Highlander’s Evil Side by Shona Thompson

Chapter Seventeen

Beitris

Beitris sat on Fraser’s left, watching as the village heads and several soldiers filed into the great hall. The corridors were busy with maids running back and forth, carrying blankets and furs to different rooms. Wailing babies and whispers filled the halls with the wonder of what would happen next, if the people were safe here or if there would be another attack.

Beitris twisted her hands, not knowing what was in store for them. The whistling of the winds and the pattering of rain pounded on the windows, reminding her the day was not over yet. The day had been long, her body still ached from the events, yet her mind wouldn’t stop moving. She didn’t think she would ever be able to fall asleep, not until Fraser’s double had been caught. Her gaze wandered throughout the room, wondering who amongst them had seen the man or knew of him.

Her gaze settled on Helga, sitting to Beitris’s left. She looked the elder lady up and down, her gaze lingering on her wrinkled, pallid hands clenching the table. Helga’s nails dug into the wood, her whole body shaking as she stared out at the village heads and the guards. Her eyes looked sunken as if in the last few days she had become a ghost wandering through the castle, haunting its corridors.

“My people say it was the laird who had attacked them,” said Angus, who led the villages in the west. He stood in the middle of the room, pacing around in a circle with his hands clasped behind his back. “I suspect him, as well, given the man who came to our village appeared just like him.” His dark gaze turned towards Fraser, narrowing for a moment before settling on her. “However, ye vouch for the laird, my lady? He was with ye?”

Beitris rose from her seat, clasping her hands behind her back to keep from wringing them. “Aye, I was with him.”

A man sitting at a long table to the side scoffed. His bald head shined under the torchlight while his portly belly pressed against the table. “How do we know she speaks the truth?” he asked while turning towards the men sitting on either side. He darted his gaze towards the guards, meeting their weary eyes.

“Ye dare question yer future lady?” Fraser asked, a taunting lilt in his tone as he shot the bald village head a bitter look.

The man’s mouth gaped open, looking appalled as he leaned back in his seat. “Nae, I did not say that.”

“Then what are ye saying?” Fraser asked with a bitter chuckle, copying the village head’s movement. His head tilted to the side while his eyes narrowed into a scowl. “That ye can’t trust my future wife? Ye believe she would lie for me?”

The man grimaced, looking from side to side while the other village heads muttered to each other. “That is not what I meant, my laird,” the man rushed out, smiling uneasily while he rose from his seat. “I only meant that she is but one witness. Have ye any others?”

“We were with the laird,” said Scott, stepping forward with Kenneth and Gavin at his side. “Five brigands attacked the laird and lady at the falls.”

“And how are we to accept a soldier’s word?” one village head called angrily while looking around the room at the gathering men. “When Laird MacClery could have easily paid them for their lies.”

Scott opened his mouth, his brow tented in anger and his hands fisting, ready to fight. However, before he could speak, Angus asked in a commanding tone, “Ye say ye found something in the village?” Beitris was thankful for Angus’s misdirection, hoping whatever Scott and his men found would lead to the true culprits' identities. “Bring it forth, lad.”

Scott unlaced a pouch from his belt and stepped forward, pulling out a golden coin and handing it to Angus. Beitris leaned forward, trying to get a good look at the coin while Angus turned it over, a deep frown settling on his features. He tugged at his beard while striding towards Fraser.

“We found it near where the fire started,” announced Scott. “It’s likely the brigands accidentally dropped it.”

Angus placed the coin on the table in front of Fraser. The drop of it felt like a sharp thud in Beitris’s heart, like a hammer striking a nail through her very being. Her eyes widened on the round piece of gold. Her gaze lingered on the rounded right side, melted down. There was only one person she knew of who carried such gold. Her body trembled as memories took hold of her, taking her back to another time years ago when she had first seen the object with Hendry.

“The Black Stags,” she breathed, her fingers stroking the smooth gold.

“Do ye know of this coin?” Fraser asked.

She could feel his stare boring a hole into her. Her fingers drew away as if the coin had stung her. “Aye,” she said, lifting her gaze to Fraser. “I know of it and the brigands it belongs to.”

“Who are they?” Angus asked, his voice hoarse.

Beitris shook her head. “Ruthless. Cruel. They are brigands who terrorized Laird Dunbar a few years ago, but they disbanded. Or so we thought.” Her lips thinned, and her hands clenched. “It doesn’t make any sense,” she whispered. “Hendry caught all the men, except—” her eyes widened, “—except one. Peigi’s father.” She gasped. “Maybe Peigi’s father is working again.”

“Peigi’s father?” Fraser asked, confused.

“The Sire.”

Fraser shook his head, looking more confused.

“Murdo,” Beitris said, louder. “He’s Peigi’s father and leader of the Black Stags. She escaped him. She wanted to have a better life without her father’s cruelty. She brought his gold with her to Hendry, which is where I’ve seen this coin. If he’s gathered more men then-then—”

Fraser took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “It’s alright, Beitris. Yer safe here. I will catch this man.”

Beitris shook her head. “Nae, ye don’t understand, Fraser,” she whispered. “He’s dangerous. He killed Hendry’s family. He took Hendry’s eye. He will harm his own daughter if need be.”

Fraser frowned, his gaze drifting elsewhere. Beitris followed his gaze, finding Helga becoming even more unusually pale. Helga nibbled on her bottom lip. Tears glimmered in her eyes.

“Mother,” Fraser said, straightening away from Beitris, yet his hand remained laced with hers. “Ye look tired. I insist ye return to yer chambers and get some rest.”

Helga shook her head. She didn’t look at her son. Her gaze remained fastened on the walls and the men in front of her. “Nae, I will stay,” she said sternly.

“Nae, ye will go.”

Helga didn’t say anything, didn’t move.

Fraser sighed. He shoved himself out of his chair. The wood on the brick squeaked with the movement. Beitris watched him stalk towards his mother, taking her hand and gently helping her up from her chair.

“Ye must go,” he said sternly, his gaze hard. “Now.”

Helga shook her head.

“Out,” Fraser said loudly, thrusting a finger towards the entrance of the great hall.

Silence seeped into the walls. Beitris turned, finding Scott grimacing and the clan men frowning. This was the first time she had ever seen Fraser look so angry, act so stern. He was usually kind and gentle, and for a moment, she wondered why Fraser was acting so strangely.

But Helga had been with the cruel Fraser. She knew more, and yet she remained silent, keeping whatever knowledge she had on the matter to herself.

Helga gasped, her mouth opening and closing. She looked around at the men and soldiers watching her with unease. Her gaze settled on Beitris, glimmering with unshed tears. She straightened her back, batting Fraser’s hands away from her before slowly moving around him and striding towards the door.

Fraser shook his head, his shoulders tense, his hands fisting. “Everyone out,” he muttered.

The village heads looked to one another, whispering amongst each other.

“I said everyone out!” Fraser shouted, slamming his fists on the table.

The clan heads quickly rose, filing out of the room, followed by the guards.

“Has he lost his mind?” Beitris heard one man whisper, making her wince.

“Do ye really think he attacked his own people?” asked another.

“His father died so suddenly; perhaps it is all getting to him.”

Beitris wanted to tell them to shut their mouths and keep their thoughts to themselves. Fraser was doing all he could to help his people: he was opening his home to them, he was working with his men to rebuild their homes, he was trying to find the assailant.

“Scott, stay,” Fraser said while crossing his arms, scowling at the floor.

Scott strode towards the table, grabbing the coin and placing it back inside his pouch. “Do ye want me to track down these Black Stags?” Scott asked. “See if this Murdo knows about yer double?”

Fraser shook his head. “Nae.” Beitris frowned, watching as he turned away and strode towards the kitchens. “We mustn’t speak here.”

Beitris stood from her seat, giving Scott a look before following them both through the kitchens. “Fraser, where are ye going?” she asked, picking up her skirts while briskly striding through the kitchen filled with servants cleaning dirtied plates and cups.

Fraser didn’t reply, and she sighed in frustration as he threw open a door leading into the corridor. She and Scott followed Fraser all the way up the winding staircase and down the hall into a small study at the end of the corridor. Fraser held the door open for Scott and Beitris before promptly closing it. He leaned against it while looking around the room as if searching for spies lurking in the shadows.

“I think we will be safe here,” Fraser muttered, pushing away from the door and stepping towards the desk. He dumped his body into the chair with a deep sigh, leaning his head back and massaging his temples.

“What is going on?” Scott asked while crossing his arms.

Fraser shook his head. “Beitris, would ye care to tell him?”

Beitris wrinkled her nose as she slowly rose. Scott’s gaze turned to her, and she shifted nervously from side to side. “Can we trust him?”

Fraser nodded. “More than my own mother.”

Beitris’s heart twinged, and she wanted to rush to Fraser and wrap her arms around him. Knowing his mother was keeping secrets from him was torturing him. She could see it in Fraser’s gaze, in how he held himself. His mother should be there for him, helping him, advising him during this difficult time. Instead, she was meeting with his double and possibly conspiring against him.

Beitris understood why he sent the others away. He didn’t know who to trust.

“Ye can trust me, Beitris,” said Scott gently. “I would do anything for Fraser.”

Beitris nodded. She cleared her throat, striding towards the empty chair in front of Fraser’s desk. “We believe,” she started, wincing when her voice came out hoarse. She cleared her throat and said in a commanding tone, “We believe there is a man pretending to be Fraser.”

“Another Fraser?”

Beitris nodded. “Aye. Possibly a changeling. However, we are not sure which.”

“But how?” Scott asked.

“We do not know,” said Fraser, moving to prop his elbows on the table. He rested his chin in his palms, his brows tenting in worry. “We believe my mother might know who or what he is.”

“Aye, another Fraser,” Scott breathed. “That would make more sense. I suppose ye can’t be in two places at the same time. So, what would ye have me do?” Scott asked while looking at Fraser. “Assuredly, this man will come after ye. He will want ye dead at some point. I don’t think ye should be alone.”

Fraser grimaced. “We should be thinking of Beitris’s safety. And the safety of my people.”

“Aye, and yer own."

“The man has attacked Beitris twice,” Fraser said sternly. “If anyone needs protection, it’s her.”

“And what if this man attacks ye?” Beitris said angrily.

Fraser frowned yet didn’t say anything. She knew it was only a matter of time before Fraser’s double attacked him. Scott was right. Fraser needed protection.

“I can speak with Kenneth and Gavin,” said Scott. “They can be trusted, and they will be careful. Ye know this is the only way, Fraser.”

Fraser sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He looked tired and in desperate need of a healer and a bath. His head still needed to be looked at; however, the healer was busy with the villagers, tending to their injuries.

“If ye have yer men watching me, who will watch Beitris?” Fraser asked.

Beitris smiled, leaning towards him. “I suppose ye will have to ensure I’m never alone, my laird.”

Fraser’s gaze heated, dipping to her lips before quickly lifting. Her smile widened, hardly aware of Scott standing near the door.

“If that is all,” Scott said, his voice slightly louder than needed, “then I will speak with Kenneth and Gavin at once. Inform me of any other discoveries, my laird.”

“Of course,” said Fraser, breaking his gaze with Beitris.

Beitris flushed as Scott left, hearing the click of the door behind her. The heat from her face dissipated as she thought of the double. “What should I do if he confronts me again?” she asked.

Fraser sighed as he lowered himself at her side. “Perhaps, we could say something only the two of us would know the answer to.”

Beitris smiled, recalling their first meeting in the courtyard. “I could smack ye.”

Fraser sputtered. “What?”

Beitris jutted out her chin, giggling at Fraser’s incredulous look. “Do ye remember when I smacked ye at yer first meeting?”

Fraser chuckled. “How could I possibly forget?”

She leaned towards him, reaching out a finger and poking his nose. “I could smack ye, and ye could say—”

“Thank ye,” Fraser finished for her.

Beitris chuckled, unable to look away from this man she had come to care for. She didn’t understand how it happened or why. They had such a difficult beginning and an even more difficult path ahead.

But she knew they would get through it together.