Page 38 of The Highland Curse
He lowered his hands to his side and stared into her eyes. “Ye will die, of course. What do ye think I’ll do with ye? Ye are nay use tae me. In fact having ye alive will only hinder my plans for the clan’s future. Ye have made it quite plain that ye are a troublemaker. If ye somehow broke free from my control again, I would face more disruption. ‘Tis something that I cannae risk. My men will escort MacGregon far enough from the castle. And when they return, ye will be disposed of — just like your parents.”
The threat of death caused the wind to rush out of her lungs. He was going to do it, she realized. And he would have no remorse.
“Ye have nay right tae that grimoire. It belonged tae my great-grandmother.” Her nails dug into the palm of her hands. “I demand that ye relinquish it now.”
“Relinquish this book?” He snorted. “I would never leave this book out of my sight, for it contains all my hopes, my dreams,” he said. For a second his eyes glazed over, as if he had become lost in his memories, and had forgotten that she was in the room with him. “The forces contained in these pages will help me rule Clan MacGill. After that, I can look for bigger gains, and maybe even obtain the Scottish throne.” His eyes sparkled and he let out a gleeful laugh at the possibility. With his new powers, Adrina had little doubt that he would be able to obtain his goals. And when his ambitions were realized, all of Scotland would suffer.
But then Fingal raised his head, and seemed almost startled to realize how much he had revealed to her. Tucking the book back under his belt, he said, “This book belongs tae me now.”
“I dinnae understand why are ye doing this, Fingal.” Even though she tried to control her voice, it trembled. “Ye were a poor, wandering clergyman, and had nay place tae sleep. My father gave ye employment, shelter, and treated ye like family. Is this how ye repay him, by massacring him and his family?”
Fingal’s eyes narrowed into slits. “Tevon has always treated me like a common servant,” he hissed. “I have greater potential than tae just be his pet. Dunnvie was poorly run before I took over the duties. I made a profit for the clan each year, and in all areas.” He placed his hands on his hips. “In every way I make a better laird. And unlike your father, I see nay reason tae join the war against the English. There’s nothing tae gain from it, nay profit tae be made. I would allow the other clans tae die in Gertrude’s war. ‘Twould then be easier tae steal their land once their numbers are weakened.” The frown on his countenance turned fierce. “However after ye ran off, my plans went awry.”
She shook her head in denial as her body sagged against the wall. “Ye are making this up,” she said faintly. Was she the cause for her parents’ death? The guilt and horror seeped into her, making her weak.
“It happened.” His lips twisted in a smirk as he took in her agitation. “When ye ran away, the chaos that ye caused disrupted my intricate spells. Somehow your father found the missive from the MacGregon. Tevon asked too many questions, and sae he had tae be terminated. And since your mother would’ve caused trouble as well, she had tae go too. “
“Nay!” she shouted louder. “This cannae be true. Ye are the one who —”
CHAPTER 18
The door burst open.
“Duncan!” Adrina gasped.
He glanced quickly at her and clenched his fists. Her face was ashen, but aside from the tears staining her cheeks, she appeared unharmed. Fingal was lucky that there were no signs of physical injury, otherwise he would already have been a dead man. With long, strong strides, he made his way over to the advisor.
At Duncan’s approach, an expression of horror flashed for a split second on Fingal’s features, and he cringed as if a predator cornered him. Slick sweat began to bead at his upper lip, but then he seemed to remember himself when he recognized the two warriors that were with Duncan.
“Get him!” Fingal shouted, pointing a bony finger at him.
“Hamish and I have nay issues with the MacGregon,” one of the guards growled, ignoring the advisor’s command.
“Aye, Conran’s right. Our issues are only with ye,” the other man said, his tone menacing.
Fingal’s bravado wavered, and he turned white. “What the hell are ye doing?” he asked, his eyes wide. He glanced nervously around him and his gaze fell on Duncan. “And what are ye doing back here? I — I thought ye were returning tae your home.”
“Ye thought wrong,” Duncan said. He gestured for the guards to move forward.
“Ye are going tae pay for what ye done tae us,” Hamish said, his face red with anger.
“Aye,” his companion growled. “I’m going tae dangle him by his scrawny neck, and show him how it feels tae be manipulated.”
“Stay back!” Fingal yelled, putting out a hand to curb their advance. Then recollecting that he possessed the book of magic, he pulled it out from his belt. He opened the cover and flipped frantically through the pages, searching for an incantation. But Duncan and the two guards closed in too quickly. Letting out a cry of frustration, he slammed the book shut. He then raised the book to his chest, holding it there as if it was a shield. All the while, his eyes darted around the small chamber, scouring the place for a viable escape route.
“Ye can forget about casting more spells. I’ve made sure that these guards are immune tae your sorcery.”
“Ye will nay longer control us,” Hamish said, his eyes glittering with hostility.
A frightened expression appeared on Fingal’s countenance. Dropping the grimoire to the ground, he seemed to know that the book couldn’t help him at this point. His shoulders slumped slightly, but then his eyes alighted upon Adrina. Suddenly his lips curved into a triumphant sneer, as if he perceived that the lass was his saving grace. He withdrew a dirk from his belt. Then moving quickly to her side, he unlocked her from her prison. Setting her in front of him, he pressed the dagger to her delicate throat.
“Release the lass,” Duncan said, slowly. He avoided looking at her, knowing that she was likely petrified. In his experience wretched and fearful men were violent and unpredictable, and he couldn’t risk having Adrina injured.
By now Fingal knew that the Dunnvie guards wouldn’t help him. Duncan and the two guards blocked the only exit. And like a trapped fox, there was nowhere for the advisor to run.
Duncan gestured for Conran to circle to the other side of the cleric.
Fingal’s brows shot up in panic as the three of them closed in around him. With his eyes darting between each of the men, he held onto Adrina, knowing that his life depended upon it.
