She didnt seem to let it bother her. She slipped away from him and lit the candles she had brought with her and then got busy arranging food on the sleeping pallet.

He watched her amazed by her graceful movements and the way she took pains to arrange the food for him. But then she was a servant and it was her duty to please him.

The thought struck him hard. Had she responded to his kiss out of duty? And if so why did it disturb him? She had been given orders and she had suffered the consequences of those orders when she had no information to give Colum. So had she been doing her best to please the man who could cause her great pain and not him?

Anger boiled up inside him, though it made no sense. Why should it matter to him one way or the other? She meant nothing to him, though... he felt a tug in his gut. She was a pawn in a dangerous game, being played by everyone around her and she was doing her best to survive. How could he fault her for that? Actually he had to admire her. She did what she had to do and spoke not a complaint.

She couldnt speak.

It still astonished him that she could not make a sound, not even a grunt. He had seen others who could not speak but they at least were able to grunt or make some type of noise. He had never known anyone who had lost their voice entirely. And to think she had this since birth. He wondered if any children she birthed would be afflicted with the same horror.

It also surprised him how she had adapted so well to her affliction, though some would think it more a curse. She appeared to communicate with anyone who paid heed to her, though he doubted many did. They more than likely assumed her ignorant and cast foul words upon her rather than a pleasant word.

She smiled at him and pointed at the blanket, an array of food spread invitingly upon it.

He joined her sitting opposite from her eager to partake in the meal and perhaps conversation. Strange that he actually thought of speaking with her when she could not say a word, and yet it seemed that he had discussed things more with her than any other woman he had known.

She handed him a piece of meat and bread.

Eat, he said, though it sounded like an order to his ears.

She reached out and tore a small piece of bread off the loaf and nibbled on it.

He was about to tell her to eat more when he decided against it. With the day she had been having he wouldnt be surprised if she had no appetite at all, and he would not force her to eat.

He reached for more bread and she quickly moved to help him, ripping several pieces off the loaf and placing them in front of him. Her duty was to serve him and she was seeing her duty done. The thought gave him pause and he wondered what else Colum expected of her this day.

Is there anything else that Colum wants from you?

She didnt need to speak, the way her body turned rigid spoke louder than words.

Tell me, he said.

Dawn stared at him. How did she tell him that Colum expected the scent of coupling to rest heavy upon her? That she would be handed to another man if he did not mate with her this night. The thought of Goddard having his way with her caused her stomach to roil and she let the piece of bread fall from her hand before she pressed it hard against her stomach.

Cree didnt care for the way Dawn paled or how her hand clenched at her stomach. Whatever Colum had threatened her with had sickened her to think about and that angered him.

You will tell me, he ordered firmly.

If she had to choose who she wanted to take from her that which should only be given to her husband, the man she would love with all her heart, then it would be Cree she would choose. She could not bear the thought of Goddard taking her like an animal in front of others.

Now!

Dawn jumped at his stern command. What choice did she have? Reluctantly, she pointed to Cree and then to her.

He saved her from going any further. Colum expects us to mate.

She nodded, though she knew she needed to make him aware of what would happen if they didnt.

He seemed to understand the situation and asked, And the consequence if that doesnt happen?

Dawn raised her arm high, hoping he would recall the last time she had referred to Goddard that way and then she pointed to herself and then to her raised arm.

He didnt respond immediately and she feared he did not understand her. But then she watched as that murderous look rose in his eyes and turned her cold once again.

Are you telling me that if we do not couple that Colum will give you to Goddard?

Her shoulders slumped with relief that he understood and she nodded.

How would he know if "

His sudden silence frightened her all the more.

He wants my scent upon you.

It sounded to Dawn as if he growled beneath his breath like an angry beast.

The bastard will pay for treating me like a dog and for using you without care or thought.

It dawned on her then that Cree had no intentions of dying that somehow he would escape and make Colum pay. What then would happen to her village? Would he and his warriors pillage it and the people? This was news she could take to Colum, but with no proof, what good would it do?

What made her anxious was that he turned completely silent. He finished eating and then quickly retired to the corner of the hut where the shadows devoured him. Dawn didnt know what to do. So she cleared away the food and sat on the edge of the blanket, found a stick, and began to draw.

She loved to draw and had since she was little. Her drawings said what she couldnt and they spoke of beauty and joy. She wished she had had a permanent way of recording her drawing, but paper was costly as was paints and materials. So she made do and would draw in the sand only to brush her creations away or have the wind take them.

She drew a familiar scene, a place she often went to when she had a rare moment to herself. It was a glen not far from the village. She, Lila, and Paul shared grand adventures there when they were children. It was a safe place to her. A stream ran through the glen, hills rose on either side and trees dotted the landscape. She loved the soothing sound of the trickling stream. The water was in no hurry, making its way slowly along its path. She would sit for hours there if she could, but her work in the kitchen gave her little time to spare. Drawing the familiar scene at least let her visit it.

Two candles flickered out and when she looked up to see that the candles had burned completely down, she realized that she had spent several hours drawing in the dirt. She had a couple of more candles in the basket, though she didnt want to waste their precious light on her drawings. Reluctantly, she swept her hand across her creations and they were gone.

The huts door swung open causing her to jump and for Cree to quickly emerge from the shadows and stand protectively in front of her.

Shes to come fetch supper, John said standing outside the door, dare not letting his foot pass over the threshold.

I have other plans for her, Cree said never taking his eyes off the guard. Have someone else fetch it.

John couldnt seem to find the right words. He fumbled around, his tongue unable to work properly until he finally gave up and shut the door.

Dawn slumped with relief. When the door had opened she feared she would be forced to leave and forced to endure Goddard. She gladly remained behind with Cree and was more than happy that he refused to allow her to leave. It bought her time. How much she didnt know but for now she was pleased with having this short reprieve.

Cree turned as soon as the door closed. Take your garments off.

Chapter Ten.

Dawn stood frozen to the spot, her eyes resting on him as he slipped out of his leather leggings and removed his boots. In a matter of seconds he stood before her naked and her breath caught. He was more than a fine specimen of a man; he was magnificent.

Toned and hard, not a thickening spot on him and devoid of scars, a rarity for a warrior or perhaps a badge of honor. She was eager to see all of him and so her eyes roamed. He was solid, large and hard all over. His precise lines and angles had her hand aching not to touch him but to draw him. He would make a beautiful subject to draw.

He stretched his arms out to his sides. Do I please you?

She dropped down to the ground without thinking and grabbed the stick she had been drawing with and her hand began moving, her eyes darting back and forth between him and the ground.

Cree shook his head. The woman confused him. He had expected her to tremble in fear at his command, perhaps hesitate to obey then eventually acquiesce. But what does she do? She drops to the ground and starts drawing.

He gave her a few minutes and then hunched down beside her. He was stunned at what she had so quickly drawn. It was him... from the chest up. He stared shocked at her skillful hand.

You are talented.

She smiled at him and it struck him that she may be plain but there was a loveliness to her that he doubted many were aware of.

He reached out and took the stick from her hand. You must remove your garments now.

There was no point in protesting, weeping, or fighting. She had made her choice; this had to be done. She would submit willingly to Cree to save herself from being taken by Goddard.

Cree stood and offered his hand to her. She took it and got to her feet, then stepped away. With shaking hands she fumbled her way through removing her clothes. She kept her back to him fearing that he would turn away in disgust at her naked body. Some of the woman had made fun of her and let her know that her voice was not the only thing she lacked... her body left a lot to be desired. Lila had told her to ignore their remarks that they were jealous, but Lila was her friend and always defended her.

Why it mattered what he thought of her body she didnt know, and she shouldnt let it bother her, but it did and it kept her from turning around when she finally stood completely naked.

Cree had watched how her hands trembled as she attempted to remove her garments. He had grown annoyed at first, wanting her to hurry, but as he watched her remove one garment at a time revealing creamy skin and luscious curves, he changed his mind and continued watching her disrobe.

Her body was lovely, perfect curves and slender limbs and a taut backside his hands itched to touch. He wanted to see more of her and when she didnt turn around he said, Turn.

She gathered all the courage that she could and with a sturdy lift of her chin she turned around.

His loins tightened at the sight of her. Her breasts were but a handful, her waist slim, her hips curved and her legs long. Damn what was wrong with him? He favored thicker and well-endowed women. Why did this woman affect him so? He had grown hard watching her disrobe and he grew harder when she had turned around. And now he was annoyed with himself. He controlled his passion, his passion didnt control him. It was a rule he had lived by.

He had seen too many men lose all they had fought hard for because they had allowed their desire to override common sense. He had no intention of letting that happen to him. He had worked hard and sacrificed much to get where he had gotten, and he would not lose it all over a woman and a voiceless one at that.

He almost cringed at his words. It wasnt Dawns fault that she had no voice and she had bravely faced life with the infirmity and had thrived in spite of it. In a way she was a conquering warrior herself.

Cree stretched his hand out. Come here.

Dawn wanted this done so she didnt hesitate, she went to him. It did help that he hadnt turned his eyes away from her, but kept them steady upon her. And being as hard as he was he obviously desired her. At least she told herself that to make it easier for her to join with him.

As soon as her hand touched his, he yanked her against him and she felt a jolt through her body that caught her breath. His body was hard and warm and the strength of him overpowered.

He lowered them to the blanket and covered her with his body. He stared at her and she thought he would say something but he didnt, he just stared. Then he began to move against her and she felt his shaft hard between her legs. He continued to stare at her as he did.

She realized than that he had no intentions of kissing her. He would take her and be done with it. She would lay there and do what she must... suffer the lesser of two evils.

A tingle started between her legs and flourished and grew stronger as his movements grew stronger. And still he kept his eyes on her. She tried to remain still but it was difficult. She could not stop herself from moving against him and the more the tingle grew pleasurable, the more rapid her movements.

Dawn shut her eyes against the building passion and grabbed hold of his arms.

Open your eyes, he ordered, his breath rapid.

She did, her own breathing growing heavier. She waited for him to enter her, to be done with it, to have his way and stop the unbearable ache that would not stop building inside her when suddenly she felt herself explode with extraordinary pleasure.

She gripped his arms tight and wished at that moment that she had a voice, for if she did she would scream with the sheer pleasure that consumed her.

Cree let out a groan as he rode against her hard and then finally collapsed on top of her.

She didnt quite understand what had happened. Cree had never entered her and when in the throes of it all"God help her"she had actually wanted him to. Hadnt he truly wanted her?

Voices outside the door had Dawn pushing at Crees chest.

Stay as you are, he said.

Dawns eyes turned wide. She didnt want anyone to see them like this, see her naked, though Crees body covered hers as well as a blanket would, though not him. His backside lay bare for anyone who entered to see.

The door sprung open and Flanna walked in with a basket in each hand. John stopped at the threshold as usual, though both of them froze when they caught sight of the naked couple on the ground.

Blasted, woman, put the baskets down and get out, Cree screamed at her.

Flanna fumbled, dropping the baskets to the ground and cast a glance of pity at Dawn before turning and hurrying past the guard.

John laughed and nodded and as the door closed he could be heard saying, Colum is going to want to hear about this.

Realization struck Dawn... Cree had done this to protect her. The guard would tell Colum that the prisoner had rutted with the dumb one and Flanna would spread the news as well. And she would have his scent upon her.

Tears threatened her eyes, but she forced them away. He had saved her from suffering at Colums hand and saved her from Goddard and while the villagers would certainly gossip about it, she at least was safe. She knew she should be grateful, but she could not help wonder why he had not actually coupled with her.

Cree got off her. Get dressed.

It was a curt command and she hurried into her clothes.

He slipped his things on and sat on the blanket, not glancing her way.

A crack of thunder had her jumping, though had not disturbed Cree in the least.

Food, he said.

She went to the baskets Flanna had brought and as she rifled through them she recalled the look of pity in Flannas eyes. Would she see that in others eyes? Would the villagers pity her and avoid her more now for having copulated with evil?

Pity is for fools, her mum used to say. Do what you must and be done with it. Get on with life for it will not wait for you.

She had to remember that and do what she must. She smiled seeing all the food Flanna had brought. If anything good came of this misfortune it was that she was eating better than she ever had and for that she should be grateful.

She picked up the baskets and walked over to the blanket where she began spreading out the food. She didnt look once at Cree, and she wondered if he bothered to look at her.

Cree watched her closely. He liked watching her movements and he had liked feeling her move against him. The thought annoyed him, though what had annoyed him even more was his climax. Never had he experienced such an intense one and he hadnt even been inside Dawn. He wondered if it would be more intense if he had been and if so would the climax be unimaginable and more satisfying than anything he had ever known?