Chapter 8

8

A few days had passed since Elvira had accosted Rory and tried to get him to see sense. Unfortunately, it didn't seem to have worked. Rory had been noticeably absent from the tavern. Elvira hadn't been brave enough to visit him in the forge. She thought it was better to put him out of her mind entirely, although such a thing was easier said than done.

As well as spending her evenings sitting in the corner, reading people's palms, Elvira helped Isla with cleaning and other duties. Elvira used this labor to help pay for her lodging expenses and meals. As a result, the food they ate was not made of meager portions any longer, but rather thick knobs of cheese and juicy slices of meat. They were eating well and, although they did not have a home of their own, they were safe for the time being. However, Elvira was attuned to the mood in the village, and it was clear that people were becoming more frightened. She asked Mirella if they should move on.

"And where would we gae? At some point, ye hae tae take a stand. Besides, if we gae tae far, then we may never end up back in the land where we belong," Mirella said, meaning the McKovac land.

"Dae ye think there is a chance for that tae happen?"

"Oh aye, all it takes is that mad fool tae keel over. We only hae tae wait him out," Mirella said. When she spoke like this, it seemed to be the simplest thing in the world. Unfortunately, that sentiment did not prevail in Elvira's mind. When she spoke to her guests and to Isla, she was given a grim and bleak picture of the village. People were worried about the absence of Laird Boyd. There were no rousing words or promises coming down from the keep, which left the villagers feeling unprotected. There were murmurs of farms on the outskirts being raided, with cattle being stolen, and the ground being disturbed by a sizeable patrol. She was continually asked about whether the laird would listen to the villagers again, and she was unable to allay their fears.

Eventually, she had to go to Isla to address her concerns. "Isla, hae ye noticed how people hae been acting recently?"

"It's hard tae miss," she said, shaking her head.

"Can naething be done? I cannae believe that the Laird is ignoring everyone. Dinnae he know that people need him? He is a leader, he should lead."

"Oh aye, that he should. But the laird is nae the main problem. He may nae even know what's gaeing on. It's Glennrock that is causing all of this. If ye ask me, he hae never been interested in this village. I would nae be surprised if he secretly wants it tae burn. All of these appeals that people are giving, well, they're falling on deaf ears. That man dinnae hae a kind bone in his body."

While Elvira was succeeding in gathering information about the clan, she felt that she could do more. Listening and observing was all well and good, but it wouldn't save people's lives. She wanted to be more involved, but the only way she knew how was to ingratiate herself with Torrin and get invited to the defense meetings. She had tried dropping hints now and then, but Torrin had ignored them, so she was forced to take more of a direct route. She found Torrin in the storeroom and closed the door behind her.

"Torrin, I wanted tae speak tae ye about something… something delicate."

"Lass, ye are already getting free board and meals. I cannae give ye anything else. I'm grateful for the business ye are bringing intae the tavern, but even I hae my limits," he said, raising his hands above his head.

"It's nae about that. It's about… the situation in the village, with all this talk of being attacked by Laird McKovac."

Panic flashed across Torrin's eyes, but it only lasted a moment. He forced a smile and spoke in a nonchalant manner. "Ah well, ye know how people always like tae worry. I'm sure it's naething." He motioned towards the door, but Elvira would not let him pass.

"Ye and I both know it's nae naething. I want tae be involved, Torrin. I want tae be invited tae the meetings."

Torrin winced and clasped his hands together. "I dinnae know what ye are talking about, lass," he said nervously.

Elvira tilted her head, giving him a look that suggested nothing could get past her. "I can help," she said in an imploring voice. "I lived in McKovac lands. I know what it's like living under his rule. I have seen what he's capable of. Ye can use my knowledge tae help prepare a defense plan. I dinnae want tae just stand by and dae naething, nae when ye hae been sae kind tae me and my family. Please, I know all about the meetings. I just want tae help."

Torrin's head fell. "I knew I should never hae told Isla about this," he huffed. Elvira did not bother correcting his mistaken assumption. He pursed his lips and then put a fatherly hand on her shoulder. "Lass, I appreciate yer concern, but ye should stay out of harm's way. It is nae place for a bonny lass like ye. Besides, as ye rightly say, ye hae suffered enough at his hands. Let other people dae the fighting. Ye can help people in yer own way. We hae warriors and guards tae help us build a defense. I'm honestly nae sure what else ye could offer," he said. Elvira was so forlorn at his reluctance to accept her help that she did not resist when he tried to push her away. Not only was she dismissed because of her heritage, but also because she was a woman. It seemed there was nothing she could do about it, so she returned to the tavern and went about her duties, trying not to feel too bitter about things.

Nights at the tavern had been rather busy, with people coming to her table, some of them multiple nights in a row. When she was finished with her palm reading and the night became slow, she helped clean up the tavern. Mirella had put her siblings to bed hours ago, and it would soon be time for Elvira to turn in as well. One of the regulars stumbled out of the bar, leaving two travelers in the bar alone. They had mostly brooded between themselves, drinking stoically, and she assumed they would be going to bed presently.

Usually, either Torrin or Isla was with Elvira to help clean up. Recently, however, Elvira had noticed some tension arising between the married couple. They were currently in the back, with voices trembling with emotion.

"Ye cannae leave again. How many nights are ye gaeing tae spend with these people?" Isla asked.

"As many as it takes, Isla. I thought ye understood. This is for the good of the clan."

"What about the good of our family? Ye are nae a fighter, Torrin."

"I can give as good as I get," the indignation in his voice was plain. "I wish I hae never told ye about this in the first place. I took an oath and everything…"

"The only oath that matters is the one ye made tae me when we got married."

"Aye, but if anyone should find out… I mean, it's bad enough that ye told Elvira."

"I dinnae tell Elvira."

Torrin sighed. Elvira cringed with guilt, for she had not wanted to be a source of tension between the couple. "Whatever ye say. Ye know, she actually wanted tae be involved," he chuckled, as though the notion of Elvira taking part in the meetings was ridiculous.

"And would that be such a bad thing?" Isla asked in a flat tone.

"Of course!" Torrin's voice rose. Elvira suspected they might be reaching the point of the argument where they lost all sense of their surroundings, and secrets might unknowingly slip out. Elvira pulled the door closed and left them to it. They would come out when they were ready.

"Can we hae another drink?" one of the men left in the bar said, holding up his mug. Elvira wore a placid smile.

"I think it's getting a wee bit late. Shouldn't ye be off tae bed?" she suggested, partly because she was tired herself.

"Oh well, if ye are offering, lass, then lead the way," the other man replied, and both of them guffawed. Elvira had noticed them looking at her with keen interest throughout the evening, and her heart sank. She thought about calling on Torrin and Isla, but she had been dealing with men like these for most of her life. They wore dark cloaks and dark smiles. Their grimy faces were covered with thick beards, while their eyebrows looked like furry caterpillars. She had been expecting them to ask her for a palm reading given their interest in her, but they seemed to be content with admiring her from afar. Elvira wished that it would have remained that way.

"Ye know that's nae what I meant, and if ye think it is, then ye hae most certainly hae tae much tae drink," Elvira walked over to them and went to pick up their mugs, indicating it was time for them to leave. However, as soon as she did, one of them grabbed her arm.

"Ye are even more beautiful up close," the first man said, and then sniffed her arm, before making a disgusted look on his face. "But nae matter how beautiful ye are, I would nae want vermin like ye in my bed," he spat. His face turned malevolent. Elvira realized she had misjudged the situation completely. While her other hand was free, she reached for her dagger. Before she could slash it wildly in the air, the second man turned around and put his hand over her mouth to stop her from screaming.

"Better make sure she dinnae curse us," he mocked.

"Well, lass, just because I would never taint my bed with someone like ye, dinnae mean there is nae someone who would. Laird McKovac has a generous bounty on Romani women who look just like ye. Some say he's mad, but that's yer problem, not ours."

"Aye, as long as his coin is good, what dae we care?"

The men dragged her out of the tavern. Their grips were like iron, and no matter how much Elvira writhed and wriggled, she could not escape their grasp. Her eyes widened, and she tried to scream, but the clammy hand was clamped around her mouth, meaning that she could only inhale through her nose. When she did, she smelled the scent of wickedness.

Elvira clung to the dagger with all the strength she had, but as soon as they were outside, the second man twisted her wrist sharply. The pain was so great that Elvira's knees buckled, and her fingers uncurled due to reflex. The dagger dropped to the ground, and with it went her last hopes of protecting herself. They took her to a nearby horse, binding her to the animal with tight ropes and stuffing a gag in her mouth, before they rode away in the darkness. Elvira looked back at the tavern forlornly, tears pouring from her eyes, screams choked into silence before they could leave her mouth. If only she hadn't closed the door. If only…

They took her directly through the village, passing Rory's forge on the way. Elvira closed her eyes and hoped that her family would be safe. She tried not to think about the fate that awaited her, for it was not one that brought her any consolation.