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T he investigation around the house led to the same findings as at Maeve's house.

There were no footprints to be found except for those of a man's boots, which they could not say for sure if they belonged to Billy, Cameron, or the murderer.

There were no claw marks found anywhere, nor signs of magic that would point to a magical creature.

"No sign of goblin blood, either," Jamie said. "Which I would expect with the struggle that must have happened."

"How would you know if it is goblin blood?" Crystal asked.

"It's green, lass. Not red like ours," he said.

"That's good to know," she said. "I didn't see anything like that around the building."

"We found no signs of goblins in the outer buildings either," Elena added.

"I found where Cameron spent the night, there was a pool of vomit and an indention in the hay where he slept," Shaw added.

Jamie nodded. "We should head back to the Gatehouse," he said to Crystal. "Rory, you and Shaw keep the neighbors from entering the cottage. I'll send someone to fetch the body and take it to the church for burial."

They remounted their horses and headed back to the village. Elena and Melanie rode side by side behind her and Jamie. It didn't take long to reach the inn's courtyard. Instead of taking the horses to the stable, they latched the reins to a hitching post.

"I wonder if Cameron is still here," Crystal murmured, eyeing the door to the tavern warily.

The question was answered a moment later when a crash came from inside with some shouting, "I'll kill em' I will."

"Sounds like he's still here," Melanie said.

"Unbelievable. We left him with enough whisky to drop any man," Jamie said.

The tavern was empty except for one table in the far corner. It was obvious that anyone who came in, quickly left after being insulted by the drunken brute at the corner table.

"You said givin' him whisky would knock him out. It's only made him worse," Wallace said as he scurried to Jamie.

"Apologies, Wallace. I appears I did not know his limits," Jamie said.

"Cameron, Cameron look at me," Jamie said walking up to him slowly.

"You and your stupid Watchmen. This is your fault. Demons running rampant as they please. Now they've killed my brother. If you had caught them, Billy would still be alive and all," Cameron said standing up and pushing at Jamie's chest. He stumbled backward a bit with the push, but stayed upright.

"Go on then. Let's have it. Tell me that you are good for nothing, Watcher. Watchers of nothing. Out there prancing about with these whores. You're not working at all to find these demons just rolling around in the hay with these harlots," Cameron said.

"No need to speak of the ladies in such a way. Step back out of my face," Jamie said.

Crystal could tell by the tone of Jamie's voice that he was giving Cameron a serious warning.

"Shut it, Jamie. You are useless. I'll go find these demons myself because you can't. And while I'm at it, I'll have a go with the ladies you're keeping company with. That one there is mine anyway." Cameron turned his bleary gaze toward Crystal and lumbered toward her.

Crystal felt a chill go up her spine as he got closer. She froze in place out of sheer fright. His size was huge and she felt very small. She was so frightened she forgot about the dagger she was carrying in her pocket for protection.

A few inches before Cameron reached her, he fell forward with a loud thud. Jamie stood behind him, his sword raised. He had hit Cameron on the head with the hilt of his sword. The brute lay on the floor of the tavern out cold.

"Thank the Lord," Wallace said.

"Well, now what do we do with him?" Elena asked.

"We'll drag him out back to the stable, let him sleep it off there," Jamie said.

"Aye. Good idea," Wallace said. "I'll gather some men to help move him."

Jamie then approached Crystal. "Are you alright, lass?"

"Yes, I think so. Thank you," she said, tripping over her words.

"You're shakin' something awful," he said.

"Am I? I didn't notice."

Jamie pulled her aside while Melanie and Elena helped Wallace prop Cameron up to ready him for moving.

"Here, it's alright," Jamie said, rubbing his hands up and down her arms. "I'd never have let him near you, lass."

She nodded. "That helps," she said, meaning his comforting touch. Crystal looked up into his gray eyes and found herself growing calmer.

"Indeed, it does. Let's find you a seat. We will be staying here for the noon meal ," he said.

"Alright," she said.

"Wallace, can we get this lass a whisky?" Jamie said.

"Aye," Wallace said. "I've got some men coming to help with Gilroy." He poured a mug of whisky and delivered it to Crystal.

Elena and Melanie moved to sit beside her at the table to join in the libation as well. Jamie helped the men drag Cameron out of the tavern.

"Are you alright, Crystal?" Melanie asked.

"I'm okay. Just a bit shaken by that but it will pass."

"How was the crime scene?" Elena asked and Crystal realized that she and Melanie had never entered the cottage.

"As awful as can be expected," Crystal said. "Lots and lots of blood. Made my stomach turn." Crystal shot back the entire glass of whisky and then tapped on it, catching Wallace's eye.

Wallace looked at her and simply brought a bottle of whisky over to them. Elena handed him some coin.

"I know what you mean. It took me a long time to get used to that when I was a detective in Baltimore. I'm not really sure I did get used to it."

"About the crime scene. This one was done with a different weapon or by a different goblin. Why change your m.o.? Serial killers usually stick to one method." That was what was bothering her most about the scene.

"True, not always, but majority of the time," Elena said.

"It's very empty here," Crystal said, looking around the room.

"It's not usually like this. Cameron probably scared them off. Once news spreads of Billy, more people will come to get the latest gossip," Melanie said.

"So what all did you notice?" Elena asked.

Crystal described what she saw at Billy's in detail to Melanie and Elena and when she was done, Jamie re-entered the tavern and sat with them.

Wallace served them meat pies, dried fish, a wedge of cheese and a few bread rolls. It was topped off with mugs of mead. As they discussed their next moves, they were caught off guard by the door opening and a flood of villagers entering.

"There he is," one villager with a long red beard said. He pointed at Jamie.

Jamie stood up immediately.

"What's all this?" Jamie asked.

"We demand answers. This is the second murder. We are not safe here. When will the laird send more Watchmen?" the villager said.

Another butted in, "No, we need the whole guard out searching for these demons."

The growing crowd cheered in agreement. Crystal watched as Jamie put his hands up and said, "Calm down, now. I understand your concerns."

"Where is the Captain of the Guard? Why has he not come here himself?" a woman shouted.

Again the crowd cheered in agreement.

"Enough," a burly voice shouted in the doorway.

Crystal noticed that Elena stood up and softly said, "Brendan."

Crystal knew that name to be Elena's husband. Brendan was a large bear of man and also the Captain of the Guard. He stepped into the tavern.

"We are posting guards around the village and have set up patrols to guard those who live outside of the village proper.

Remember that the demons are adverse to iron, so make sure you have it close by and remain in your homes after nightfall," Brendan bellowed so loudly that it drew silence from the villagers.

The villagers grumbled but seemed to accept what Brendan was telling them.

Brendan moved toward them and greeted his wife, Elena, giving her a big hug and kiss. "I've missed you," he murmured.

"I've missed you as well." Elena's cheeks pinkened.

For a moment, Crystal envied their connection. Though the man was burly with wavy dark hair and dark beard, there was something soft in his hard black eyes when he looked at Elena.

"Come, let us hear of this latest murder and what your thoughts are concerning the village," Brendon directed Jamie to join him and a couple of others at the next table over. He kissed Elena's cheek and she sat back down by Crystal's side.

"We aren't joining them?" Crystal asked, eyeing the men.

Elena shook her head. "No, they're just getting updated and then they'll be talking logistics and passing along messages from the Laird." "Your husband is not what I expected," Crystal said.

"Nor what I expected to marry, but he grew on me," Elena said with a laugh.

"It happens to us all," Melanie said.

Crystal wondered if it would happen to her, but she couldn't see such a future with anyone.

Her interest in Jamie was getting stronger and she lusted after him, but how could she possibly make a life here?

She wanted to find a way to get back to her own life, if at all possible.

It would be her first priority after they caught the murder suspect.

Jamie finally came over after about an hour and spoke to Crystal.

"I have a lot of work to do with the Watch.

There is not much for you ladies to do at the moment.

You should enjoy supper while you can. We will be heading out on patrol.

You should be getting back to the cottage before sundown though, if that is where you wish to stay again," he said.

"Alright. I do want to stay the night there again. Will Rory or Shaw be coming to guard?" she asked.

"No, it will be Mark." Jamie directed her attention to a boy dressed in the same attire as Jamie and the other Watchmen. He looked to be young, probably not even twenty yet. "See him over there? He's young but well-trained."

"Oh, I see," she said trying to hide her disappointment.

Jamie moved closer and drew her up from her seat and toward the fireplace where he could speak to only her. "Lass, if I could, I would guard you myself. T'would be my pleasure," he whispered in a thick voice as he stared deeply into her eyes.

Her skin came alive with his confession. The thought of him guarding her and protecting her, turned her on. "You would?" she asked.

Before he could answer, Mark strode over to them and interrupted. "Is this the lass, I am to guard?"

"Aye, this is Miss Crystal Corwin. Crystal, this is Mark Grant."

"Pleased to meet you, my lady."

"Escort her home after the supper meal and post yourself outside her cottage until I send someone to relieve you."

"Aye, I'll be ready when you are, my lady," Mark said.

Crystal returned to the table with Elena and Melanie, but her gaze stayed on Jamie until he walked out the door with Brendan and a few of the other guards. Mark, true to his word, took a spot at another table and kept watch over her and the other women.

"Where are you two staying?" Crystal asked, as it hadn't occurred to her that they didn't need guards until now. "Don't you need a guard to watch over you both as well?"

"We've got a room here at the inn that we're sharing. If it weren't too much trouble, we'd head back to the castle in the evenings, but Brendon and Aelfred felt it would be best if we took a room here while we were investigating."

"Your husbands don't mind you being gone?" Crystal asked.

"Oh, they mind," Melanie said with a laugh, "but they know that can't stop us."

"Brendan gets annoyed, but he knows I have the training they need for investigations, so he grudgingly accepts it. Besides, it's not often that we need to be away from the castle at night. It's not that far away, but since we could be dealing with goblins, this is just safer."

"I see," Crystal replied.

They spent another hour talking then ordered their supper and soon after Crystal said her goodbyes to everyone and left with Mark, all the while wondering how Jamie was doing out on patrol and wishing he were the one escorting her home to guard her.