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“Which one of these monks belongs to you?” Cree asked, his eyes still on Ulf.

“That one,” Ulf said, anger tightening at the corners of his mouth as he pointed to the one in the dark brown robe.

Cree looked to Blaine and nodded at the other monk. “That makes this one yours.”

Blaine nodded reluctantly.

“Which of you is responsible for sending a man dressed in a monk’s robe to spy on me?” Cree demanded.

“That would be me,” Ulf admitted reluctantly.

Cree was pleased to prove his wife had seen what she had claimed to see, which no doubt gave her satisfaction.

He looked to Ulf. “Why did you ride on my home?”

“What choice did I have?” Ulf said with a shrug. “With our man captured, my only option was to deal with you directly.”

“Why not simply do that from the start? Why the deception?” Cree asked.

Ulf seemed to search for an answer.

Cree leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “Your delay in responding tells me you search for a lie to tell.”

Ulf had no trouble responding quickly to that. “Nay! Nay!

“Then tell me why you were ordered to come here?” Cree asked.

Blaine hurried to speak up. “He came here to get the drawings, to see what fortifications you have and what protection the watchtower affords you.”

Cree swerved his head to glare at Blaine. “Which is why the King sent you?”

Blaine realized his mistake too late, muttering to himself as he shook his head.

Cree stood. “What you mean is how will the watchtower benefit either of the kings should it come down to battle. Though, what both kings want to know most is… whose side will I fight on if it comes to battle?”

Dawn was grateful she had kept her lips tightly closed or the gasp that rose in her would have slipped out. Silent as it would have been, it still would have displayed her shock and no doubt her fear. She had not given thought to that possibility, or perhaps she had not wanted to. A battle between two such powerful rulers would claim endless lives and she did not want her husband’s to be one of them.

“And whose side would that be?” Blaine asked, almost daring Cree to choose anyone other than King Alexander.

Cree’s voice filled the Great Hall. “The one I pledged my support to!”

“Who is that?” Ulf asked, anxiously.

“It is the message you will take back to your kings and it will give them the answer they seek,” Cree commanded.

Blaine was quick to ask, “The drawings—”

“I will see you both get a few,” Cree said.

This time, it was a smile Dawn stifled since the drawings her husband would share with the men were ones Cree had ordered she and Tate to work on after it became known he was William’s brother. They were intended for this purpose since none of them depicted the areas correctly. They were drawn to mislead, and Tate was warned never to reveal elsewise. He had hastily agreed after Cree told him that he would spend the rest of his life in the dungeon if he ever failed to do so.

“They are for King Alexander’s eyes alone,” Blaine argued.

“Do you think that a wise decision with King Alexander presently in negotiations? In sharing this, would it not prove he wishes for an amicable settlement thus he hides nothing?” Cree asked. “And what is there to hide anyway? Nothing that would make a difference to either king.”

“Lord Cree is right,” Ulf said. “It would be good for the negotiations.”

Cree gave a quick glance at his wife. She looked exhausted, no doubt from fighting the pain, and she had slumped slightly to her side in the chair. She needed to rest.