Page 84 of The Torment of a Scottish Warrior
“Lass, you were amazing with your bow. You hit him perfectly. Enough to send him running, but not to kill him. Logan wished to deal with him.”
Merryn fell into his arms and said, “But I wanted to kill him. Why couldn’t I? He killed my sister and my parents. I don’t understand.”
“Because Logan wanted him. I don’t know why, but we’re about to find out.”
Logan came out of the woods, still mounted with Magni in front of him. Lia came down from Maeve’s horse and moved over toward the underground holding, but she stopped at the steps and folded her hands in front of her.
A circle surrounded Logan, and Alaric and Simone emerged from the forest with Kelvan now tied by a rope. Alaric led him over to Logan’s horse and handed the rope to Logan.
“What the hell,” Kelvan cried. “I’m hurt. I need a healer. I can’t pull this arrow out of my shoulder.”
“Oh, you’ll get just what you need, K,” Logan drawled. “And what you deserve. Connor, instruct your guards to protect the perimeter. We want no interruptions for this.”
“You coldhearted bastards. You killed my wife in front of me.” Kelvan wiped the sweat from his brow and tried to undo his bindings but was unsuccessful. “Where are my men? I order you to come and help me. Untie me and I’ll give you ten gold coins.” No rustling or movement answered his cry. The next came out in a bold shout, “Twenty! Twenty gold coins each. Forty if you cut my bindings to free me!”
Logan said, “I need everyone’s attention. This is important. Alaric, I need you on one side and Connor on the other to hold this man in place.”
Connor and Alaric did as they were told, Simone going to join Artan.
Logan said, “Now, if anyone has a gripe against this man and his actions, I’d like you to, in turn, step over in front of him, give your name, and stake your claim. That’s all for now. We wish to hear who has a complaint against the man known as Kelvan, or K. If I tell you ‘Just due,’ I ask you to stay in your position. You’ll get your chance, eventually. And let it be known to anyone listening that this is how Clans Ramsay, Grant, Menzie, and Grantham, along with all the clans of Mull, handle any assaults on their members.”
Logan raised his voice. “It’s time for just due for all who have claims.”
Chapter Forty-Five
Just Due
The group whispered amongst themselves for a few moments while Logan waited. When he was ready, he asked, “Who’s first?”
Kyla stepped up, her husband behind her. “He held me captive.”
“Just due. Next?” Logan announced.
Meg stepped over, Lennox following her. “He had me held captive to take care of four bairns.”
Logan nodded. “Just due. Next?”
And so it continued.
Sloan. “He stole my nephew away, wanted to sell him.”
Thane. “He took my parents captive and tried to sell me and my siblings to another family in Europe.”
Magni. “He kidnapped me.” Then he looked at Thane who nodded to him. “He did it too many times. I don’t like him.”
Logan nodded to him and said, “Just due to my grandson.” Then he tugged on the rope to pull him closer so he could slap Kelvan on the back of his head. “He’s a lad, you cruel bastard.”
Magni smirked.
“Next?”
Maitland. “Kidnapped my son and my wife.”
Dyna. “He kidnapped my bairns. Multiple times, you bloody rotten bastard. Just due, Uncle.”
Connor and Logan smirked and nodded in unison.
Logan leaned toward Kelvan and said, “Big mistake. Poor bastard when she comes at you.”
