Page 56 of Highlander’s Sweet Poison

“Alan is a problem, Tearloch,” Graeme said quietly. “And I fear he has been a problem since before Fletcher died.”

“What do ye mean?”

“Someone started that rumor that Jillian was a witch, and someone left that doll in the woods so I would believe it. Furthermore, I still believe that someone killed Fulton. Alan put his hands on Jillian while she was still married, and she broke his nose for the effort. I think he started the rumor as revenge, and I think Fulton found out about it, so Alan killed him. I mean to get my confession today.”

“It wilnae take long. Alan has been practicing with a sword, but he is nowhere near yer level.”

Graeme didn’t comment, but he knew that Alan would not let it get this far if he didn’t have a plan. “When this is done, he is exiled. I want ye to see him to the border. He couldnae even be there for his daughter when she was dying.”

Tearloch’s lip curled in disgrace, and before Graeme could walk toward his opponent, the guard grabbed his arm. “To be clear, I amnae telling ye this because I think ye are about to die but rather because ye deserve to hear it as soon as possible.”

“Hear what?”

“My apology. I was wrong about Jillian. So vera wrong.”

“I am glad that ye finally see sense. ‘Tis why I made ye guard her. I wanted ye to see her for the amazing lass that she is. I, however, amnae the one ye should be apologizing to.”

He nodded grimly. “I will say the words as soon as I see her next.”

“Excellent. Let us get this done. I wish to hold my wife again and tell her that I love her.”

If Tearloch was surprised, he didn’t show it. Instead, he just grinned, and Graeme stalked toward Alan. The other man was grinning with glee.

“Yer daughter is alive,” Graeme told him. “Not that I think ye care.”

“I do care. If raised properly, she will make an excellent wife and make me a good alliance.” Stepping back, he took a deep breath. “Laird Graeme MacSeaver, ye have the blood of a laird running through ye, but ye are unfit for the title. Ye have allowed a witch into our midsts, given her power over ye and the clan even though she has blood on her hands. If ye wilnae banish her, if ye cannae see reason and put yer clan first, then I challenge ye today with the support of the council and of the people. Aye?” he roared.

If he was expecting enthusiasm, he didn’t get it. The crowd just stared at him and whispered among themselves. Alan frowned. “Jillian is a witch! We all know this! She must be prosecuted for her crimes.”

“She saved my daughter,” one man announced as he stepped closer into the ring. “So if she is a witch, then I say we keep her because at least she is on our side!”

“She saved all the children,” another shouted. “She has the hands of a healer!”

“The face of an angel.”

“The soul of an innocent!”

One by one, the crowd started to chime in, and Alan’s cocky smile slipped from his face. He was betting that Graeme would step down when he knew that the whole clan was against him.

“Submit, Alan,” Graeme told him. “I have no wish to harm ye, and ye must know that I cannae allow ye to stay. Submit and be banished. Start yer life elsewhere.”

Alan hissed. “This is my clan, and I wilnae give it up.” With a mighty bellow, he raced toward Graeme, but he was an amateur, and Graeme could see the swing of the sword long before it dared to connect with him, He deflected it easy enough and turned, digging his elbow into Alan’s side and throwing him off balance.

“Ye wanted Jillian!” Graeme yelled as he whirled around and brought the sword down. He’d deliberately given Alan time to block it, but he wanted Alan to have just a taste of the power that Graeme wielded. “When she was wedded to yer best friend, ye tried to have her anyways, and she broke yer nose.”

“She lies,” Alan hissed and danced away.

“I remember when ye broke yer nose. Ye told me it was in a tavern fight. Ye were the one who lied.” He allowed Alan to attack again and easily tripped him. As the man fell, Graeme brought his sword down just inches by Alan’s face. Paling, Alan rolled away.

“Angry, ye started to spread the rumor that she was a witch, and the men who had been spurned by her were eager for a reason to hate her. The rumor spread, but it was all about yer vengeance, was it not, Alan?”

“No!” Managing to get to his feet, he attacked again, but he was way off target and fell back into the dirt of his own accord. Graeme kicked at him and walked around him.

“And when Fulton found out what ye had done, did he threaten ye? Told ye how he would make yer life miserable when he became laird? So ye killed him?”

“Killed him?” The blood drained from Alan’s face as Graeme swung the sword at his neck, stopping just short of decapitating him. “I yield! I yield!”

“Tell me the truth, Alan, or I will separate yer head right here and now. ‘Tis my call whether I let ye live,” Graeme hissed. Thinking of all those years Jillian had been tormented fed the rage inside Graeme, and his heart was screaming for him to kill this man, but he needed the confession so his people could finally see the truth.