He moved throughout the small space holding his torch in front of him, slowly realizing it was empty. Not only were Gara and her children not there, it was evident by the lack of personal belongings that they never planned to return.
Perhaps the lass had more brains than he’d realized. She’d not taken his threats idly. Still, he knew that his sister would not be pleased to know that they no longer had Gara under their control. But tonight was not the night for her to upset him. He was itching for violence. One day his sister would push him too far.
*
“What do ye mean, she is no there? God, how could ye be so daft, Tormod? To let her go after what she knows? I told ye that we should have disposed of her after she served her purpose the first time.”
Tormod threw his fist hard against the doorway, his frustration at his sister reaching a point where he was afraid he could no longer control his anger at her. “Are ye no the one who suggested that we go to the lass and enlist her service now? I am tired of ye speaking to me as ye do! Ye doona know to whom ye speak. Soon, I will be laird of this territory. If ye doona wish to stay in the ruins in which we live now, you willna speak to me so ever again.”
He blanched when she slapped him hard across the face, and his fists began to tremble as the world around him went away. All he could see was her screaming. He knew not what she said, only making out an occasional word as rage filled him. There had been too many years of her belittling him, of her ordering him about and behaving as if he was useless without her.
Fia might have been quicker to think of ideas, but Tormod always followed them through. Now he knew what he needed to do to bring down Arran. All he had to do was find another castle servant to whom he could coerce to do his bidding. He had no further need for his sister.
“Doona ye threaten me. Ye’re a bastard. Ye were born a bastard, and a bastard ye shall stay. Any triumph that ye have ever seen has been owed to me. Ye are as useless as our horrid father and as daft as our mother.”
As quickly as his rage had risen, an eerie sense of calm replaced it. Suddenly, it was all clear to him. Fia was no more than an obstacle, one that he could no longer allow to stand in his way.
“Goodbye, sister.” He reached forward, grabbing her by the neck as he rammed the side of her head hard against the doorway. She was knocked unconscious at once, but he continued to ram her, over and over, until the gash at the side of her head opened wide, draining her quickly of blood.
He smiled as she died, stepping over her lifeless body as he went on his way to the castle. It would be easy to find someone willing to do as he bid, and if they would not, they would meet the same fate as Edana and his sister.
Chapter 41
Arran and I rode casually, no making haste to anywhere as we made our way deep into the valley following the river. We were both as happy as we’d ever been but equally as exhausted. Arran especially had gone days without sleep, and I could hear his soft snoring against me ear as I rode in front of him on the horse.
I laughed softly, just loud enough to wake him up and send him jerking upright in the saddle.
“I think ’tis time for us to take a rest, aye? If ye start to topple off the horse, I willna be able to keep ye from falling.” I leaned back and turned me head to kiss him as he pulled up on the reins to slow the horse’s pace.
Dismounting, he tied the horse to a tree. Hand-in-hand we made our way to the river. After searching for a few moments, we found the softest patch of earth and lay next to each other to rest our eyes for awhile.
I curled into the nook of his arm, imagining that while we intended to sleep Arran would first suggest that we partake of another enjoyable activity. But no sooner had I settled meself comfortably next to him than he was snoring loudly.
I reached up, lightly kissing his brow before I rested me head against him to try and sleep awhile meself, but I dinna drift long before I drew restless and stood to stretch. I would let him sleep as long as he needed. It was a beautiful summer day, and I’d taken a fancy to stick me feet into the running stream so that I could feel the water swish between me toes. Me last experience with water briefly crossed me mind, but I dinna fear the river with Arran by me side.
The water was cold but it felt nice in contrast to the warm sun that beat down on me face. I leaned back, extending me neck to spread the warmth over me. I knew not how long I lay there, but I heard Arran approaching before I felt his hands on me shoulders.
“Ach, lass, ye look beautiful with yer bare feet splashing in the water and yer bare neck red from the sun. If I wasna a gentleman, I would take ye right here.”
“Gentleman? Ha! Where might me husband be? I know not of this gentleman that ye speak of.” I kept me back to him, smiling as he sat behind me and spread his legs, scooting close so that his front pressed flush against me back. His arms wrapped around me waist as he laced his fingers together leaning in to lightly blow warm air into me ear and down me back.