Page 6

T he villagers moved in and out of the tavern, some of them came for a morning meal and mug of ale or cup of tea, while others were simply curious about the investigations and did their best to listen in on Jamie as he spoke with one villager after another.

The sunlight pouring in through the narrow windows grew harsher and filled the tavern with more warmth as the fires burned down to embers.

Although Crystal didn't have a way of telling time, and there wasn't a clock mounted on the wall, she could sense that it was about an hour before noon.

Her stomach also let her know that it was time for lunch as she started to grow a bit hungrier, especially after watching Gavin eat a nice helping of roast vegetables and fresh fish, his own catch, no doubt.

"Gavin, I was wondering if I might get something to eat. Elena mentioned that she would spot me," Crystal said.

"Spot you? I don't know what that means, lass, but I will get you some food right away." Gavin stood up from the table and walked to the counter where Wallace stood.

Crystal looked around the tavern and thought that someone might want to take the seat where Gavin sat.

She nervously hoped it wouldn't happen considering she understood it to be communal seating.

she took the damp blanket that Gavin had given her in the boat and spread it on his seat so that it could dry as well as save his seat.

When Gavin returned, he carried two mugs of ale, one that he placed in front of her.

He moved the blanket aside and sat down.

A moment later Wallace slid a tin plate of food in front of her.

He gave her a peculiar look, but she was glad that he didn't linger in his curiosity.

Instead he walked away and she looked at the food in front of her.

"Mmm, this chicken smells delicious," she said looking at the nice thigh and breast in front of her along with a wedge of cheese, roasted carrots, and a roll of bread.

"Tis, a game hen, lass."

Crystal gazed from Gavin to the plate and nodded. She tentatively picked up the thigh and took a bite. Once again her taste buds exploded with splendor as she ate. The food was fresh and spectacular in flavor."So good," she murmured.

She dug in, not worried about manners as she used her hands to tear the game hen apart and stuff it into her mouth. The ale was strong but she welcomed it to wash down the hearty meal.

Crystal watched as Melanie walked away from the long table which now had three villagers waiting to be interviewed, and approached the corner where Courteney leaned against the wall with her eyes glued to the floor.

Melanie spoke to Courteney in a hushed tone.

Crystal couldn't hear what they said, however after a few moments Courteney looked up and directly at her with wide-eyed amusement.

Crystal understood that they were speaking about her because Melanie turned to look at her as well.

Crystal turned up the corners of her mouth and nodded in a smile of acknowledgment that wasn't too over eager.

Melanie walked away and back to the table where the villagers sat with Elena each awaiting their turn, however there was only one left to be interviewed.

The one who sat with Jamie at the moment stood up and walked out of the tavern having ended the questioning.

The next villager was summoned to Jamie and Crystal could tell that he was growing a bit aggravated which possibly meant he was getting nowhere with the interviews.

She was deep in this thought when suddenly a body slid next to her on the bench.

She turned and looked up into Courteney's stark blue eyes.

The woman sat nervously fidgeting her fingers together as she looked at Crystal up and down taking in her attire but said nothing.

"Oh, hello," Crystal said, breaking the awkwardness.

"Hello, Miss. Melanie tells me that you were put through something by the fae. Is that true?" Courteney asked.

"The fae? I do not know what that is."

"You don't? I do not think there's anyone in these parts who doesn't know what the fae are, though they like to deny it. But tis clear that you have been through something, Miss. Just by looking at you I can tell, what creature attacked you?"

"Attacked? Well I guess you can put it that way." Crystal thought about Mason and what he had done to her.

"It's just my sister is the one who was murdered, you see. If there have been other attacks, then it could help," Courteney said.

Crystal didn't know how to respond to this. She knew that what happened to her wasn't related to this poor woman and what happened to her sister. Though she didn't want to seem like she was hiding anything either. So she told the truth even though it might be strange to the girl.

"I was drugged by a man that I didn't know.

The drug was so strong that I passed out.

When I awoke I was in some sort of haze surrounded by things that I couldn't make out.

It was very shiny and iridescent. Then the next time I opened my eyes I was swimming for my life in what I've been told was Loch Ness.

That's all I remember. Gavin, here, was kind enough to fetch me from the water and bring me here, wherever here is, I don't really know. "

"Oh, I see. Only a few of us from the village are aware of the women the fae bring through the Loch.

You must be one of them. I don't know much about your kind, Miss.

But thank you for that. The Sidhe are no murderers, but you look like you've been through war and back," Courteney said as her gaze raked over Crystal.

Crystal looked down at her clothing and the coarse blanket she had wrapped around her hiding her modern clothes from everyone.

She felt suddenly very self-aware of how she looked thinking that her mascara must be running down her face and her makeup making her look crazy.

She ran her hand over her hair pushing it down as much as possible realizing that this was how Jamie had seen her.

"Yes, I guess almost drowning would make me look like that," Crystal answered.

Courteney looked at the plate of food in front of Crystal. She immediately slid the plate toward her.

"Please, help yourself. I am quite full already and after what you've been through you probably have not eaten a morsel," Crystal said.

"That is very kind of you. I will not forget it.

You are right, however. I have plenty of food, but my nerves have been such a mess that I have had no appetite.

Only now I realize that I have been depriving myself and I am hungry.

My brother-in-law is quite broken and I have been tending to him at his and my sister's cottage. "

"I understand," Crystal replied.

Crystal looked to Gavin who had a slight smile on his face as though acknowledging and being impressed with her sharing food with Courteney. It was a small gesture and she didn't think anything of it.

The sound of boots creaking the floor of the tavern made her look up into Jamie's eyes. Standing this close she once again noticed that he was very tall and handsome.

Crystal beamed a soft smile at him and he smiled back a little. Suddenly she felt better about her entire ordeal, which surprised her. Such a small gesture from a stranger should not make her feel anything, even from someone so handsome and protective.