Page 50 of Highlander’s False Identity

“Edme, ye cannae do this …yer my sister,” his voice trailed off as Edme was forced to look him in the eye. As she did so, her heart pounded.

“Aye, yer half-sister, but ye didnae behave toward me like a brother to a sister!” she hissed.

Behind her, the Scottish forces grew nearer, but it was as if time had slowed down to a crawl. In the distance, Beathan struggled with the English soldier, but he was far away; and now, Dughall had drawn his blade. He extended his knife towards her, his dark, narrow eyes rooting her to the spot.

“Och, Edme! That it should come to this! Listen, I make ye a deal. Ye can return home an’ I’ll drop all the charges, if ye just….,” his voice wavered a little, with emotion.

Edme felt sick. Even though the soldiers were jostling in the background, everything seemed silent..

“Just what?” she demanded, bringing her sgian dubh to his throat. “Ye can stop this bloodshed, Dughall. Let the men go!”

Edme’s eyes opened dramatically. She was giving it her all, pleading for the life of the man she loved. But Dughall snarled.

“Och! Very nice!” he growled at her, looking at first hurt, then angry. “But I cannae spare yer sweetheart! An’ why should he get ye anyway!”

Edme’s heart pounded painfully. Even though Dughall’s sickness was already known to her, she had not heard him say these words before and was horrified.

Then, she heard a roar. Looking around, she could see that Beathan had pulled free and was running towards them. But Dughall paid him no heed.

Fergus pulled forwards, leading some of their loyal troops closer. Before long, they were advancing on Dughall but still kept at a distance.

With panic in his eyes, Dughall turned towards her as something inside him snapped.

“None of this would have happened if it wasnae for ye!! All I wanted was ye! We can still be together, say it is so!”

Edme’s stomach churned. A cold sickness ran through her. All the same, she still felt a tiny pang of pity for Dughall, so wretched and ill.

“Dughall, it’s nae right. Ye disgust me!” she told him, her eyes flashing. Then, before her eyes, Dughall changed.

Within a second, his hands were around her throat, squeezing tightly. Edme’s heart sped up. No matter what she did, she could not escape his clutches. Dughall pressed his hands on her, knocking her to the ground.

“Ye will do as I say, bitch!” he barked, forcing her down.

Edme could hear the clamor from the men behind her, but she could not get free to run to them.

“Edme!” Beathan yelled.

Dughall’s fingers pressed into her windpipe, choking the life from her.

“Dughall,” she tried to whisper, but no sound came out.

“Ye’ve got nae right being wi’ other men. It should be ye and me!” Dughall cried, he brought his knife up to her neck, and at that moment, Edme was sure he was going to slit her throat.

In terror, she looked up, trembling. In her hands, she held her knife, but as he pressed against her windpipe, she dropped it, and the black sgian dubh fell to the ground.

Dughall picked it up, smugly.

“My father’s knife. I cannae believe ye were going to use it against me!” he said. Now he held two knives in his hands, removing his grip on her throat for a split second.

That was all it took. From the ground, Edme kicked Dughall violently, bringing him down with a crash. Quickly, she scrambled to her feet, but Dughall was already getting up, lunging at her foot and almost knocking her over. Now, he was on his feet, with a dagger pointed at her.

“Nae!” Edme yelled, emitting an ear-shattering cry. She leaped towards Dughall, knocking away his blade and plunging her dagger straight between his eyes.

“Beathan!” Edme screamed at the top of her voice. She screamed so long and so hard until she had no voice left.

All she could remember was screaming until Beathan took her, rocking her gently and soothing her with his voice.

“It’s alright, Edme; I’m here. I’m here now. He’s never going to hurt ye again!”