Page 23

T he night had been long and eventful. Crystal couldn't believe that her life now resembled one of the novels she liked to write, only this was set in a different time period than what she was used to.

It was all very strange to think she'd become embroiled in a murder plot.

Though she wasn't sure that was what this was.

Sure Cameron had been the one to attack her, but did that mean he was the one who attacked Maeve and Billy? She couldn't be sure yet.

She watched as Cameron was put in a prisoner wagon with a cage of steel on the back. He cursed everyone and raged with anger. She could very much imagine that he was Maeve and Billy's killer by the way he was acting.

Crystal listened into the villagers Whispering among themselves.

Most of them were shocked that Cameron had attacked her and were speculating that he was the murderer.

It surprised them to think that one of their own could do things such awful things, even someone like Cameron who didn't have the respect of the town as it was.

Crystal knew that men killed their own brothers all the time including in history when a throne or other power struggle was the culprit.

She didn't think Cameron was capable of killing Billy because he had really seemed to love him.

It didn't make sense to her, but she had also seen Cameron get angry and maybe it had been accidental or a drunken brawl between the brothers that had gotten out of hand.

No matter the reason it seemed that Cameron was going to take the fall for Maeve and Billy's deaths, whether he was guilty or not.

At least judging by how everyone was acting.

"Good work, Jamie," Brendan said after arriving with the rest of the group.

"Thank you, Brendan. It is actually the young lass here who led to Cameron's capture. She gave him that scratch on his cheek when he attacked her and she is the one who found his tracks leading from the cottage to the animal enclosure back here," Jamie said with admiration toward Crystal.

"Then many thanks to you, lass. My wife speaks highly of you and I can see why." Brendan gave her a bow of his head.

"Thank you and I think highly of her as well," Crystal replied. "I have a question though."

"What is it, lass?"

"What will happen to him? I mean I know he is the one who attacked me, but are we sure he's actually the killer we've been looking for?"

"He will be taken to the dungeon at the Keep. It is unlikely that there is another out there, however, we will question him and look for evidence to be sure of his guilt. You do not have to worry that we have the wrong man," Brendan said.

"Aye," Jamie said, "In fact, there are a few questions I'd like to ask now, if you do not mind, Captain?"

"If you would like, I do not think the Laird would mind," Brendan said. He stepped back and allowed Jamie access to the prison wagon.

Crystal followed Jamie at a distance she did not want to get too close to Cameron after what had happened, even though he was locked up.

"Get away from me, you filthy bastard," Cameron said as Jamie approached. Cameron was in chains as he sat on a wooden plank seat in the wagon.

"You have no one to blame for your present state except for you. Now tell me why did you murder poor Maeve?" Jamie asked.

Cameron responded with a sneer and a growl, but he didn't answer the question. He simply turned his head away from them.

"Not going to answer that question? Fine, there are other ways to find out if you are behind her death if you want to be that way. Why kill your brother Billy though? Was he going to give you up?" Jamie asked.

Cameron attempted to stand but the chains pulled him back down to the bench. "How dare you. I did not touch my brother. I loved him."

"Yet, you killed him. Slit his throat straight through with such murderous rage, why?"

"I did not. I tell you I did not do it. Stupid animal," Cameron said.

"There is no use hiding it, Cameron. Tis over and you might as well speak the truth," Jamie said.

Crystal could tell that Jamie was attempting to get a confession from him but Cameron was staying quiet except for his angry curses and grunting.

Jamie asked again, rephrasing his questions, obviously hoping that Cameron would spill his guts and Crystal listened in, though she stayed out of Cameron's line of sight. She didn't want him to see her and make her his target again. She'd had enough of that.

Jamie finally gave up and moved away from Cameron. "Fine then, have it your way. The Laird will make sure to find the truth out of you." He put his hand on Crystal's lower back and escorted her back to the group. Rory stood there waiting for them.

"Is that it then?" Rory asked.

"No, we still need to connect him to Maeve and Billy's deaths," Jamie said.

"Why did he murder Maeve and his own brother?" Crystal asked, trying to figure out Cameron's motive.

"Sometimes one never knows the answer to that, if the killer will not give their reason," Rory said.

"That is true. Would be better if he confessed, but for tonight I think we have done all that we can," Jamie said. "We can look for evidence of his crimes once we've all rested."

"Aye, you have earned your rest, the both of you," Brendan said with a wink.

It made Crystal blush. Then she turned away, not wanting to be embarrassed. Most of the villagers began to disperse back to the village to go back to sleep. It was around midnight and Crystal began to feel exhaustion catching up to her, though the adrenaline was still moving through her.

"Come on let's get you somewhere warm," Jamie said.

He fetched his horse and together they rode back to the village to Courteney's cottage.

Shaw and Mark were still there waiting for more news.

A villager had stopped by to let them know that Crystal's attacker had been caught.

Jamie went on to explain everything happened in more detail.

"So it's done then? Cameron Gilroy all along?" Shaw asked.

"Aye, we believe so. He's locked in the prison wagon for now. Head over to the inn and get a room for the rest of the night. You can head to the Keep in the morning with the rest of the Watch. I'll stay here and keep an eye upon the lass," Jamie said.

Shaw gave him a raised brow, then a smirk. "Aye, I am sure you will."

"Get going you," Jamie said, slapping him on the back playfully.

Crystal entered the cottage and lit two more candles.

She began to poke the fire that Shaw had obviously relit after finding out that Cameron had been caught.

She placed two more logs on top of it. She watched as Jamie begin to fix the door.

He had found tools and hammered away at it, placing the door back on its hinges with ease.

Crystal was impressed with his handiwork, and that it was done with such quickness.

He closed the door and engaged the lock.

"Tea?" she asked.

"Aye, but also maybe something a bit stronger if you have it," he said.

"I do," she said. She placed two cups on the table and fetched the bottle of mead that Elena had bought her at the market. She handed it to Jamie and he pulled the cork out and poured some for them..

"You did very good tonight, lass. I was wrong to have doubted you early on. You are possibly the reason that we have captured Cameron. You do know how to investigate," he said.

"Thank you, I appreciate you acknowledging it. It means a lot because I am so out of place here. Sometimes when I wake up from sleep, I think I'm going to wake in my own time again and this would have all been some very long crazy dream."

"That I can understand," he said, raising his mug and tilting it toward her.

She picked hers up and clinked her's against his and they took a sip.

The mead was nice and warmed her cold insides as she drank. They drank in silence for a moment before Crystal finally stood up and moved to the counter. She pulled a loaf of bread and wedge of cheese from the bundle of goods Elena had bought her and began to slice them.

"Thank you, lass. I do have something of an appetite," he said.

She stopped slicing and looked at him. He looked at her with a different type of appetite in his eyes. She swallowed, then picked up her mead and drank a long heavy drink that made her cough.

"You all right, lass?" he asked.

"Yes, just a bit strong," she said.

She slid some bread and cheese in front of him and he ate. Crystal sat and joined him eating and drinking. She felt safe for the first time the whole night and at ease, but not completely ready for sleep. The adrenaline still rushed through her veins.

Jamie poured more mead into their cups and looked at her.

Crystal smiled and said, "Thank you for staying with me tonight. I'm terrified of someone busting in the door again, even though I know Cameron is locked up. What if he were to get loose?"

"He could, that is a possibility, but he would have to get through a group of Watchmen before he arrived here and I think he would possibly run toward the woods and try to get away, at least a smart person would. Not that he is," Jamie said with a bit of a joke.

"I am not entirely convinced there isn't a second killer," she said.

"Oh, why is that?" he asked.

"It's simply about the use of weapons. Billy was killed with a thinner dagger and Maeve with a dagger like the one you gave me. Also I really don't believe Cameron would harm his brother," she said. Crystal took another long drink.

"Aye, I tend to agree with you, lass, but that is something for us to worry about on the morrow. For now I am here to protect you. Why don't you try to get some rest," he said.

He picked up a chair and turned it toward the door, but close to the fire.

"You're going to sleep in the chair?" she asked.

"I will try to get a wee nap, but we Watchmen are always sleeping with one eye open. I will make sure no one gets in here,." he said. "Go get in your bed, that is an order, lass."

Crystal stood up, took off her cloak, and hung it on the peg. "Maybe that is an order I will obey this time." She winked at him.

"Good." He chuckled.

She pulled off her boots but left everything else on. She didn't have a clean nightdress to sleep in, since the one she borrowed from Courteney had Cameron's blood on it and she didn't want to borrow another from Courteney.

"Good night, Jamie," she said as she stood by the bed in the corner of the room.

"Good night, lass. Sleep well," he said. Then he blew out the rest of the candles except for one and took his seat by the fire again.

Crystal crawled under the blanket and before she knew it she drifted off into a deep blissful sleep.