Chapter Seventeen

After a night sleeping in the forest, Gavin woke in a foul mood. They'd been unable to get a room at the local tavern upon arriving late the night before. Then to his consternation, two of the men had gotten ill after eating whatever foul food they'd been served at said tavern.

They'd spent the night retching until finally falling asleep late the night before. Now he and the men woke either feeling weak from being sick, or tired from lack of rest.

The Isle of Eigg was certainly not welcoming so far.

To make matters worse, he'd decided to go to the house where he'd been told Freya lived. He'd rode close and leaving his horse behind walked closer to get a look.

Freya walked with a man, and they seemed at ease in each other's company. Not at all what he'd expected as she'd run away from a betrothal. At least that's what she'd said. She and the man didn't walk particularly close to one another, but close enough to give the impression of a good relationship between them.

He was about to leave when the man motioned toward the opposite side of the forest from where he and his men had slept. Freya and the man seemed alarmed and rushed into the house as a group of riders appeared.

Whatever happened, it wasn't good. The newcomer traveled with a group of men, including one who looked to be a priest. Interesting.

It was none of his concern, Gavin told himself riding back to the forest. At the same time, alarm bells rang in his head. Something was amiss.

He'd traveled this far to see about Freya, perhaps it was best to gather the men and pay the Craig house a visit.

No one was outside when Gavin and his men rode into the courtyard. It was a few moments before a young lad rushed to them. He seemed perplexed at their appearance.

Gavin looked to his men. "Stay here with the horses." Then he motioned to Hendry and one other. "Come with me."

They went to the front door and knocked, but no one answered. Voices carried, it was a man shouting.

Pushing the door open, he walked inside slowly, Hendry and the other man on his heels. They moved trying to be silent while following the sound of the voices.

Gavin stopped at the doorway and peered in.

"Ye cannae force Freya into marriage without her guardian present," the man who'd been walking outside with Freya shouted. "It is unlawful to force a woman into marriage."

The man who'd recently arrived made a slashing motion with his hand. "She and I are lawfully betrothed. The lass is nae a virgin. The healer will certify this."

Freya had her back to him, so Gavin could not see her expression. She stood next to a woman who had her arm around her. She remained silent, allowing the man to speak on her behalf.

"Tell them Freya." The man who'd recently arrived motioned to her aggressively. "Admit that ye and I are fully betrothed."

"I am nae yers!" Freya screamed. "Aye, I am nae a virgin, but that is nae yer doing. My lover is a Ross. He lives on Skye."

Gavin's mouth fell open, and he exchanged looks with Hendry, who gave him a wicked wink. Gavin returned what he hoped was a droll look.

"Dinnae lie. Ye cannae prove it," the angry man retorted with a humorless bark of laughter. He turned to a pair of older men, one the priest another he assumed was the healer. "Surely, ye realize she lies. As I said, after the betrothal, she and I consummated the union. If she whored herself out after that, which I doubt, then it changes nothing."

The priest didn't seem affected by the subject matter. "Miss Craig. It is yer duty to marry Tasgall. Be thankful that he is willing to overlook yer lack of morality."

"My uncle will return at any moment. Why can we nae wait for him?" Freya snapped. "Why the hurry?"

"Because I have waited long enough," the angry man, Tasgall, spat out. "Healer take her and confirm what I say is true."

The angry man grabbed Freya's wrist.

Gavin was about to step forward to stop it when the younger man, who'd she'd been walking with, rushed forward. "Take yer hands off her, now."

"Ye have no rights over me," Freya screamed yanking her arm away, but the man's hold was firm.

Tasgall moved closer to Freya, his face almost nose-to-nose with hers. "I am the only man ye have laid with. I have every right,"

"Ye dinnae," Gavin said and walked into the room. "I am her betrothed. It is I who took her virginity."

"Gavin." Freya's eyes rounded and at his pointed look, the healer released her.

There was a momentary silence as everyone in the room looked to one another and then to Gavin and the two warriors who stood behind him.

"Who the hell are ye?" the angry man demanded.

"Gavin Ross, brother to Laird Ross of Skye. I came to fetch Freya."

The man's face contorted with rage, but he seemed to have lost the ability to speak.

"She never told us about ye," the man who'd walked with Freya earlier stated looking between him and Freya. "Is this true?"

"I must speak to ye in private." Freya's voice was just above a whisper as she met Gavin's gaze.

"He lies, this changes nothing. Another one of her tricks to keep me from taking what's rightfully mine," the angry man shouted.

"Stop this," an older woman said in a firm tone. "Allow us time. Let us wait for my husband. He will clear up this matter. Let us sit and calm down. There is nae need for shouting. It is only making the situation worse."

The priest held up both hands, palms up. "I agree. We should wait. The situation has become quite confusing."

Freya's gaze took Gavin in, her eyes full of questions and what seemed like relief. He wanted nothing more than to go to her but sensed it would cause chaos to return. Instead he remained standing near the door.

"I must speak to Freya in private," Gavin said to no one in particular as he had no idea who anyone was.

"No," the angry man stated, straightening to his full height, albeit a head shorter than Gavin. He stood with feet firmly planted and chest out. "Whoever ye really are, this has nothing to do with ye."

"I am Ignall, Freya's cousin," the man who'd been outside with Freya said. "This is my mother, her aunt. My father has gone to speak to the Macdonald about this situation." He pointed to the angry man. "That is Tasgall, an idiot."

Tasgall glared at Ignall. Gavin immediately liked Freya's cousin.

"As I said earlier, I am Gavin Ross. After my men rescued Freya and her brother from the sea, she lived there until she was taken and brought back here."

"If ye are her true betrothed, then why was she headed away from ye when I found her."

Ignoring Tasgall, Freya's aunt shooed the guards who'd come with Tasgall out of the room. They'd left reluctantly after Tasgall finally nodded.

She then spoke to another woman who he assumed was a maid. "Bring ale and oatcakes."

No one sat, everyone seeming to size up each other waiting to see who would antagonize who first. Gavin slid a glance to Freya, who seemed on the brink of tears. Her expression not giving away her thoughts. The lass was probably overwhelmed.

Her cousin, Ignall, glared with open dislike at the man called Tasgall, who maintained an air of superiority, as if considering himself to be in command of the room.

In a way Gavin supposed he was. The man was who'd brought demands and discord.

Freya's gaze met his and for a split second it was as if they were the only ones in the room. "Ye are here."

"Aye. We will talk."

"Certainly not," Tasgall said, his jaw clenched.

"Ye have nothing to say about what I do or dinnae do," Freya retorted. "Ye are a vile murderer and should be hung by yer neck."

At the words, Tasgall seemed taken aback, but he quickly regained his composure. "I had nothing to do with yer parents' death."

"Beathan overheard ye." Freya pointed at him. "He heard every word. Ye were nae careful when talking to the same two ye brought with ye today." She pointed toward the doorway. "Ye were planning to kill my brother as well. Ye didnae expect us to know."

"Stop spouting lies," Tasgall snapped taking a step forward.

Gavin had had enough. When he stepped in front of Tasgall, he was joined by Freya's cousin.

"Yer demands will nae be met. Ye should realize it by now," Ignall said.

Footsteps sounded and the men who'd come with Tasgall reentered. They stood by the door, the intent of what they'd do if Tasgall signaled evident. Hendry and the other Ross warrior sized them up and moved closer. It was evident the men from Eigg were not warriors as they visibly shrunk back.

"Go over to where yer aunt is," Gavin said to Freya in a low tone. She nodded and joined the woman, and her cousin, who were standing by the hearth.

The man Tasgall sneered at Ignall, ignoring Gavin. "Who is going to force me to leave? I have the priest and constable on my side."

Both men looked to each other, their expressions more of frustration than of standing at the ready to do Tasgall's bidding.

Tasgall motioned to Gavin and looked to his men. "Remove him from my presence."

Gavin pulled the broadsword and held it to his side.

The men didn't move, especially when Hendry growled.

The priest moved to hide behind the constable, who looked about to falter.

"This marriage will take place. I tire of this game of trying to keep me from what is lawfully my right." Tasgall gave a dry laugh. "This is all ridiculous, we all know ye are not her betrothed. My family and hers made a formal agreement. There is nothing anyone can do really to stop it." He paced back and forth seeming to not notice his men had yet to move."

When he reached the hearth, Gavin took a step forward. Tasgall met his gaze. "Why are ye really here?"

Gavin didn't reply, instead he stared at the man who's lip curved into a sneer.

"There is nae an agreement of any sort between ye and Freya. Ye should know, she is nae who ye think she is. Whatever she's said to ye is a lie. The only reason I am insisting on the marriage is because I am a man of honor. I gave my word to her father. Rest his soul."

He should have seen it coming, but Gavin had been listening to what the man spouted, not considering what he did. It was a diversion, because an instant later, Tasgall had his hand wrapped in Freya's hair and had yanked her in front of him.

A sharp dagger was pressed against Freya's throat, the blade dangerously close to breaking the skin.

Tasgall's guards froze, obviously their loyalty to him was not strong as they immediately rushed from the room.

"Priest!" Tasgall called out. "Marry us now."

The priest looked bewildered. "It is obvious that ye are deranged. I will nae in good conscious…"

"Do it or she dies," Tasgall interrupted.

When Gavin took a step closer, Tasgall pushed the tip of his dagger into Freya's throat.

Freya met Gavin's look and he saw calmness. She was trying to silently communicate with him.

"What if everyone agrees to the marriage," Gavin asked.

Everyone exchanged confused looks and he sensed Ignall was about to say something, but he held a hand up.

"Please dinnae harm the lass. She could be with child. My child."

At the words, Tasgall expression changed, his mouth fell open, but no words came out. Then he quickly recovered. "Ye are lying."

"Am I?" Gavin gave him a pointed look. "That is the reason why I am here. She told me to be with child. We argued, she left to make a point. When I came for her she was gone."

"Liar!" Tasgall screamed. He held the dagger out in Gavin's direction. "Admit it."

Freya took advantage of his distraction and thrust her small dagger into Tasgall's side. He gasped and looked down.

When he reached to yank it from his side, Freya dashed to Gavin, and he guided her to stand behind him. She trembled against him, and never had he felt so completely full of purpose.

Tasgall threw the small dagger to the floor and held both hands to the wound. The priest and constable rushed to the injured man.

"Ye should sit," the priest said.

Tasgall refused, glaring at Freya.