“You did, sir, and I’ve not left her side,” Quiver said. “Not until one of the kitchen helpers brought the news about Orvin. Then I came directly to you.”
Arran opened the door again. “Wait outside, Quiver.”
The young man bobbed his head and hurried out.
Arran looked from one man to the other. “I’m sure not only Iona can confirm that but the kitchen staff as well.”
“I told you, it’s Brynjar,” Freen said, looking to Galvin.
“Arran has placed the sentinels well. They couldn’t slip by them without being noticed,” Galvin argued.
“Brynjar’s warriors could,” Freen said and looked to Arran to confirm it.
Arran did. “Freen is right. It is a distinct possibility. The man does not accept defeat, no matter how many must die for him to achieve it.”
“We should postpone the wedding, Father, until this matter is settled. There is no telling what may happen during the celebration.”
“NO!” her father snapped angrily. “I will not be made to look the fool by a Northman. Freen, since Wolf’s warriors are here to help see that they do. Have them post more sentinels around the village.” He waved his hand at his daughter and Arran as if shooing them away. “You two will leave. I don’t need any help in this matter. I am still Chieftain of the Clan Macara.”
Arran’s arm hurried around his wife’s waist when he saw that she looked ready to argue with her father, and he got a serious scowl from her once outside.
“My father is a fool to think this is Brynjar,” she said, shaking her head and stepping away from her husband to pace. “What possible reason could he have for killing Orvin?”
“Brynjar needs no reason,” Arran said. “Fear is Brynjar’s most powerful weapon and he’s skillful with it.” He shot King and Princess a look, parked beside Quiver, their heads turning, following every step Purity took.
“Then he was victorious,” Quiver said. “All in the clan are worried.”
Arran looked around. The people kept their distance from the cottage, almost as if they feared being touched by Orvin’s tragedy. It didn’t, however, keep them from talking and speculating among themselves, and perhaps worry about who might be next.
As if reading Arran’s mind, Quiver asked, “Do you think Brynjar will strike again?”
“There is no telling what Brynjar will do, and that’s what makes it so difficult to defeat him,” Arran explained.
“Are you saying the man can’t be defeated?” Quiver asked with a tremor to his words.
“The real question is—how do you defeat the devil?” Arran asked. “Go see if you can find out if anyone saw anything.”
Quiver hesitated. “What if some think I did it?”
“That was my father’s doing and he doesn’t know you, Quiver,” Purity said. “I’ve seen how easily you talk with others and they with you. Besides, those in the kitchen will confirm you were there with Iona.”
“And you will tell me if anyone accuses you of anything,” Arran ordered. “I’ll see that they do it no more.”
Quiver bobbed his head. “I’ll find out all I can.”
Purity’s stomach growled loudly.
Arran reached out, his hand closing around hers. “You need to eat.”
They walked toward the keep, King perched on Princess’s back as they followed along.
“It makes no sense Brynjar killing Orvin,” she said. “He didn’t even know the man.”
“It didn’t matter who he killed. Orvin’s death showed that Brynjar could enter the village and kill without being discovered. This killing shows that no one is safe from him. Anyone could be next.”
“But this only gives us more time to fortify the village and further protect everyone,” she argued.
“A challenge to Brynjar to show that no matter what we do, he’ll defeat us.”
“So you think he’ll kill someone again?” Purity asked.
“Unless we stop him.”
She halted abruptly, turning angry eyes on him. “Don’t think you’re going after him.”
“This has to end and it can end only one way, wife,” he said gently but with a firmness that let her know he would do what needed to be done.
“What if he isn’t the one who killed Wolf’s warrior and Orvin?”
“He certainly didn’t do the killing himself. One of his warriors was the culprit and one willing to die if caught. He will wait for a bigger prize to kill.”
Purity shivered. “You.”
“I escaped him once and now I’ve taken what he believes belongs to him. I’ve made him appear foolish in front of his men. He will not rest until he sees me dead, and his time is short here. He must return home soon or be forced to leave.”
A thought worried her. “He wouldn’t leave someone behind to finish the chore for him, would he?”
“Definitely not. This is something he wants the pleasure of doing himself and also to keep the respect of his men.”
Purity was quiet the rest of the way to the keep, her thoughts keeping her busy. She wished she could take a waander in the woods. She saw things so much clearer there and it had been too long, not that it actually was but it felt as it was, since she’d been there. She cast a lingering glance at the woods as they climbed the steps to the keep.