Page 21

T he evening passed to night and Crystal spent the time pacing back and forth in Courteney's cottage.

The mystery of the two murders occupied her mind.

She was trying to piece together who could be doing this.

Her gut was telling her that it wasn't goblins, but she wasn't sure if that just because they were a new idea to her, or if she was actually correct and it was a human monster they were after.

With the first murder she had been pretty positive that the killer was a suitor who was jealous that Maeve had chosen another, especially after hearing Rory say that she was the prettiest woman in the village who then married an Englishman who the Scots were not fond of in general.

However, the murder of Billy didn't fit that motive.

That was why she started to think that her gut instinct was wrong and maybe the rest of the group was right from the beginning. That it was some goblins just causing chaos and murdering without any motive except to cause violence and confusion.

It grew late, and she began to get ready for bed.

She placed two logs on the fire and then poured some of the water from the bucket that Mark had fetched for her into the wash basin.

She scrubbed herself vigorously with the wedge of soap and rinsed off, then used the rough fabric cloth to dry herself.

She put on her borrowed night dress and blew out all the candles. She placed the dagger under her pillow and pulled the heavy wool blanket over her. Slowly she drifted off into a deep slumber after such a trying day.

Her sleep was troubled though by nightmares about being stuck underwater, trying to make her way to the surface.

However, no matter how hard she swam, she never reached it.

Her heart pounded and her lungs screamed for air, but she didn't dare open her mouth to take a breath.

Panic filled her until she woke with a start.

She snapped up in bed, wide awake. Something had woken her, but she couldn't say what it was.

She recalled hearing a loud sound, but as she looked around the darkened room, she couldn't say what it was.

She sat quietly looking into the darkness of the cottage.

The fire had gone out completely and it was cold in the room.

Bang. Bang. There was pounding at the door that was loud and aggressive.

Had that been what woke her? Crystal pulled the dagger from under her pillow and got out of bed.

At first she thought it might be Mark telling her that there had been another murder.

But why would he be pounding so aggressively? Was he simply trying to wake her up?

Then she heard a growl and then a loud grunt that gave her chills and she suddenly came to realize that it wasn't Mark at the door. Nor was it any one friendly to her. Anyone who knew her would have already called out her name telling her to wake up. That hadn't happened.

She looked around the room but there were no real hiding places.

Quickly, she moved into a dark corner of the cottage away from the bed and waited.

Perhaps if she was quiet, whoever was at the door would move on thinking the cottage was empty.

Anyone else probably would have lit a candle by now and shouted at the door to find out whoever it was, but Crystal knew something was wrong.

She held her breath hoping they would go away.

The pounding not only continued, it got louder and she realized that the perpetrator was kicking the door.

She could hear it straining against its hinges.

Whoever it was really wanted to get in and that frightened her even more.

She wondered where Mark was and why he was allowing this person to beat on the door.

Had he been pulled away for some strange reason?

Had he gone away to relieve himself? If that was the case, she hoped he'd return shortly.

There was no way of knowing what had happened to him and she was conflicted about whether she should scream at the top of her lungs in order to alert the Watchmen that she knew were posted throughout the village or stay calm and hope that this violent aggressor would go away.

There was one last kick and the door burst open.

Crystal took the dagger out of the sheath and held it tightly in her hand.

She held it down by her thigh behind the night dress so that the blade didn't catch any moonlight streaming in from the shutters.

The perpetrator entered, though she couldn't see clearly she could see an outline of the man.

He was broad shouldered, filling the doorway as he growled and grunted.

As they moved into the cottage they stumbled and pushed things over.

It made a ruckus when they pushed the chair over and it hit the ground.

Then she heard the man release some words that she couldn't make out, but seemed to be curses from his tone.

She hadn't heard a goblin other than Darter Hob talk, so she didn't know what they all sounded like or if they all sounded the same or different from each other.

It didn't matter because all she could think about was that she was about to meet the same fate as the others.

She was scared to death. More scared than she'd been just before leaving the bar and realizing that Mason was trying to get her alone.

Why had this man, this creature come for her?

She didn't know. Was it simply because she was new?

Whoever this was somehow got past her guard and the guards posted around the village.

At that moment she wished that Jamie was at her side.

Feelings of regret flooded her. She assumed this man or creature or whatever they were, was the killer and that her death was close and she hadn't had time to experience anything.

Suddenly she wanted to see the Urquhart Castle.

She wanted to feel Jamie's lips on hers.

She wanted to see the countryside and all it had to offer.

There was so much that she hadn't done in her short time here and it hit her hard as she hid from the killer.

It was too late. The killer had moved along every wall and now moved toward the corner where she stood frozen.

She could see the silhouette of the hulking body as it came for her, charging.

It had seen her nightdress which was white and she realized the moonlight coming in from the door made it so she could be seen upon closer inspection.

The killer lunged for her and she swung her hand up and lashed out at it with the dagger. It released a loud painful wail and another curse.

It came at her again this time she felt heavy hands wrap around her waist. "No! Don't touch me! Let me go!"

She squirmed and then got her hand above the killer's and swiped the dagger across his face.

"Argh," they shouted. One of the hands moved off of her and went for the gash on their face. The killer stumbled toward the door.

Crystal trembled and was in a state of frozen fear.

She had no idea how long she cowered there in the corner, clutching the dagger.

When she realized the killer was gone, she began to call out for help.

"HELP! Anyone! Help me please! HELP!" she screamed and then she heard the hooves of a horse approaching.

"Crystal?" a voice called as the horse came to a stop right outside the door.

She knew it was Jamie before she saw his silhouette in the doorway. Relief washed over her, but she was still shaking from nerves. Jamie held his sword in his hand ready to fight whoever attacked her. "Crystal, are you in there?"

"I'm over here," she said, unable to move.

Jamie went directly to her. "Lass, are you injured? What happened?" he asked with worry.

"I'm not hurt. I had the dagger and I injured who or whatever it was that busted in the door." She couldn't stop her body from shaking, even with his arms wrapped around her.

"Come over here, let me light a candle." Jamie drew her toward the table and lit a candle, then he took the dagger from her hand. He tilted it toward the candle light for a better look. "Tis human blood. Not Goblin blood."

Crystal had suspected it wasn't actually a goblin, based on the size of the person who had attacked her.

"Who was it, lass? Did you get a look at them?" he asked.

"No. The fire had gone out and it was so dark.

I heard a loud noise that woke me, and then there was banging on the door.

They didn't say anything, just growled and grunted, like they were trying to sound inhuman or something.

I don't understand why they came after me, though?

I haven't done anything to anyone here. Why come after me? " she said.

Feeling safe enough to have a small breakdown, Crystal allowed her emotions to take over. She began to sob and when she started to crumple to the ground, Jamie caught her and held her in his arms. He soothed her and ran his hands up and down her back.

"It tis all right, lass. you are safe now. I am here. I have you and I will not let you out of my sight," Jamie whispered.

Crystal leaned against his hard chest feeling the protection of him as he wrapped his arms around her. She felt much safer in his arms than she'd felt in a very long time. She was grateful that he was the one who showed up.

"I'm so glad you came. I was so scared," she said.

"Aye, I was on my way here to relieve Mark from his watch. I was just up the lane and heard you scream, lass. I swear I have never felt the panic in my heart more than when I heard the fear in your voice."

"You did?" she asked.

"Aye. I am glad you are not hurt. I should have been here sooner. Where is Mark? Why is he not at his post?"

"I don't know," she said. "I was asleep and then there was banging. It's all a blur really," she said.

"Get your cloak and boots. We will check for Mark together," he said.

"Everything alright in there?" someone shouted from outside.

"Everything is fine, now," Jamie called out of the door.

Someone appeared in the doorway. "Ah Jamie. What happened?"

"Angus, thank you for your concern. Someone attacked Crystal, we were about to go look for Mark."

"Is the lass well?"

"Aye, shaken up, but she was able to chase the man away with her dagger."

"So a man was it? Not a demon?" Angus asked.

"Aye. No, seems this attack was done by a human, and I aim to find out who it was." Jamie reached for Crystal's hand and together they stepped out of the cottage.