Slatter’s hands clinched, wishing he had the man, both men, in front of him. He wouldn’t be swift to kill them. He’d make them suffer, which was exactly what he intended to do.
“I kept telling him that I didn’t know where you were, not that I would tell the ignorant fool where you were if I had known. Doesn’t the idiot know that a grandmother protects her grandchildren regardless of the cost?” She shook her head. “I think he stabbed me again out of anger.”
“I would not want you to suffer for me,” Slatter scolded lightly.
“Would you suffer for me?” she asked.
“That’s different,” Slatter said, though knew it wouldn’t be to his grandmother.
“No, old or young, you protect those you love,” his grandmother said and yawned.
“You need to rest,” Slatter said and rested his grandmother’s hand on her chest.
She grabbed his hand when he moved it off hers. “Who chases after you, Slatter, and why?”
“I can honestly say, I don’t know. But I will find out.” Slatter kissed her brow. “Rest and worry not.”
His grandmother laughed. “That’s like asking the heather not to grow on the hills.” She turned her eyes on Willow. “Would you mind if I spoke with my grandson alone for a little while?”
“Not at all,” Willow said. “Take all the time you want.” She kissed her husband’s cheek and she could see worry spring in his eyes as to what she might be up to when alone.
“Wait in the keep for me,” Slatter said, turning to watch his wife saunter out of the room.
When she raised her hand and, without looking back, wiggled her fingers as if waving, he knew she had no intentions of doing as he said.
“I’ll find you,” he warned.
“I won’t be hiding,” she said with a laugh and closed the door behind her.
“She’s a strong woman. She will be good for you,” his grandmother said. “Now tell me what goes on and don’t bother to run circles around me and convince me of any nonsense. I know all too well when that tongue of yours charms and when it lies. I’ll settle for nothing less than the truth.”
Slatter hadn’t intended to burden his grandmother with his problem, but she had suffered because of him and it was only fair that she knew what was going on.
“Settle comfortably, Seanmhair, I have a tale to tell you and it has a puzzle that perhaps you can help me solve.”
Chapter 19
Willow entered the Great Hall to see Eleanor talking with Snow, both women wearing worried looks. Snow had left Sara’s bedchamber when she and Slatter had arrived, leaving them to talk privately. She wondered what could be disturbing the two women and went to them.
“What troubles you both this grand morning?” Willow asked, feeling as if the joy she had once known before her parents had died had finally returned. And it was largely due to last night with Slatter. They had sealed their vows. They would stay husband and wife and she couldn’t be more pleased.
“Eleanor has been telling me more about the man called the Slayer,” Snow whispered.
Willow took the seat opposite the table from her sister and Eleanor, Eleanor filling a tankard with hot cider and handing it to her.
“Tell me,” Willow said, taking the tankard as a chill ran through her worried for what she might hear.
Eleanor kept her voice low, though there were few in the Great Hall to hear her.
“It seemed strange to say what I heard, but then I thought you should know since Lord Tarass has sent the Slayer after your husband,” Eleanor explained.
“I appreciate that, Eleanor. Please tell me whatever you know.”
Eleanor nodded and hurried to say, “I remember hearing the older nuns talking about the Slayer being around for years far beyond what a human man could live. The one nun, Sister Agnes, old as the hills and has since passed, said that when she was young the Slayer had come for a man in her clan. All knew he had been marked, though I didn’t know what she meant by that, and avoided him. Even the chieftain had kept his distance. No one did anything to help him. Sister Agnes had said that afterwards many a parent warned their children to be good or the Slayer would get them.” Eleanor crossed herself. “Sister Agnes believed the Slayer was a demon who rose up from the depths of hell when called upon and did as the one who summoned him asked.”
“Wouldn’t that leave the person who summoned him obligated to the demon or the devil himself?” Snow asked.
“Demons are commanded by the devil, so if you call upon a demon for help, you owe the devil his due,” Eleanor said and shuddered.
“That means that Lord Tarass is beholding to the devil,” Snow said and shivered.
The Highlands were full of folktales and beliefs, some having a basis for them and others pure myths, not a truth to them. That was what her practical nature told Willow. Man didn’t need the devil to make him evil. He did that all on his own. Her mum, though, had warned her not to dismiss folklore too lightly. That she should consider it and see what purpose the tale served. That within it, there was a lesson to be learned.