Page 15

T he Gatehouse Inn was not as busy as it had been the day before.

It was an hour past noon and most had eaten and left.

The group took a seat at a long table near the fireplace in the back of the room, away from the front door.

There was much to discuss but their bellies needed to be filled as well.

Crystal found herself very hungry as the small meat pies she had for breakfast weren't enough, especially after working up such an appetite on the ride back to the tavern.

"Wallace, a round of hearty stew for all of us, some loaves of bread, and mead as well," Jamie shouted to the Innkeeper as they sat down at the table.

"Aye, have it right out to you," Wallace said.

"I could eat a whole batch of stew," Elena said.

"Me too," Crystal said. She noticed that Jamie gave her a bit of a wink at her comment. Perhaps he liked a girl with an appetite.

"Let's review what we know so far," Melanie suggested.

"Aye," Jamie agreed. "We know that Brian was the one to find the victim.

We know that no one heard any screams or saw anyone headed to that cottage.

At least not anyone we have questions so far.

That could change. We know that it happened sometime after four in the afternoon, as Maeve had been seen in the village at that time, and before Brian returned home from the Blacksmith's.

We've checked the tracks and there is nothing that gives us any advantage. What else do we know?"

"If I may?" Crystal interjected.

"Go on then, lass," Jamie said eyeing her.

Crystal hoped that she could impress him.

"The murder was very violent, from what I've been told.

I don't think this was a burglary, because those are usually swiftly done, get in and get out and there was nothing of value taken.

I noticed there was jewelry on one of the tables in the bedroom that looked to have a nice gems in them.

A thief would have taken them. Now, I haven't seen the body, and I don't know what a goblin kill looks like, but from what Melanie said, this killing was brutal and from my experience that means that it's most likely that whoever did it knew Maeve.

In our time—" Crystal indicated Elena, Melanie and herself, "when someone is stabbed that many times, it is usually because the person is in a rage and sometimes what we refer to as a crime of passion.

That would take some acquaintanceship between the victim and the suspect. Meaning they're not strangers."

Jamie looked thoughtful. "That is an interesting point, lass. It would make sense except for the fact that we have creatures here that commit crimes like this for fun. Such as the goblins."

"I still don't understand this goblin situation. Since we're sitting here about to dine, perhaps one of you can enlighten me more?" Crystal asked.

"I've brought you all some mead," Wallace said at that moment bringing cups of Mead and setting them on the table.

"Well we already told you they're creatures, like from the movies or fairytales. Like in those, humanoid in shape, but usually shorter than adult humans. Their skin is gray, black, or green, sometimes with patches of all of that. They're kind of grotesque looking," Elena explained.

"They're manipulative and scheming. They love violence and will kill humans just for sport, or for food," Melanie added.

"That's horrible," Crystal said. She looked at Jamie.

He nodded his head acknowledging that they were speaking the truth.

" There's different groups of them, each with various skills and abilities. But what's most important to know is that they have access to magic, and I don't mean that Las Vegas crap, I mean real magic," Elena said.

"Like what kind?" Crystal asked.

"Well if they are strong enough, they can shapeshift or steal an identity, like I mentioned before or some of them can turn invisible," Elena said.

"Invisible? Like one might be in here right now?" Crystal said looking around.

"They mostly only come out at night, they don't do well in the sunlight, even if they're invisible. Horses will react to them being nearby, other animals too, so that is helpful in knowing when one is close enough to attack," Jamie said.

"That is good to know. So how do you defend yourself against such creatures?" Crystal asked. "I know you mentioned iron when you gave me the dagger."

"Aye, iron is deadly to them," Jamie said. "When they are struck with anything else they heal quickly, but iron wounds them. Still have the dagger I gave you?"

"I do," she said patting her side where the dagger in its sheath banged against her thigh.

"They mostly attack in groups, so if you come across them, hide or run," Melanie said.

"In groups?" Crystal replied.

"Aye," Jamie said. "We can often track them for miles and raid their camps after they have attacked on our lands."

"So why do you think a goblin took Maeve's life if they remain in groups? Someone would have seen a group of goblins, and we would have tracks to follow, wouldn't we?" Crystal asked.

"True, but there has been an occasion in the past when a goblin has become obsessed with a human woman and gone off on its own to claim her," Jamie said.

"That must be terrifying to become the target of something like that," Crystal said. "How can you all live in the same area as these creatures?"

"Clan Grant is the protector of these lands from the dark fae. We watch over this side of the Burgh from Urquhart Castle. It is our duty to protect humans from the dark fae," Shaw said.

"Hence the Watchmen…" Crystal said.

"Aye. Though protecting against the fae are not all we do. We also protect against bandits and the like as well," Jamie said.

"The Watch are the police force of this time and place," Elena added, keeping her voice low as Wallace came toward them with a large pot on a trolley.

"Here we are. Steaming stew. Made fresh this morning," Wallace said as he filled set bowls of stew on the table. A small woman dressed in a brown dress with a white apron helped pass out the bowls and loaves of bread to those at the table."

"Thank you, Wallace," Jamie said.

Crystal felt her stomach grumble as the steam reached her nose. She wanted to dig in immediately as the Watchmen did, with some stew dribbling down their beards, but she held back and ate with some grace.

"Okay so I think I know enough about these goblins for now, definitely not a motorcycle gang.

What about Maeve? I know very little of her," Crystal said.

She pushed a spoonful of stew into her mouth and restrained from allowing the loud moan of pure joy from escaping between her lips at the bite of deliciousness. "What kind of woman was she?"

"She's the most bonnie lass in town, or was, God rest her soul," Shaw said without looking up from his stew. "Every unattached man in the village wanted her hand."

The other Watchmen nodded in agreement as they continued to eat.

"She married an Englishman instead," Jamie said with a roll of his eyes and a sour look upon his face.

"English? Brian is English?" Crystal asked.

"He is. He moved here some time ago. He's a farrier, and works with the Blacksmith. He came here for work, and is quite skilled. When they met, they fell in love," Melanie said.

"Which some of the men in town did not like. I know many felt slighted that the bonnie lass picked an Englishman over her own Scotsmen," Shaw added.

"I see," Crystal said, processing this information of a possible jealous suitor, which she thought of as a motive, but kept to herself.

"But that was so long ago, it's all but forgotten," Shaw continued.

Crystal, however, knew that long ago meant that someone might have had their hatred simmering for a long time and it eventually boiled over, but since these men were more into the goblins she continued to question in that direction.

"And of these goblins, how do we know if they have been in this area? It seems that someone would have seen them," Crystal asked.

"There is one person we could ask. She would know," Jamie said, looking thoughtful.

"Maggie," Elena said with a nod.

"We will go and see her after we eat," Jamie said. "Maggie is wise in the ways of the fae and nearly always helpful. At least she has always been helpful to me." He smiled as he took another bite of his stew.

Crystal didn't know who Maggie was, but she somehow felt a little jealous of how Jamie admired her. Was this his lover? Surely someone who looked like him couldn't be sleeping in an empty bed. She was both intrigued to meet Maggie, and also apprehensive.