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)
Dawn watched him go and shivered. He was warning her that he knew that she and Cree had explored the upper floors, and they had been tracked back to their bedchamber. But by who? A wolf or Lord Tiernan or were they one in the same?
A heavy fog rushed at Cree as soon as the door opened. Olwen had spoken the truth. The fog was far thicker than he expected. It was eerie to step into since it was like stepping into the unknown, not knowing where your feet would land or even if your feet would touch land.
“You need to stay close to me, Lord Cree, or you will get lost in the fog,” Sim cautioned.
“I have gotten caught in fog before now but never as thick as this fog,” Cree said.
“It’s rare even for us, how thick this fog is,” Sim said, then suddenly called out, “Brigid, come take Tade.”
“Aye,” Brigid called back and suddenly appeared, Sim handing Tade over to her.
“I won’t be long. I am taking Lord Cree to the stables,” Sim said.
“Be careful,” she warned. “The fog is not friendly today.”
Cree thought it strange that Sim called out to Brigid, and she responded so quickly. It was almost as if he could see that she was nearby, but that wasn’t possible with the fog. It was also strange that Sim got them to the stable without difficulty. His steps nor direction never faltered even though the fog engulfed them. Cree could not help but wonder how he had managed it.
Sim lit a small torch kept there for use after they entered the stable.
His stallion whinnied as soon as he caught sight of Cree, and he could tell with one touch that the animal was as uneasy as he and Dawn were about being stuck here. He stroked the horse’s neck and with soft whispers assured him the best he could that he had not abandoned him, and they would be leaving together when the time was right, and the stallion calmed and nodded.
A frantic shout from Brigid had Sim rushing to the stable door.
“Tade ran off and I cannot find him,” Brigid said, suddenly appearing at the open door.
Sim turned to Cree. “Stay here. I will return for you.”
“I can help,” Cree offered.
“Nay. You will only get lost in the fog and we will have to search for you when we need to concentrate on finding Tade,” Sim said and rushed out, grabbing the torch before he closed the door behind him and before Cree could say another word.
Plunged into darkness, Cree continued to stroke the horse’s neck. “This is a very strange place, indeed, and I will get us out of here as soon as I can.”
The stallion agreed, nodding his head.
Cree did not like being stuck in the stable, engulfed in darkness where he could see nothing and not know what was going on, and worst of all he was away from his wife in the keep. He hadn’t planned on being gone long and there was no telling how long it would take to find Tade. He was a little devil of a lad, getting himself into things he shouldn’t, much like his daughter Lizbeth. The thought of his capricious daughter made him even more determined to get home with Dawn safely.
His stallion’s head went up alerting Cree before he caught the creaking sound of the stable door opening.
Cree ran his hand gently down his horse’s face to his mouth, a signal the horse had learned meant to keep silent, and he did. Cree kept silent as well, and it allowed him to hear a whisper.
“Kee?”
Cree recognized the voice. “Is that you, Tade?”
“Aye,” Tade said.
Hearing the lad enter the stable, Cree made his way toward the door, relying on his recall of the layout of the place to get him there without incident. He was able to see the shadow of the lad in the mist.
“Your parents are looking for you, Tade,” Cree said, crouching down in front of the lad when he reached him.
Tade made a face and pressed his small finger against Cree’s lips and shook his head, cautioning him not to speak. Then he pushed his sleeve back, tapped his bandage, smiled, and threw his small arms around Cree’s neck and hugged him.
Cree could have sworn he heard the lad growl softly in his ear. Then he was gone, disappearing into the fog.
“Tade! There you are. How many times have I warned you not to go off in the fog on your own,” Sim admonished.
Cree stood listening to Sim chastise the lad, his thoughts more on Tade and what his actions were meant to tell Cree. It was obvious. He couldn’t deny it. Tade had thanked him for tending to his wound, not the wound of a child, but the wound of a wolf pup.