Chapter Thirty-Nine

Tamsin

Tamsin stood on the dock on the water's edge of the Isle of Ulva. She'd paid a man to ferry her over, and he hadn't asked any questions. Wearing leggings and a long tunic, a mantle with a hood, tall boots, and her hair plaited and hidden had done what she'd hoped. It kept her from being recognized as Garvie's wife.

It was nearly dark and Raghnall would be half in his cups by now, his usual nightly activity, and that was just how she wished to find him. She thought about going after her daughter first, but she had unfinished business with her husband.

Risking imprisonment didn't worry her now that she knew she had friends who would stand by her. She could actually thank Raghnall for helping her get away from Ulva, and in doing so, she'd met wonderful, loving people, the kind of people one looked up to, who believed in helping others. Eli, Alaric, Dyna, Maitland, Derric, Magni, Astra… so many she'd met.

And then there was Thane. She didn't yet know what to make of him, because she was afraid to let him get too close. After all, her father had dumped her on another man for coin, and her husband had tried to kill her twice. How could she ever trust any man?

She knew it would be difficult to allow another man into her life, especially to trust one. But Thane had done one important thing for her—he'd given her hope. Hope that life could be something wonderful if one was surrounded by the right people.

They would have time to get to know each other better if she survived this venture. She would not leave the island alive without her daughter. This much she knew to be true.

Making her way past the empty market buildings, the busy tavern, the inn, and all the other establishments controlled by Raghnall Garvie, she took a deep breath and said a quick prayer. Striding up to the entrance, she paused for a moment to make sure her bow and arrow were well hidden under her mantle. Satisfied, she inhaled deeply and made her way up to the gates of hell.

Raghnall's land.

"I'd like to see my husband, please."

Odart came forward. "Lady Garvie? Is that truly you? But I thought…"

"I know you did. This is the second time I've escaped an attempt on my life by you and my husband. I've come to claim my daughter and I'll take my leave, never to bother either of you again."

Odart's face gave away his thoughts, but she didn't care. He thought she'd never accomplish what she intended, but he was about to see a different Tamsin Garvie. "Please lead me to Raghnall, Odart."

"Of course, my lady."

The men they passed snickered, making odd comments about her clothing and other things she chose to ignore. They'd remember her name after this night. If she had learned anything from Dyna Grant and Elisant Ramsay, it was to have confidence in your abilities. Being a woman meant you were strong, not weak like her husband wished her to believe.

He would learn the truth.

They entered their manor home, moving to the back of the house, away from her old bedchamber. Odart knocked on a door to a chamber she'd never been in because it had always been locked. Raghnall bid him to enter, so he did, but Odart motioned for her to wait. Within a few moments, a young lass exited, tears on her face, a bruise already visible on one cheek. She ran, and Tamsin's heart went out to her. Then she heard a loud bellow.

She smiled because she recognized that bellow. Drunken Raghnall.

Odart stepped out and said, "Enter, Tamsin."

She stepped inside as Raghnall got out of bed and lit a candle, grabbing trews to don, which he did quickly. The room was twice the size of their bedchamber. Tamsin closed the door behind her, taking the key, and said, "I've come for Alana. Allow us to leave, and I'll never bother you again."

Raghnall laughed. "You stupid cow. The bitch who wouldn't die. Who keeps saving you? Tell me and I'll have his heart cut out."

"Where is Alana?"

"I'll never tell you. She's mine to do with as I wish. She'll service me well in a few years."

Tamsin's hands shook, the dampness settling in, something she had expected. And as soon as it started, she had vowed to act, or she would surely lose her advantage. The first step was to remove her mantle, which she did, dropping it to the floor.

Raghnall reached for his tunic and went to put it over his head, giving her a perfect target. Just as she'd practiced over and over again, she whipped out her bow, grabbed an arrow, aimed and fired, catching him exactly where she aimed.

She'd taken her husband completely by surprise.

The arrow embedded in the flesh of his groin, between his private parts and his leg. He bellowed, collapsed to the ground, landing hard, his tunic falling to the side.

She spun around and locked the door to keep Odart from entering, taking the key and putting it in her mantle that was now on the floor. Her husband lay there, his hands on the arrow, trying to pull it out, but he screamed as loud as a banshee.

"Husband, you scream like a lass."

"Take it out, Tamsin. You put it there. I'll have you hanged for this. Take the arrow out. I'm bleeding. There is blood all over my hands now." He slid himself closer to the bed, grabbing the covers to wipe the blood from his hands, but the wound continued to bleed. "Help me. I'm ordering you to remove this or I'll kill you, Tamsin."

She strode over and said, "You've already tried that twice. Now, where is Alana?"

"Dead. She's dead. I killed her."

She lost all sense of reason and did the unthinkable. Recalling Dyna's words, she kicked him in his bollocks. He grabbed his privates and turned his head, vomiting all over his legs.

An anger overtook her. She moved to kick him again, but he held his hands up and said, "Enough. She's alive."

"Where?"

He ground out, "You'll never find her."

"Where?" She placed her foot on his sac and pressed down.

Raghnall screamed and passed out.

Where the hell was Alana?

She had to be in one of the buildings. Taking the key out to open the door, she wasn't surprised to find Odart standing there, looking guilty.

Tamsin took a step back, allowing Odart to look in at Raghnall.

Odart paled and held his hands up. "I'll do whatever you wish, my lady."

"Take me to Alana."