“I’m supposed to believe your whining?” Arran accused harshly.
Two bright red spots burst on Quiver’s pale cheeks.
“You intended to harm my wife and now you beg for help. You are a fool,” Arran spat.
“I am a fool, definitely a fool. I didn’t know she was your wife and I was told no harm was to come to the woman. I had no wont to harm her only fetch the coin promised for her return.”
Arran motioned with his hand for Quiver to approach and the man took cautious steps toward him.
“Who offered the coin?” Arran asked.
Quiver shook his head and came to a stop when Arran signaled him to do so. “I don’t know. Reid didn’t tell me, thought it better I didn’t know, though he boasted like he knew. He was always boasting when he never had anything to boast about, same with Owen. He was as worthless as Reid, though a vicious one. I almost didn’t join them when I found out Owen was to be part of it. And nothing was said about the woman having a husband.”
“What were you told about the woman?” Arran asked, wanting to gather as much information as he could before he got rid of the man.
“We were told to look for a woman with a three-fingered, claw-like hand,” Quiver said. “Owen warned we had to be careful since with her having a claw like that it was a sure sign she was a spawn of the devil.”
“I’m going to enjoy killing you,” Arran said, his voice calm but his face filled with rage.
Quiver looked ready to drop, he trembled so badly. “He was wrong about the woman. I saw it for myself when she threw herself on top of the dog to shield the animal from my arrow. You can’t be a cohort of the devil when you protect an animal with your own life.”
Arran and Purity were shocked to see King winding his way around Quiver’s trembling legs.
“He can’t be all that bad if King likes him,” Purity whispered to Arran.
“You have too soft a heart,” Arran warned her. “And did you forget he almost killed Princess?”
“I love animals. I find them more kind than humans. And I had no intention of harming the dog. I set my arrow to purposely miss her.”
“And I got in the way of it,” Purity said and caught the annoyed shake of her husband’s head out of the corner of her eye.
“Aye, I never meant to hurt you. Please. Please give me a chance to prove that I mean neither of you harm,” Quiver begged. “I am a skilled archer and I could serve you well.”
“With an arrow in my back?” Arran sneered and knew without his wife saying—just yet—that she would beg for the man’s life as well, since he felt the same about animals as she did.
“Never! Never would I do that,” Quiver pleaded.
“We should give him a chance, Arran,” Purity said. “If you don’t wish him to serve you, perhaps he can find a home with the Clan Mackinnon.”
Quiver’s trembling increased and Purity didn’t think the man could get any paler than he already was, but he did.
“You’re Arran of the Clan MacKinnon?” Quiver asked apprehensively.
Arran confirmed with a nod. “That I am.”
Quiver fell to his knees. “Forgive me! I beg you forgive me. I’m a fool! Please! Please! I didn’t know who you were. I didn’t know she was your wife. Please don’t hurt me.”
Purity couldn’t quite believe that the man cried and begged on his knees for mercy from Arran as if he was facing the devil himself.
Quiver continued to beg, “Please, sir, I will serve you faithfully.”
Purity couldn’t bear it any longer. “No one is going to harm you.”
Arran turned to her. “I haven’t decided that yet.”
“I have and so has King, and King only goes to those who he instinctively knows are good and kind.”
“That must be true since he hasn’t shown a bit of acceptance to me,” Arran said, challenging her to say otherwise.
Purity was ready to argue, explain why he was wrong when Quiver spoke, his words rushing from his mouth.
“He’s right. He’s not good and kind. He’s Satan himself.” Quiver gasped at his own words and his hand flew to cover his mouth as if fearing more damaging words would spill out.
“My husband is not Satan. He is a good man and I will not hear a single disparaging remark about him or you can be on your way,” Purity said with a sharp anger that had both men staring at her in surprise.
“Forgive me, I’ve foolishly believed what I’ve heard others say,” Quiver said in a way of an excuse.
“Well, they’re wrong,” Purity snapped.
“Nay, they’re not wrong,” Arran said and his hand went up as soon as his wife rushed to respond. “We’ve wasted enough time talking.” He looked to Quiver. “My wife believes you are a worthy man. Show me differently and your death will not be an easy one.”