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“ W hat chaos has happened here? Is this not the man responsible for Maeve's death? Was he not to be brought to me for judgment?"

Jamie let Crystal go and stepped forward. "He was. I took this man's life in defense of this young woman."

"What happened? I thought he was secured?" Donal asked.

"He was. We were getting him out of the prison cart and he charged at Crystal. The other prisoner attempted to stop him, but the man was filled with rage. He was determined to get to Crystal. He would have harmed her if Jamie hadn't stepped in and stopped him as he did," Brendan said.

"Aye, all right then. See that his body is taken to the burial grounds, he will not receive a proper church burial, seeing as he confessed to the murder of an innocent woman.

Bring the other prisoner in. I will listen to his plea and pass judgement now.

" The Laird strode back toward the castle. "Aye, Laird, right away," Brendan said.

"What happens now?" Crystal asked. She was worried that despite Brendan's words, Jamie would be in trouble with the Laird for killing Cameron.

"Now we go and present our evidence to the Laird, and Brian's confession," Jamie answered.

"But are you in trouble?" Crystal frowned as he escorted her inside.

"No, lass. The Laird will not punish me for Cameron's death, if that is what you are worried about. It was a justified killing."

"But, doesn't he have to hear evidence and witness testimony? Shouldn't there be a court proceeding?" She was very confused by how everything worked here. Her gaze strayed to Elena and Melanie, who were next to them as they entered the great hall.

"Things don't work like that here," Elena explained. "The Laird trusts his Watch. If they tell him that a prisoner attempted to attack a lady, one of their own, and he died as a result of that, then the Laird will accept that as a justified killing."

"There's no Internal Affairs here, no checks and balances, it's just kind of like the laws of the Wild West. Swift justice and all that," Melanie added. "Oh, there's Aelfred, I will meet you all in the dining hall." She ran toward her husband and embraced him.

"What Melanie meant was that all the red tape is gone.

These men," she gestured to the guards around them, "make sure that everyone is safe and secure.

Be that from the supernatural or from man.

They make sure they find the culprits and bring them before the Laird with evidence and allow the culprits to plead their case.

The Laird decides their fate. If any of the perps fight back when the guard come for them and they die, well, that's a justified killing. "

Crystal nodded. She understood but despite their words of assurance she feared that Jamie would be taken from her.

Jamie directed her down the long hall, she barely even registered that she was inside an actual castle.

They entered a room with many tables, and strode toward the far side of the room where the Laird now sat upon a large chair on a raised platform.

There were other tables behind him, pushed up against the wall.

The room was filled with so many people. There were some she recognized from the village and they smiled at her as she and Jamie moved past them closer to the raised platform.

The Laird looked out over them and then his gaze landed on Crystal. He raised a brow and smiled. "I understand we have a new arrival to Urquhart Castle, what is your name, lass?" the Laird asked.

"Crystal Corwin, sir. I arrived just a few days ago," she said nervously.

"Welcome, Crystal. I am Donal Grant, Laird of this part of Scotland. This is my wife, Anna." He gestured to the woman at his side. "I imagine you have much in common." He smiled.

"Welcome, Crystal, I'm looking forward to getting to know you," Anna commented with a grin.

"Thanks, I am too." Crystal nodded, still feeling apprehensive about standing before someone so important.

"I understand that we have you to thank for the capture of Cameron Gilroy?"

"Um… I helped?" Crystal said hesitantly.

"Perhaps you would tell me what occurred and how you came to be instrumental in his capture?"

Crystal nodded, took a deep breath and shared everything she knew from the moment she arrived to the capture of Cameron, the realization that he hadn't murdered his brother, Brian's confession, and then Cameron's attack upon her in the courtyard less than an hour ago.

"Jamie really did kill him in my defense, sir.

Cameron would have attacked me if Jamie hadn't stopped him.

" A tear slipped down Crystal's cheek and she wiped it away.

"Lass, Jamie is not in trouble, if that is what you fear.

He was justified in killing Cameron Gilroy.

Now, I am sure this has been extremely stressful for you, given the circumstances of your arrival.

I shall have the staff prepare a room for you, unless you have somewhere else to stay? " He looked at Jamie.

Jamie nodded. "Aye, my Laird." He looked over at Crystal. "Unless you would rather have your own?" He arched a brow at her.

Crystal felt her cheeks heat. "I'll stay with Jamie," she squeaked, completely embarrassed that she was say so in front of all these people.

"Very well. Now, bring forth the prisoner, Brian Highsmith."

Rory and Shaw led Brian forward, his hands were still shackled.

"I understand you have confessed to the killing of Billy Gilroy?" the Laird asked. "Can you explain how and why you took it upon yourself to exact vengeance against the wrong man?"

Brian wept as he explained that he knew Cameron was behind his wife's death. He'd been drinking for days and had worked up the nerve to avenge her, but had mistaken Billy for Cameron in the dark. "I confess I was not in my right mind, my Laird."

"I do not believe that you were in your right mind.

The Gilroy brothers were both guilty of brutal behavior and have been before me on many occasions for various grievances.

They did resemble one another in many ways and I can see that it would be easy to mistake one for another.

Though I must wonder why you chose to take the law into your own hands, rather than tell my Watchmen who you suspected of Maeve's death. "

Brian hung his head.

"Is it that being English, you thought yourself better than us Scotsmen?" Donal asked.

Brian looked up at that and quickly shook his head. "Never, my Laird. I have counted myself grateful to have been accepted by the people here. I would never think myself better than them."

Donal nodded. "Then what drove you to take his life?"

"My grief, my Laird. I am lost. Broken. Without my Maeve."

Donal sighed and paused for a moment. "I understand you tried to stop Cameron from attacking Miss Crystal in the courtyard?"

"I did, my Laird. I could not allow him to harm another woman the way he hurt my Maeve."

"You could have escaped in the chaos."

"No. I will take my punishment, my Laird. I am an honorable, if broken man."

"Very well. Brian Highsmith, I absolve you of the killing of Billy Gilroy, however, for the time and compensation of my Watch for the amount of time wasted for solving these murders, I order you to spend three days a week working here at the castle in your farrier duties for the next three months.

And if I hear of any more violence coming from you, I will see you in my dungeon. Do you understand?"

Brian dropped to his knees. "Indeed, I swear, my Laird. I am grateful for such a sentence and take an oath upon the memory of my wife to not engage in any violence."

"Good, then you are free to go." Donal gave a slight smile and nodded at Rory and Shaw to release his chains.

Donal leaned back in his chair and tilted his head toward his wife who whispered in his ear. His gaze moved out over the crowd who stood before him and landed on Jamie. Crystal looked from him to the Laird and once again panic filled her.

"Jamie, step forward."

Jamie left her side and moved forward. "Yes, my Laird?"

"You worked tirelessly upon this case. I am grateful for your efforts. You will receive extra coin, and I am granting you five days of rest and respite."

"Thank you, my Laird." He gave him a nod.

The Laird's gaze moved to Crystal. "There will be a welcome banquet tomorrow evening for Miss Crystal Corbin, to welcome her to Castle Urquhart. I hope you all will attend."

With that the Laird dismissed everyone. Jamie wrapped a hand around her waist and led her toward one of the servants. "Would you escort Miss Crystal to my chambers and see that a bath is prepared for her and food brought up?"

"Aye, of course, sir." The young maid nodded.

"Wait, I will take her up, Bridget," Donal's wife, Anna said as she approached them.

Crystal was nervous and wondered where Jamie was going. "But—" Her panicked gaze met his gentle one.

"I shall be up as soon as I can, lass. I have some things to see to first." He kissed her cheek and left her with Anna.

Crystal stared after him and sighed. She looked at Anna and gave her a nervous smile. "Hi."

"Hey. So I'm gonna guess you're feeling really out of place right now?"

Crystal blinked. "You sound like you're from the states, are you like me? Are you one of the women Elena and Melanie talked about?"

"Yep. I was the first, so if you feel out of place, just think how out of place I felt." Anna laughed. "Come on, I'll show you to Jamie's rooms."

Crystal had a million questions, but she followed Anna without voicing any of them.

"Do you have any other dresses?" Anna asked.

"Um, no. I borrowed this from Courteney. All I have is my clothes from back home." She shrugged then hesitantly asked, "Is it weird that I've only been here a few days and I'm going to be sharing a chamber with Jamie?" She felt the heat rise up her neck to her cheeks.

"It's a little faster than some of us, but not surprising at all, and not weird. Well, no weirder than traveling through time via the fae, right?"

"I guess not." Crystal laughed.

"Here we are. I'll make sure you have additional dresses, underclothes, nightclothes and all the necessities.

None of us arrive prepared for this and Donal has gotten used to providing everything for us.

" She grinned as she opened the door to a sitting area.

"His bedroom is back there, there's an extra bedroom here," she pointed to the left, "and another over there that he uses for an office.

This is of course, the sitting room. You can have the staff bring meals up, if you like, or you can join everyone down in the dining hall for meals.

Blair is our kitchen manager, if you need anything food wise, go through her.

Regular staff can help with every day things, like getting bath water or clean linens.

Anything else you need, you can come see me. "

"Thanks." Crystal smiled as there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Anna called.

A troop of maids came in carrying a tub and buckets of steaming water. "Where should we set this up, my lady?"

Crystal's eyes widened at the deep tub. She couldn't wait to sink herself into it and have a proper bath.