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)
Cree’s response shocked everyone. “And are you werewolves?”
“An unnecessary question considering our last conversation.”
“I would think the same until I saw this,” Cree said, pointing to the warrior on the floor. “His head has nearly been severed by what looks like a vicious animal attack. Can you explain that?”
“The dead man was more vicious than a wolf, snarling, snapping, growling,” Olwen cried out. “He cornered me and was about to rip me to shreds with that claw staff and his pointed teeth when Lord Tiernan arrived. He didn’t stop even after several strikes of his lordship’s weapon, he kept coming. He was a madman.”
“You are safe, Olwen. All is well,” Lord Tiernan said to calm her.
“Not if there are more of these warriors lurking about,” Cree said. “And how was this one able to make his way into the keep?”
“The fog and his knowledge of wolves and how they hunt allowed him to slip past our defenses,” Sim said, entering the room and sending a quick glance at Lord Tiernan.
“But why a lone warrior?” Cree asked, searching all their faces to see if any of them questioned as he did and not one of them looked puzzled. “Or is he a lone warrior?”
“We will talk privately, Lord Cree, as soon as Lynall finishes seeing to my wound,” Lord Tiernan said.
Cree nodded. “A wise decision.”
Olwen stepped forward, color returning to her face. “I will fetch a hot brew and have Cook start the morning meal early.”
Cree looked around. “Are there no servants to help her? She has suffered a fright and should rest.”
“I need no rest, sir. I am good and the other servants will wake soon enough to see to their chores,” Olwen said and left the room, her gait strong.
Lord Tiernan nodded to Brigid. She returned the nod and followed Olwen out of the room.
Cree turned to Dawn and slipped his arm around her to walk her away from the others where they could talk more privately. “You will wait here while I speak with Tiernan. There is more to this than he is telling me.”
Dawn scrunched her brow and shrugged, asking what he meant.
“I cannot see the Ulfr tribe holding any animosity against Clan MacMadadh. The opposite would make more sense. If they believed the clan were werewolves, wouldn’t they want to learn their secret so they could actually turn into wolves themselves rather than pretend to turn into wolves?”
Dawn raised her brow at the thought and nodded, thinking that would make sense.
“And the Ulfr certainly wouldn’t attack a clan they believe to be wolves; they revere them too much.”
Dawn shrugged again, confused.
“Aye, it is confusing and worse, the various scenarios of what the Ulfr warrior was truly doing here leaves me more concerned than the thought of werewolves.”
“Lord Cree,” Lord Tiernan called out. “We will talk now.”
Cree turned to see that part of Lord Tiernan’s shoulder and chest were bandaged, but the man did not cringe, not even a little as he slipped on his shirt. The wounds he had seen on Tiernan should have left him with painful movements, but he moved without the slightest discomfit.
“Make sure to stay here,” Cree said, then thought better of it. “Unless you feel in danger, then do not hesitate to come get me.”
Dawn nodded and fear roiled her stomach after Cree left her sitting at a table before he took his leave with Lord Tiernan. She had the horrible feeling that things were about to get worse.
“Do not waste my time, Tiernan,” Cree said as soon as the door to the solar closed. “I want the truth.”
“Once a secret is spoken it is no longer a secret and just as you would not leave your clan vulnerable, neither will I, which is the agreement we reached in our previous conversation. The Ulfr tribe is not friend nor foe to us. My ancestors struck an agreement with them years ago, finding it in both our interests to avoid each other, our beliefs different, and since then we have had no contact with each other.”
“Are you saying the dead warrior is not from the Ulfr tribe?”
“At one time he probably was, but I would guess he is either an outcast, his tribe or pack, as they often refer to themselves, having forced him out or he chose to leave to start his own tribe and failed, leaving him a lone wolf, adrift on his own.”
“And they seek to prove their worth by trying to kill the laird of Clan MacMadadh?” Cree asked.
“Nay, they usually seek permission to join the clan, missing the camaraderie of their tribe. The wolves in the area usually do a good job of forcing them away.”
“Usually? Has any made it here like the one tonight?”
“Only one other time before this has one managed to reach us,” Lord Tiernan admitted.