“The very one,” Kai said proudly.
“Are ye going to see the earl?”
“Nay.”
“Then what…”
“We tracked thieves this far.”
“Thieves?” Igor turned to his men. “Are there any outlaws among us?”
“Aye,” they said in unison, raising their cups.
Igor faced Kai again. “Take yer pick of thieves. We are outcasts, all.”
“Bread,” Kai said. “Tis all I seek.”
“It will cost ye.”
“I will pay.”
Igor directed one of the women to take Kai and Colin to one of the cottages where the women made bread every morning and night. But before Kai left the lodge, Igor grabbed his arm.
“Get the bread and leave. And if I find ye still encamped by tomorrow afternoon, I canna guarantee the safety of yer people.”
Kai nodded. He’d not start unnecessary trouble, eyeing the man he’d knocked out who was still sprawled on the ground.
“Doona worry about Hamish, he deserved what he got.”
The woman escorted them to the dwelling, and Kai bought ten loaves of bread and wrapped them in his tartan.
“Ye heard, Igor,” the woman said, shivering. “Better go, now.”
“You are cold. Where is your cloak? Your shoes?” Kai asked, assessing her, sickened that any man would send a helpless woman out in the middle of winter wearing rags.
“Doona pretend to care about me.”
Kai touched her arm. “What is this place?”
She shook her head, looking around nervously. “Please, go.”
Kai reached inside his cloak and produced a coin bag. He opened it and pulled out two silver coins. “Here.” He placed them in her hand. “Buy what you need to stay warm.”
She stared at him in astonishment. “Why would ye help me?”
“Kindness exists in this world.”
Tears wet her eyes then. “This is the end of the bloody world.”
“Who has done this to you?” Kai pressed her.
“Igor is a pirate, and he captured this village two years ago, killing most of the men and enslaving the women and children. I am the daughter of the woman he wants to marry, but my mam refuses. So, he punishes me. Forces me to serve his men.”
Kai growled. “You are a whore?”
“Captain,” Colin interrupted. “She is no’ a whore, but a victim.”
“Thank ye.” She smiled sadly at Colin. “If my mother doesna change her mind soon and accept Igor’s offer of marriage, he has threatened to sell my maidenhood to the highest bidder.”
