Page 45 of Claimed by the Clan Chief

“Your trial has been held.” He continued to steer her past the villagers to the pyre.

“What? When?”

“Last night.”

“But… but I didn’t get to defend myself.”

“The evidence was conclusive, no defending necessary.”

She was aghast at the injustice and beyond terrified. They really meant to burn her without giving her a chance to prove her innocence. “You’re monsters, all of you.”

“We are but simple people, you are the devil’s work,” a woman shouted and pointed at her.

“Aye, witch, witch, witch!”

The chant started up again.

The pyre was getting closer as Rabbie hauled her toward it.

“Get off me.” She twisted in his grip, but it was no good, he was too strong, his hold on her too tight. “Let me go, this is all wrong.”

“Witch, witch, witch.” More people had joined in. The crowd was growing.

“I’m nay a witch.” Panic seared through her veins. Terror flooded her mind. “But if I was I’d curse you, curse the lot of you.”

“See, she is a witch, she said as much! We’ve witnessed it,” the man who’d spat at her shouted. “Kill her.”

“Aye, burn her!”

“Burn her!”

“Kill the she-devil.”

Isla flailed and fought, but it was no good. Rabbie shoved her to the stake and set about securing her wrists behind it.

Her fate had been sealed.

She lifted her chin and stared at the crowd. “From me to you, comes back times two. It is my power to wish you all ill. Until you fade and become but dirt. Ken this now. Ken your future, each and every one of you.”

They gasped and looked at one another, shaking their heads.

“Proof indeed,” Rabbie said, stepping away from the pile of wood. “That this woman is a witch. She must be burned.”

“Witch, witch, witch.”

Suddenly the crowd parted. Heads twisted to look behind themselves. A thumping noise echoed around the small houses and through the ground.

A huge bay horse crashed through the centre of the swarm of people. Several villagers fell to their knees, one had his leg trampled and screamed out.

Rabbie stepped forward, anger on his reddened face and his fists clenched.

“What is the meaning of this?” the rider shouted, bringing his horse to an abrupt halt in front of the awaiting fire pile.

McTavish!

His deep voice sang through Isla’s ears, breaking apart the terror like a hot shovel against ice.

He’s here.

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