“You were never worthy to be my wife, but I must say your own foolishness in befriending the witch and your husband being disappointed in you made things much easier for me. Of course, you helped paint yourself evil as well. When Glenna sent word that you commanded not one but two war hounds and that you saved a warrior’s leg from being cut off and how your husband had a change of heart and fell in love with you… it was all too perfect. Only a witch could make such remarkable things happen…. until, of course, she got angry and showed her true evil side. Unfortunately, Glenna failed to kill Ingrid with poison and sicken the others.”
“You poisoned those at Clan Strathearn,” Tavia said without question.
“I did, and I had everyone believing it was the evil witch who did it and sent her evil along with you to Clan MacShane. A brilliant plan that has worked well despite Glenna’s failure. The dead animals I had killed in the forest, their hearts missing, helped add to the doubts and whispers.”
“As well as the dead animals you profess you found along the way to Clan MacShane?” Tavia asked.
“A good tale that frightened my warriors enough to keep them out of the forest, so they did not see what was not there to begin with,” Ivan said. “But then the weak always follow without question.”
“Again, why? Why want me dead?”
“I suppose it does not matter now since you will die shortly,” Ivan said. “And it would be kind of me to tell you before you die for you would not want to live with the truth.”
Tavia’s stomach clinched, but she kept strong. Somehow she would survive this.
“Newlin is not your father,” Lord Ivan announced with a bit of glee. “Lord Bennett was your father and once wed you became the rightful heir to Clan MacVannan since I am no relationship to Bennett at all. I heard a fellow speak of his heirless demise, and I seized the opportunity to make a claim. A few months after my arrival here, I began to hear whispers about the rightful heir to the clan. It took a bit of digging and torture, but it led me to the clan’s old healer, Corlean, who confessed before she died. Healers do have a way of talking among themselves. She had learned the truth from your clan’s healer, Eartha, I believe she was called. She thought it might benefit Clan MacVannan one day, of which, she was correct.”
Tavia would not allow her shock to show. Instead, she smiled.
That turned Ivan angry. “You knew?”
“I knew something you did not which led me to investigate for myself,” she said proudly.
“What was that?” Ivan demanded.
“That I am not evil. That I inherited the best of both my mum and da and had a da that raised me with love and understanding,” Tavia said.
“Little good it does you now,” Ivan snapped, then looked to one of his men. “Kill her! I grow tired of her questions.
Before the man could take a step, a booming voice was heard. “WILL YOU EVER OBEY ME, WIFE?”
Fen rushed out of the woods, planting himself in front of Tavia, his mouth drawn back in a vicious snarl, displaying fangs that had the two warriors stepping back.
Bhric followed after Fen, a claymore firm in his hand as he walked straight to his wife, paying little heed to Ivan. “You were ordered to remain in the keep.”
“Circumstances warranted otherwise,” she said with a slight smile.
“That was not for you to decide,” Bhric said.
“ENOUGH!” Ivan shouted. “You think one warrior and a hound is enough to stop me from seeing this done?”
“You think I was foolish enough to come alone?” Bhric asked and he raised his hand and gave it a sharp snap, and a troop of warriors poured out of the woods surrounding the area.
Ivan laughed. “And you think I was foolish enough to not bring the vilest of warriors with me, if needed?” He let out a fierce roar.
“Stay behind me,” Bhric ordered, stepping in front of her. “Guard her, Fen!”
Fen planted himself next to Tavia, turning his snarl more vicious.
Tavia turned and shooed at William, warning him to take Glenna and go. The warriors would not be concerned with the old couple, not yet at least.
William got his wife to her feet, and they disappeared into the woods as clashes of swords were heard in the distance.
Ivan turned his head at the sound, then turned a glare on Bhric. “You brought more than a troop with you.”
“I brought Northmen and Scotsmen combined. Go join them,” Bhric commanded his warriors surrounding them and they disappeared into the woods. “Your mercenaries do not have a chance against them. You no longer have a clan, land or coin. Hearing what you told my wife, Clan MacVannan rightfully became mine once Tavia became my wife, and you will pay with your life for the evil you have done.”
“First, you will need to find me.” Ivan mounted his horse with speed and took off, the two warriors staring after him in shock, not knowing what to do.