Free Highlander's Promise by Donna Fletcher Page A

know that, Obern. And aye, I give my word and I never give my word falsely.”
    “I know King Alexander trusts your word and therefore so must I,” Obern said a bit reluctantly.
    “Yet you would stand by and watch me beheaded?”
    “I would have stopped the beheading if I had been in the area to do so. Unfortunately, I only found out about it two days ago. And I must admit I was surprised to discover that it was your wife who rescued you from death.”
    “Then you will understand when I tell you that I intend to kill Minnoch.”
    “That is not possible,” Obern said, shaking his head and raised his hand to prevent Cree from speaking. “King Alexander needs Minnoch and his orders are that by no means are you to harm Minnoch. You are to welcome him into your home when he arrives.”
    “Welcome the man who wants to behead me?” Cree asked not to mention what he had done to his wife and for that alone he wanted to see Minnoch dead.
    “I will speak to Minnoch when he arrives and see that he makes peace with you.”
    “There will never be peace between him and me, that I can promise you,” Cree said, trying to contain the rage brewing inside him.
    “Peace or not, I will have your word that you will obey the King’s orders. You will not harm or kill Minnoch.”
    “And what of Minnoch? The King needs him so he will not threaten him. I tell you now, I will not stand idle and let him harm my clan or my family.”
    “The King does what must be done,” Obern said.
    “Aye, and I do the same.”
    “The King will have your word on this, Cree. You will not harm Minnoch and you will welcome him into your home upon his arrival.”
    Cree remained silent.
    “This is not negotiable, Cree,” Obern said sternly.
    “You are right, it is not,” Cree said, though he doubted Obern understood what he meant. “The King has my word.”

Chapter Nine
    Dawn was walking up to Old Mary’s door when it opened and Elsa came out, shutting the door behind her.
    “She is getting some much needed sleep, after a full meal,” Elsa said. “Have you rested well and eaten yet this morning?”
    Dawn pressed her hand to her cheek, wondering if her harrowing ordeal had left its mark on her.
    “Others may not see the toll your adventure has taken on you, but I do.” She hooked her arm around Dawn’s. “Rest is called for and food to help restore your strength.” She lowered her voice. “There is no telling what will happen with the King’s guard here and Minnoch on his way.”
    Someone shouted out for Elsa and she waved to let them know she would be right there. She turned to Dawn. “Rest when you can, for who knows what the next few days will bring.”
    Dawn watched her walk off and as she did, her eyes caught what she had been too preoccupied to see... the village was preparing for battle. The younger bairns were huddled in a circle listening to two women tell an adventurous tale of a mighty warrior. It was what was done if battle might be imminent. This way the two women could easily herd the young ones into the safety of the keep. Several lads carried long, narrow baskets and laid them to rest in various places throughout the village, an innocent enough task. But those baskets held arrows and had been strategically placed for the archers who would need them.
    She had known a battle was possible, but watching the villagers prepare made it seem that they sat on the brink of war. She shivered at the thought and prayed that Cree in his strength and wisdom would see a way to avoid it.
    Her stomach growled and she realized that with the unexpected arrival of the King’s emissary, she had neglected to eat this morning and now it was nearer to mid-day. She paid heed to Elsa’s warning. She did need to eat and keep up her strength. If battle did break out, there was no telling when next she would be able to eat.
    Dawn noticed the villagers hastily stepped out of the way of the King’s guard as a few of them walked through the village. The