage down with his spear.
    Dawn froze, knowing she had no other choice but to obey.
    The guard said something to Minnoch and he grinned like a man who was about to do something that would bring him much pleasure.
    “What are you doing?” Old Mary said, coming up behind her and slapping her in the back of the head. “Have you not gotten us into enough trouble?”
    Two guards followed Minnoch as he approached the women. “She has no voice?” he asked of Old Mary.
    “No, sir,” Old Mary said with a bob of her head. “The fool could not keep her mouth shut, so her husband slit her throat and kicked her out of the house.”
    “Why not simply cut her tongue out?”
    Old Mary shrugged. “I cannot speak for him. I do not know.”
    “I have use for her, two days should do, and then I will return her to you,” Minnoch said.
    Old Mary was quick to try and dissuade him, knowing he was not a man to trust. Once he had hold of Dawn, she might never see her again. “She is not a clean one, sir. Her skin rots in private places.”
    “All the better,” Minnoch said with a laugh.
    “Please, sir,” Old Mary begged with tears in her eyes. “She is my granddaughter and she is all I have. Please do not hurt her.”
    Minnoch laughed again. “That will be up to the prisoner Cree. He either accepts the generous gift I give him or I give her to the soldiers.”
    Old Mary looked to Dawn. “You please the prisoner whatever way he wants.” She hugged Dawn and whispered, “I give you my word, I will come for you and Cree tomorrow night.”
    “Take her!” Minnoch ordered.
    The soldier poked Dawn with the opposite end of his spear and Dawn trembled as she made her way to the door in the stone wall, though it was not out of fear. She was going to be exactly where she wanted to be... with her husband. And tomorrow night, she and Cree would be free, for when Old Mary gave her word, she kept it.
    Dawn stepped through the door and made sure to take in everything she could, though with the guard continuing to prod her in the back, hurrying her along, did not give her much time to see as much as she would have liked to. Besides, the place was dank and dark with barely enough torches to light the passageway. They passed the guards’ quarters and from what she could see there were many. How Old Mary would get them out, she did not know? But Dawn trusted her word.
    With a guard in front of