Thirty-One
“SPEAK!”
Kerr roared the command at Katie, who had refused to utter a single word since appearing before the laird. They were at the Kerr holding, where Boyd had remained despite sending his men to fight at different fronts.
Coward.
He had men to fight his battles and he’d said he would not sully his hands.
Kerr nodded to the man next to her, who at the action, held a dagger to Katie’s belly.
“I know not.”
“Truly? Ye expect me to believe that ye doona know where James Menzies is?”
She shook her head. “He went to hunt and before he returned, yer men were there.”
Kerr looked at one of his men, who’d seen one of Connor’s leave the fight. He’d smartly followed the green warrior who’d not been careful with covering his tracks.
“He was no’ near the whore, Laird. I ‘ad one groupin’ o’ men fight an’ subdue Menzies. I took the second tah retrieve her.”
“Where are the other men who were sent to find Menzies?”
The leader shrugged. “I doona know, Laird.”
He waited for the laird’s fist. Although he stood solid, the laird was a large man and managed to force the leader back several steps. The man wiped the blood from his lips.
“How did ye come by the chest wound?”
“The bitch there.”
Kerr looked from Katie to the leader. “Truly? That mite of a thing managed to stab ye?”
At the leader’s nod, Kerr laughed. “How weak are ye?”
The leader’s jaw flexed but he wisely said nothing.
“We left once we had her. I didna wish to prolong and then have Menzies come upon us.”
Kerr nodded and his gaze fixed on Katie.
“Is that bairn his?”
Katie stayed quiet and Boyd laughed.
“Been rutting around with the lads, I see.”
Her silence bothered him.
“DOONA YE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY!!”
Katie’s back snapped straighter and she tensed. The temper in this man rivaled the heat of the sun.
She began shaking, scared for her bairn. Her ability to defend the babe was limited.
What would she do if he attacked her?
If it were just her, she’d fight as James had taught her.
But she had a babe in her belly, and she didn’t doubt that this evil man would kick her there, or worse.
Her doubt as to his actions did not remain unanswered for long. So distracted by her thoughts, she forgot one of James’ lessons- never take your eyes off of the enemy.
Well she had, and she realized that error when her head snapped to the side and her lips bled. She immediately brought her hand to her mouth and looked at him. Kerr raised his hand again, and Katie stuck her arm out, stopping his hand’s arc.
He began laughing and grabbed her chin roughly between his fingers and thumb.
“That was a mistake, lass.”
Her eyes remained on his.
“Look around ye.” When she didn’t move her eyes from his, he yelled.
“LOOK AROUND!!!”
He roughly forced her head to move around and look at the men standing in a circle around them. Still gripping her chin in a vice hold, he snarled.
“Ye keep on with this insolent behavior, and ye will soon wish that ye were before those three Wynton brothers again rather than my men and me.”
Katie’s eyes rounded. “Ye know?”
He laughed and forced her to look around again. He leaned in to her ear and whispered.
“See the lust in their gazes? It matters not that ye carry a bairn.”
He leaned further in and the touch of his lips on her ear caused her to shudder.
“If yer bairn survives their lust at all.”
At her gasp, he moved backwards, laughing. He stopped before her and stared. Katie became nervous. Having the attention of this mercurial man was not anything anyone would want.
Least of all her.
The Kerr laird was a large, stocky man. His hair was more white than red, and his green eyes had brown flecks. His fully grown beard was nothing like James’ tamed and soft one. Freckles colored more of his cheeks and nose than his skin.
He moved closer to her face, and when she moved back, he grabbed a fistful of her hair to prevent her from moving away further.
“Find me unappealing, do ye?”
Katie twisted her lips and wrinkled her nose, but smartly kept quiet. She didn’t want to antagonize him further. Still, his breath was fowl.
The clattering of chains gained their attentions. Katie and Kerr looked over to the entrance of the keep and there stood a chained giant surrounded with what appeared to be elves.
That’s what it seemed like to her, anyway.
James.
Her heart sped and her breath held as she looked upon her strong husband. He stood calmly in the middle amidst the eleven men he dwarfed, who held chains strapped to various parts of him. Arms hung at his sides.
A dark sack was covering his head. One man removed it, and then she saw a black cloth covering his beautiful eyes.
“Ahhh… and at last, the Marbhaiche has arrived.” Kerr looked at his men. “A bit much, eh?” Kerr laughed, commenting on sac over James’ head and cloth over his eyes.
Katie became distressed when she saw the blood covering his face. It was all over his cheeks, nose, and forehead.
Even on his bare chest.
She didn’t know what caused her more concern. That he had been bleeding, or that he was chained like an animal.
Thick iron bands were around his abdomen, neck, and arms. Five men held the chains that were attached to the band around his middle. Two chains came from his neck, and two from each arm. One man held each chain.
A garbled gasp emitted from her throat and she brought her hands up to her mouth. She watched as his demeanor changed immediately.
The knots of muscles in his thighs, arms, and abdomen grew pronounced, as if he readied himself for battle. The set to his jaw grew firm as she saw a muscle bulge there.
“Kate?”
She exhaled, knowing that he used that short name for her to help shift her into the right disposition for defending herself.
“Is. She. Here?”
His impatience and growing anger moved her to speak.
“Aye, James. I’m here.”
Kerr stepped forward.
“Just what is this?”
Kerr looked at the man who led the group.
“We didna trust him, Laird.”
“Did he attempt to evade or flee?”
The man shook his head. “Nay. He offered no resistance.”
Kerr placed his hands on his protruding belly and laughed.
“Ye feared his cooperation?”
The man’s cheeks heated as a few men behind the laird snickered.
“He was whistling, Laird.”
More men joined in the laird’s laughter and the man grew from embarrassed to angry and defensive.
“‘Twas as if he wanted to skip through the glen.”
Several men doubled over in deep laughter. The great hall echoed with boisterous heckling.
“D’ye hear that? He feared a happy mon!”
“Aye, mayhap fairies scare him, too!”
The hall erupted in laughter as the man’s cheeks colored to a deep red.
Kerr held up his hand.
“Now, now. We’ve had our jest.”
“Must ye keep the cloth over his eyes?”
Kerr looked at Katie. “So ye speak now, d’ye?”
Katie didn’t reply.
Kerr shrugged. “Unmask his eyes.”
The leader whose cheeks were returning to their normal coloring, asked, “Are ye certain?”
Any trace of humor left Kerr’s face.
“D’ye question me?”
The man hurriedly shook his head.
“Nay, laird.”
The man was still hesitant, but when Kerr’s first-in-command cleared his throat, he moved towards James.
“Hold him.”
The men in the great room laughed at the man’s caution. He groaned. Slowly, he took the dark cloth off James’ eyes.
It was as if he knew exactly where Katie stood, for once the cloth was removed, his eyes stared at her.
His gaze narrowed on the blood at her lips.
“He did that to ye?”
“Aye.”
Her voice was as soft as his was hard.
James’ eyes snapped to Kerr.
“Ye will suffer for touching her.”
Kerr laughed and looked at his men, who reacted with smiles of their own.
“Just make me suffer? Nay death? She mustna be too good of a rut, if all ye promise is suffering in her name.” He looked at Katie. “But ye do look delectable, lass.”
Katie shifted uncomfortably under his leering, lascivious gaze. Kerr’s eyes moved to James when he spoke.
“Ye forfeited yer life when yer men took her, Kerr. Yer death would have been swift.”
Kerr looked taken aback by James’ deathly calm voice and pointed predatory glare.
“Now, ye will suffer, Kerr, until ye beg for death, and still, I willna give ye mercy.”
Kerr was momentarily hesitant, but as if catching himself to disguise his trepidation, he looked at his men and laughed. He strutted over to James, and stood a foot away from him. James could tell the man didn’t like being so close. Because James was so tall, Kerr had to look up at him.
“Ye threaten me when ye’re in such a vulnerable position? I’ve killed men for less of an insult.”
James didn’t even blink as his gaze was downward looking at the laird.
“Who’s vulnerable? I certainly am not.”
Kerr snorted at James’ cocky words.
“Ye speak such delusions when ye are covered in blood and bound by shackles.”
Kerr’s men at arms laughed again as he looked at them. He enjoyed having their attentions, James had noticed.
“‘Tis nay mine, Kerr. ‘Tis a mixture of the more than fifteen men ye sent to capture me. Worry not, there is yet opportunity for me to cover myself in yer blood once I kill ye.”
The collected inhales of the men surrounding them caused Kerr’s anger to soar.
“Fifteen men? He alone killed them?”
James found the speaker, and aimed a smirk tinged with an infuriated glower. The speaker and the men surrounding him averted their eyes.
Cheeks red, Kerr walked closer to James.
“Watch yer tongue, Menzies. Son-by-marriage ye will be soon, but ye doona need that tongue of yers for that.”
James laughed and the chains rattled as he lifted his hands to swipe his nose. Kerr stepped back in caution and James laughed at the show of weakness and fear.
Kerr’s cheeks reddened yet more, and he furtively glanced at the men behind him, some standing wide-eyed staring at their laird.
“Marriage is a lofty endeavor, Kerr, as well as impossible.”
“How so? I’ve a priest at the ready to marry ye to Fiona. I have yer whore here to ensure ye’re cooperative.”
James snorted.
“Ye canna force a married man to wed, Kerr. That much, yer small brain must understand.”
When men around them snorted at James’ taunt, Kerr looked back effectively silencing them.
“Married, are ye? To who? Her?”
With every word, his voice rose until he was fairly yelling. Sensing the laird’s instability, James remained quiet for the moment. This served to further infuriate Kerr, who walked to Katie, grabbed her hair, and pulled her head back, causing her to gasp.
“Ye. Are. DEAD!”
James’ roar silenced everyone, causing Kerr’s men to look at one another in surprise and caution, bordering on fear.
James’ eyes were rounded and livid.
It wasn’t only James’ tone, however, that concerned them. His demeanor was opposite of what it should be. It was what he said and how he acted, as if he had the upper hand despite his precarious position in the shackles.
It was as if he knew something they didn’t, because any man in his position should be fearful, or at the very least, concerned.
James had not shown one weakness except for Katie.
That was all Kerr needed, however.
That one small weakness.
He laughed.
“So ye married this whore. I suppose, too, that her bastard is yers.”
Kerr pulled Katie’s hair tighter causing her to yelp.
“Let. Her. Go.”
James was nearly foaming at the mouth.
“Calm, James. It is just a bit painful. Truly.”
Her words did not soothe him, but instead, fed the conflagration. Selflessly, she attempted to calm him despite her own fears.
He would not allow her to offer him strength and comfort when he could not reciprocate.
“NO!”
The men holding his chains began shifting nervously, wondering whether eleven chains had been enough. James’ muscles were all engaged, much like an animal readying to attack.
Kerr dipped his head and kissed Katie so roughly, she cried out but it was swallowed by his hard mouth.
James began cursing at Kerr and the men began pulling him backwards.
Furious, Katie bit Kerr’s lips, causing him to bleed. He pulled back.
“Focking bitch!”
He backhanded her so hard, she fell to the floor.
“Wait until my hands wrap around yer throat, Kerr. I’m going to skin ye alive!”
Kerr laughed. “What an honor that would be from the Marbhaiche.”
Katie slowly rose and looked at James. “Please.”
James’ eyes transitioned from fury and rage, to concern when he looked at her.
“Doona ye concern yerself with me, lass.”
“Verra touching, indeed.”
“Say what ye will, Kerr, it willna change anything. I am married, and ye canna force me to marry yer daughter. Ye’re dead just as soon as I divest myself from these shackles.”
“How? I doona suppose ye have a witch who can help ye, d’ye?”
Some men snickered.
“As for marrying, widowers have no such restrictions. They are free to marry.”
The implication made by Kerr caused the hair to rise on his arms and neck. The fury thrumming through James peaked, lighting a spark hotter than lightning.
“My thanks for the candor, Menzies. I’d brought her here with the intention of forcing ye to marry or have her tortured. Now, I realize that that would not suffice.”
Kerr nodded to the two men behind him and they each grabbed Katie’s arms.
“No! Let me go!”
Katie used their strongholds as leverage, jumped, and kicked one in his groin. Before the other could react, she’d managed to do the same to him.
The men had let her go and Katie stood, watching James.
He smiled at her. “Verra good, lass.”
Her answering smile dissolved on her face as Kerr backhanded her again. Katie flew backwards. Her cry was loud and fearful.
She’d landed on her belly.
Katie hastily sat up, hands over her belly.
“Oh!”
Tears streamed down her face as she panted in panic. Her lungs were not filling properly with air, and she found it difficult to breath.
Blood covered her face.
Kerr had hit her with the hand bearing his large ring.
“The marriage will be no more.”
Sword in hand, Kerr began walking towards Katie.
“NO!!”
The gravelly roar that erupted from James’ soul caused his capturers to look at one another in alarm.
Katie looked at James, horrified, with mouth agape and hands over her belly. Tears streamed down her cheeks as her worry over their bairn consumed her.
The impotence James felt for not having prevented her fall, and not being able to comfort her, reared up in him.
His eyes were enraged- blazing golden nuggets of wild fury.
The veins in his neck strained and bulged.
The muscles in his legs and arms were outlined underneath his skin as he fought the chains.
It was if all before him had slowed. He saw some men with eagerness in their eyes as they looked upon Kerr moving towards his Katie with sword in hand, his intent clear.
Sick bastards.
James saw the determination and hatred in Kerr’s eyes.
Kerr would kill the light of this earth to force marriage upon him.
He was intent on killing his sun, his stòr.
James’ mind split and it was as if he saw what would occur moments ahead.
Kerr taking his sword and thrusting it first through her belly and then her chest, through her beautiful, kind, and generous heart. The last of her cries fading as the life flowed out of her like her blood was.
The pain of losing her lanced him as if he had been the one Kerr’s sword had run through.
James inhaled loudly, lungs starved for air, realizing he’d stopped breathing.
Kerr was nearing Katie as she pleaded with him while cradling her belly.
“Please,” her painful, tear ridden pleas tore at James.
She believed Kerr would kill her.
James shook his head.
Not while he had breath in his body.
James roared again, flexing his arms, and the shackles encircling them broke.
“Laird!”
Katie watched as her husband looked like the prince from her favorite fairytale, having the strength of twenty men.
The hall erupted in chaos.
It all happened in quick succession, too fast for any of his kidnappers to react.
Seeing that his abductors remained holding the chains that were attached to his arm shackles, James grabbed the other ends that had been attached to him, and swung his arms as he moved towards them, looping the chains around their necks. James tightened his hold and pulled until their necks cracked.
“Laird!!”
The remaining abductors stared horrified and began retreating from him. James took the swords and daggers from the two he had killed and swung both arms in an arc and then sideways, killing four more at once.
The five remaining backed away and melted into the crowd that looked upon the spectacle before them. Before two of them could fully retreat, James had sheathed the swords in the scabbards left dangling at his sides, and gripped the daggers. With a flick of his wrist, he hit the two men in the back of their necks. They stumbled and fell to the floor, causing a few women to shriek.
James hastily took the swords to the chains, shortening their length so as to not impede his movements. He turned.
“KERR!”
To his credit, Kerr looked afraid. He was not as slow of wit as James believed him to be.
“If ye so much as take one step closer to me, Menzies, I will kill her!”
“Yer death willna be swift, Kerr. Ye will suffer by my hands until the last breath leaves ye!”
James’ eyes were wild again. He was breathing through his mouth like an animal. James stood, his gaze rapt upon Kerr. Eyes never wavering, they reflected a predatory savagery none of them had ever seen before in a man.
Katie whimpered, drawing James’ attention.
“I willna allow anyone to harm ye again, mo stòr.”
Katie nodded her head and watched her husband with fascination. His eyes had been feral the moment before he spoke to her. As he’d turned his golden gaze on her, they had softened and reflected his love. Now that his eyes were once again fixed on Kerr, they reflected merciless barbarism.
Yet she was not afraid.
Indeed, she now fully understood how he’d come to be known as the Marbhaiche.
A cacophony of metal swords, yells, and grunts reached him. James spared a look over his shoulder, and saw his and Connor’s men making haste inside.
“NO!”
That one word coming from the woman who held his heart in her hands began a ripple of cold terror from his stomach to his chest as he turned.
“KATIE!”
James lunged forward, fear like no other gripping him, a clasp of horror seizing his heart.
“NOOO!!”
He wouldn’t reach them in time. Kerr was arching his sword downwards to Katie.
His Katie.
His beloved.
His stòr.
Their bairn.
“NOOOOO!”
James bellow was gravelly, echoing around them.
Just as Kerr’s sword point nearly made contact with Katie’s belly, she rolled to the side and stuck a dagger into Kerr’s right calf.
“Uhhh!”
Kerr’s yell of pain rose above the other grunts and shrieks. Connor’s and Douglas’ men were advancing and making quick work of Kerr’s men.
“Ye will nay take another breath!!”
Kerr limped and just as he raised his sword again to run it through Katie, his head jerked back. The sword fell from his grip as he howled in pain as James grabbed a handful of his greasy hair and hauled him away from Katie. The two adversaries faced one another again.
James’ eyes never strayed from Kerr when he asked Katie, “Lass, are ye well?”
James heard her breathing harshly.
“Aye, I am.”
“Yer brother and my father are-”
“Here.”
James spared a look at Connor, who stood next to Douglas. Connor walked towards his sister and was dumbfounded when he saw her hands over her small belly.
“Lass.”
His voice was throaty and a mere whisper. It was one thing to be told his baby sister was carrying, and quite another to see her belly with his own eyes. It made him emotional. She managed a shy smile at him.
“Uncle Connor.”
He assisted her to her feet, kissed her head affectionately, and carefully led her away. He glanced briefly at James, who didn’t turn to him but nodded his head.
“A fight for honor.”
James snorted at Kerr’s words.
“Ye have none. ‘Twill be a fight till death.”
The hall had been filled mostly by Connor’s and Douglas’ men. Few of Kerr’s remained, who gasped in the next instance. Kerr looked at them and then around to see what had his men in a state of surprise.
“Father.”
Kerr’s eyes widened when his gaze shifted.
“My lost son returns home. ‘Tis a might too late for apologies.”
Athyn’s features hardened.
“I amna here to apologize.”
Kerr’s eyes looked further behind and saw all the men who’d gone when Athyn had decided to leave the clan.
“What then?”
“I am here to take my rightful place as the next Kerr laird.”
Kerr laughed as he looked around. Those few men who remained standing snickered with Kerr.
“That is a bit of an issue, Son. I have no intent of abandoning my lairdship.”
Kerr looked at the men behind him, who nodded.
“Ye willna be abandoning.”
It was James who spoke. Now that his stòr and bairn were safe with Connor, his attention was sharp and intent on Kerr.
“Truly? Ye wish to fight? Ye won, Menzies. Ye are married and I canna force ye to wed Fiona.”
James’ scoff was one of incredulity.
“Ye are truly mad.” He paused for a moment staring at Kerr. “Ye caused a Highland war, forced me to run with my wife to protect her, kidnapped her, and attempted to kill her several times. For the first offense, yer death was already decided, and for every additional one, yer torture before death mounted.”
Kerr grew serious and he looked around, finally understanding the gravity of his situation.
“The only words we want from yer mouth are those that tell us who has been aiding ye.”
Kerr moved his head back in mocked innocence.
“No one aided me.”
Having had enough, James punched him.
“Connor, please take my wife outside. I doona wish for her to see the horrors that will befall this dishonorable horse’s ass.”
“James!”
Her voice always ebbed the tension in him, and he wanted to melt into the solace she always gave him.
But not now.
Kerr had dared threaten his world, his stòr, and he wanted nothing around him that would calm the rage and fury burning in his stomach.
It sought revenge, and revenge it would have.
But first he needed to know that his stòr would not be a spectator to it.
“James.”
James looked at his father. “Keep watchful.”
Douglas nodded as James turned and walked to Katie. He stood before her and they stared at one another. He opened his arms and she flew to him.
“Sweet James.”
Her tremulously-stared words nearly broke something within him.
“Please. I canna lose ye.”
His fingers combed through her hair as he inhaled its sweet scent. Even after all that she had experienced, she smelled like a fresh meadow and felt like Heaven.
“Ye willna, mo stòr.” He kissed the top of her head before she looked up at him.
“I love ye. We will leave here together. I wish not for ye to see what will be done. Those horrors are not fit for these beautiful eyes to witness.”
She brought her hands up and gently placed them on his cheeks.
“I love ye, James Rhiseart Menzies.”
“And I, ye, Katherynne Eleanor Menzies.”
His lips and a few smaller areas of his face were the only places he had not covered with the blood of his enemies. They shared a tender kiss before James kissed her head, and said goodbye.
Connor stood watching, eyes wide, but he only said, “I’d trust these men with Maddie. They will protect Katie until we are done.”
James’ eyes were hard as his stare travelled from Connor to the other men who would guard his world and keep her safe. All of them nodded at him and finally, James nodded his consent.
“I will soon come for ye, mo stòr.”
She nodded, touched her heart, and kissed her fingers. James mirrored her actions before she was led away. James continued to stare after her, and Katie turned around twice more before she was out of his sight.
“I would never have believed that the legendary Marbhaiche would be as enamored of a woman as ye are of my sister were it not witnessed by my own verra eyes.”
Connor watched as the love that was visible in James’ eyes was replaced by light humor as James turned to him. He pushed Connor’s shoulder.
“Tell anyone about this, and ruin my hard-won repute, and I’ll knock yer bollocks about.”
Connor laughed and stood amazed again, as James’ eyes transformed from humorous to hard fury as he turned to Kerr.
“Ye intend to murder me without cause? Expect the remaining clans to unite against ye for fear of yer bloodthirsty ambitions.”
“The causes abound, Kerr, and the most egregious was kidnapping my wife who is expecting my bairn, and then attempting to kill her.”
James’ hands fisted at his sides, the anger churning within him was unrelenting. He was not a patient man, and he yearned to kill the bastard and return to his wife.
Kerr focused on his son.
“And ye will allow this to happen and do nothing in my defense?”
Athyn’s gaze hardened.
“I learned long ago that I canna save ye from yerself. Ye demonstrated for me, the dishonorable man that ye are.”
“Honor flows through my veins. I wanted ye to marry better than the whore ye were set in wedding.”
Athyn’s face became a mask of rage.
“‘Twas never yer decision. I wished to marry her, and ye made it so that she despised me. Because of yer lies! Ye doona know any truth, and ye canna speak it either.”
Kerr snorted. “Delusional.”
“Dead.”
Their audience inhaled at Athyn’s last words.”
“Ye would stand by and witness the murder of yer father and nay intervene? Purgatory, Athyn. That is where ye will be after death.”
The hatred in Athyn’s hard eyes was cold. “Then I shall see ye there.”
“Who has given ye aid?”
Impatient to return to his wife, James asked the question. Kerr displayed a smile as he turned to James.
“I know not of what ye speak.”
James’ nostrils flared and he clenched his jaw.
“One last opportunity to confess, and rather than prolong yer death as I yearn to, I will make yer death quick.”
Kerr snorted. “Yer belief in yer ability is rather high, Menzies. I have always been my clan’s best warrior.”
“Who. Is. Aiding. Ye?”
Kerr laughed and grabbed his sword, standing at the ready.
“Let us move on, then, for ‘tis obvious we willna gain the truth today.” James growled his words.
Without warning, James swung his sword and in one blow, he quickly divested Kerr of his sword.
Surprise lit Kerr’s eyes.
James tossed his sword on the floor and leapt towards Kerr, startling him as they plunged to the floor. The speed in which James moved dismayed those around them.
“Fearful that ye’re nay as skillful in swordplay?” Kerr gasped.
James’ hands were around Kerr’s throat, squeezing. The fury ignited in the golden depths of James’ eyes was molten. James reared his fist backwards and punched Kerr in quick succession.
“Let this…be a message…for all. Ye touch…my wife…” He paused a moment as he brought Kerr upwards several inches from his face and roared.
“YE. WILL. DIE!”
Eyes wide with the knowledge that he would die, Kerr helplessly watched as James wrapped his hands around Kerr’s neck. Kerr tried to move backwards but was unsuccessful. He tried to form words but James twisted his hands, causing a low crunching noise. James let Kerr go, and the body fell backwards to the ground, lifeless.
James stood and faced Kerr’s men.
“Any of ye wish to avenge his death, step forward now and fight me.”
James waited, muscles engaged. No one breathed.
“If ye ever attempt to take my wife or seek retribution for yer laird’s justified killing, ye will all meet similar fates.”
James turned, and before he could leave, Athyn stayed him.
“There will never be such retribution, for the man who does so will die by my hand.”
James’ hard eyes were focused on Athyn, and after taking a moment to gauge his sincerity, James nodded. He looked at Connor and Douglas.
“I am returning to my wife and at long last taking her to her new home.”
Connor inclined his head.
“I will follow shortly, Son. I wish to further question these men for any information as to who assisted Kerr.”
“Until then, Father.”
Without further comment, James felt the rage and fury recede with each step he took to his beloved.
Most knew of the Marbhaiche’s fighting prowess.
Few had witnessed it.
The tale of the Marbhaiche would continue to awe and live on through the tongues of those who witnessed such a legend that night.