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“I am pleased to let you know, Lord Cree, that your warriors are headed this way,” Sim said. “Your tracks must have been found and they follow them here. They should arrive in an hour or so.”

“Olwen,” Tiernan called out. “See that more food is prepared for Lord Cree’s warriors. They are probably hungry after so many days spent in the fog.”

“Aye, my lord,” Olwen said and hurried off.

“I appreciate that, Lord Tiernan,” Cree said.

“Come and let us sit, eat, and talk before the time comes for your departure,” Lord Tiernan said, and the three men settled at the dais.

Time sped by and Cree was pleased to see his warriors had survived well and from the smiles on their faces, he could tell how pleased they were to have found him and Lady Dawn.

“A few of the men feared we would return home with dreadful news, when we did not locate you right away,” Dylan said. “Of course, the constant howls of the wolves didn’t help. But I told them that we would find you and Lady Dawn safe and that you would have it no other way.”

Cree slapped Dylan on the back. “And I knew I could count on you finding us. You have learned to track well from Henry. He will be pleased to learn of your success.”

Dylan’s chest widened from the praise and pride of Cree’s compliments. “I will never let you down, my lord.”

“And you have proven that, Dylan. Now drink and eat, for we leave here by noon.”

Talk and laughter filled the Great Hall and tales of wolves were told and listened to with great interest. But when the time came to leave there was no hesitation. Cree, Dawn, and his men wanted to go home. Even Cree’s horse was eager to leave, stomping the ground and snorting when Cree approached him.

Cree lifted his wife up onto the horse without protest. He thought she might argue wanting to ride her mare, but she didn’t. She was feeling just as he was that she didn’t want to be parted from him during their journey home.

He gave her leg a squeeze, then turned to Lord Tiernan. “Again, I will be forever grateful for your generous hospitality.” He lowered his voice. “I don’t quite know the truth of what happened here, and I don’t care to know for sure. As far as anyone will know, Lady Dawn and I were treated graciously and generously at Clan MacMadadh, and Clan Carrick now calls Clan MacMadadh its friend. You are welcome in my home anytime.”

“I am grateful for your friendship, Lord Cree, since your friendship offers our clan a degree of protection.”

“Don’t make me regret giving it to you. Tread wisely with your secrets, for as you told me once a secret is shared it is no longer a secret.”

“Which is why I was careful with my words to you, but rest assure you will never now or in ever regret pledging your friendship to Clan MacMadadh.” Lord Tiernan rested his hand on Cree’s shoulder. “Safe journey, my friend.”

“Kee! Kee!” Tade cried out, running toward Cree and Sim, Lynall and Brigid running behind him trying to keep up but failing.

Tade would have taken a tumble he was running so fast if Cree hadn’t caught him and swung him up into his arms, Tade giggling through it all.

Once settled down, Tade pointed to Dawn. “I come say good-bye.”

Cree lifted him closer to Dawn.

The little lad pulled out a flower, nearly squashed, that was tucked in his sleeve and handed it to Dawn. “For you.”

Dawn smiled as she took it from him, tapped her chest, then leaned close to kiss his cheek.

Tade tapped his chest and kissed her on the cheek, and said, “Friends.”

Dawn nodded.

As Cree lowered him to the ground, Tade tapped his chest and said, “Friends too.”

“Aye, Tade,” Cree said, “friends always.”

More goodbyes were exchanged and a few tears from the women, then Cree turned his horse after one last wave, and positioned his stallion in front of his men, lined in pairs, and led them out of the village.

It wasn’t until the village faded from view that Dawn looked at her husband, scrunched her brow, and shrugged.

“I think the same, wife. Were we truly in a den of werewolves? We never saw anyone there turn from a human into a wolf and yet all we learned about Clan MacMadadh leads us to believe that we took shelter in a den of werewolves. I think it is better for us to never truly be sure, to only think of them as our friends and pray for them, for I fear for the future of Clan MacMadadh.”

The End