“I’ve done nothing wrong,” the prisoner protested. “I was lost and came seeking shelter.”
Liar.She tried to protest, but no words came. She couldn’t speak. Couldn’t breathe.
“You were sneaking around in the storage chambers.” Trahern reached into the pouch at his waist. “Looking for these.” He allowed the coins to slip back down through his fingers.
Morren didn’t want to move any closer, but her feet were driven forward with the need to face him. To prove to him that she was strong enough for this.
When she emerged in front of the flickering torches, he saw her at last. A light smirk pulled at his mouth, an unspoken taunt.
“Where are the others?” Trahern demanded. The man gave no answer, and his silence earned him another punch and a split lip. “Tell me.”
Morren took another step forward, though it pained her to be anywhere near thewman. Her stomach roiled inside, but she fought the nausea. Her hands clenched at her sides, her nails digging into her skin.
Trahern saw her coming closer and held up his hand to stop her. “You don’t have to watch.”
And she knew then, that the raider was going to die. He would suffer as they questioned him, and upon Trahern’s face, she saw no emotion. He didn’t care what happened to the prisoner. His moment of vengeance was here, and he would glory in it.
Gunnar moved forward. “Go back and fetch the chief,” he ordered her. “He’ll decide what’s to be done with this man.”
“No,” Trahern said. His voice was fierce, and she heard the undertones of grief within it. “For all I know, it was this man who killed Ciara.”
It wasn’t. But Morren couldn’t bring herself to speak. Her numbing fear was transforming, building up inside, until it became something else entirely.
Rage. Cold fury at this man who had hurt her, not caring that she had never been with a man before. He, along with the others, had made her endure the worst nightmare of her life. He didn’t deserve to live. She wanted to strike out at him, to make him suffer as she had.
“Where are your people?” Trahern demanded. Blood streamed down the raider’s throat, but still, there came no answer.
With a glance back at Morren, Trahern kicked between the man’s legs, and his enemy cried out in pain. He’d deliberately chosen to emasculate their enemy, avenging her in a way that would torment the raider.
“Gall Tír,” he gasped, doubled over with pain.
The settlement was nowhere near here; rather, it was close to Trahern’s home at Laochre, nearPort Láirge.
Strange. Why would the men be so far from their own clan? Morren couldn’t understand it.
Trahern stepped away, letting the man catch his breath. Several of the others had awakened from the noise, and they gathered around the small space. Morren heard the murmurings of her clansmen who had seen the intruder.
They knew who he was but not why he was here. Was he alone or had the other raiders returned, as well? Trahern seemed to read her thoughts, for he spoke with Gunnar, who ordered several Norsemen to scout the territory nearby.
Morren’s nerves drew tighter when she saw Jilleen. Her sister stared at the man, recognition dawning. Tears filled up in Jilleen’s eyes, and she moved closer to Trahern.
It happened so fast, Morren didn’t even realize her sister’s intent. In a flash, Jilleen seized Trahern’s knife from his belt and darted toward the bound raider.
Trahern reached out to stop her, but it was too late. When the girl stepped back, the knife lay embedded in the raider’s throat, while he choked on his own blood.
Morren could only stare, shocked as Jilleen ran back sobbing. Her sister flung her arms around her waist, trembling violently. “I’m sorry, Morren. It was my fault that night. I’m sorry.”
She held Jilleen tightly, her fingers stroking her sister’s hair.
And moments later, the raider slumped forward. Dead.
“Whatwillhappentoher?” Trahern asked the chief quietly. Jilleen had committed murder in front of several witnesses. He didn’t know if theLochlannachwould honor the brehon laws of the Irish. Under them, Jilleen would be required to compensate the raider’s family with a body price.
But given the raider’s crimes, that might not be necessary. There wasn’t a man among them who hadn’t wanted him dead. After the number of lives the raider had taken, the penalties would cancel one another.
“Her actions were clear,” the chief remarked. “She committed murder.”
“The man was one of the attackers that night,” Trahern said. “There are several who can testify to it.”
