“What’s that?” she asked, seeing a perfectly calm monster looking down at her. Was that a scourge in his hand?
“This is for your own good,” he said, whipping the scourge through the air to test it “It will free your soul and save you from your torment in this life and eternal damnation in the next. The pain will purify you.”
“Look,” she said. “Just stop and listen to me for a minute.”
“I will not listen to the rantings of the demon within you. It must be cast out if you are to be saved. Know that this brings no pleasure for me but it must be done. If the clan were to hear of your rantings, the punishment upon you and I would be far worse than scourging and prayer.”
“Listen, please,” she begged, craning her neck to look at him. “It’s not rantings. I swear on my life I have told you nothing but the truth. I’m from the future. I’ve traveled back in time and…and…and look at me, Jock.
“Do I look like I’m lying? Please. Please let me go, I’m begging you. Please, Jock, don’t do this. Don’t hurt me. You promised you wouldn’t hurt me.”
He looked from the scourge to her and back again. She continued fighting to free herself as he muttered something under his breath before taking a slow step toward her.
She screamed at the top of her voice as the scourge whipped down through the air toward her body. Another second and all she would know was pain.
The second lasted forever.
Chapter Ten
As the scourge whipped down through the air Jock had been prepared for the shriek from the demon inside her. What he had not been prepared for was how her scream of terror reached deep inside him to a place in his soul he hadn’t even known existed.
Before he knew what was happening, the scourge was turning aside and thudding into the straw mattress. He let it fall from his hand and immediately began untying her, not speaking as he did so.
Words could not hope to get across what he wanted to say to her. The fact that he hoped he wasn’t making a mistake. That if there was a demon in her, he had just cursed them both for eternity.
All he could do was hope he hadn’t just made the biggest mistake of his life. He undid her right wrist before stepping back, leaving her to undo the bonds that tied her ankles.
If the demon was going to attack him, this would be the time, when his mind was at its most confused, when he was at his weakest. He would go down fighting though, his fists already clenched.
“Why did you do that to me?” Daisy asked as she undid the last of the knots holding her in place. You promised me you wouldn’t hurt me.”
“I wasnae trying to hurt you. I was trying to save you.”
“Save me? You’ve some funny ideas about that if you ask me.” She sat up, swinging her legs off the bed. “I think I should go home.”
“Aye. I shall help you dress.”
“No,” she said sharply. “I can manage on my own thank you very much.”
He watched her for a moment but she held his gaze without breaking for the first time. Had he made the right decision? There was a knock on the door. A voice from the other side. “My laird, a rider approaches from the north in MacDonald tartan.”
“I will be back,” he said to Daisy, turning and opening the door. He headed out, walking up to the battlements and looking where the guards pointed. Down below, waiting by the closed gate, the rider sat, struggling to keep control of his horse. Typical MacDonald.
“What you be wanting?” Jock called down. “It is a long way from your homeland.”
“The king sent me with a message. Are you going to let me in or leave me to tell him of your lack of welcome?”
“I will not be told what to do by a MacDonald who’s barely old enough to ride. What’s your message?”
“The king will be here in two days time. He will stay for one day and asks that you begin preparation to provide him that which you promised.”
“You may tell the king he will have what I promised or he will have my head.”
“So be it.” The rider turned to go.
“Wait.” Jock nodded down into the courtyard. “Bring him in and give him some vittles. He looks like he needs them, scrawny wee thing.”
Leaving his men to tend to the messenger, he returned to the keep, making his way back to his bedchamber. “You’re still here,” he said, nodding toward Daisy.
