“Much as it hurts me to cause ye pain, I’m afraid I cannae let ye go,” he told her, tightening his grip on her. “Ye see, I need ye to help me get rid of yer troublesome brute of a husband. I’m sure ye’ll be much happier when he’s out of the picture. I suppose ye can say he is better off dead. But this time, I’ll make sure he stays that way.”
“Edan’s a hundred times the man ye’ll ever be, ye coward,” she spat contemptuously. “Ye’re a fool if ye think I’d ever marry ye. Ye’ll be the one doin’ the dyin’.”
He laughed. “We’ll soon see about that.”
Olivia noticed with dismay that beneath his dark cloak, he was dressed for battle. As if to confirm her fears, the calmness of the night and the sounds of the festival were suddenly torn apart by the frantic clamor of alarm bells all over the castle.
Olivia started in shock at the sound, her terror mounting as shouts and screams arose from the festivalgoers. She realized with horror that the attack Findlay had told her about was already underway!
Terrified for Edan, she tried to wrench her arm from Nurkirk’s grasp, but he was too strong for her and yanked her back violently.
“I’ll give ye a choice, me dear,” he hissed in her ear. “Ye can come with me quietly, or if ye choose to fight me, I’ll put a blade to yer throat. I dinnae mind either option.”
“A-All right, I’ll c-come with ye quietly,” she stuttered, thinking that if she agreed, it might buy her some time to figure out a way to get away from him and find Edan.
“A wise choice, but I admit, ‘tis a little disappointing. Now, as ye might have already worked out, me men are attackin’ the castle. So, we’re goin’ to go there now, and then ye’re goin’ to help me kill yer husband.”
Still grasping her arm tightly, he started walking them out of the trees.
“Never! I’ll die before I let ye harm him,” she told him as he shoved her in front of him and pushed her towards the festival. She cried out in pain as his fingers dug deeply into her flesh.
“I hope that doesnae become necessary,” he said. “It would be such a terrible waste. Although I must say, yer loyalty is admirable, even if it is misplaced.”
With no choice but to obey him, all she could do as he forced her back to the castle was to wrack her brains for a way to get away from him and keep Edan safe.
And if have to die doin’ it, then I will.
Edan was making his way back to Olivia with more wine and a platter piled high with food when the alarm went off. He was not as surprised as he might have been, for his informants had already reported to him some weeks back that Nurkirk was planning to launch an attack. It had given him plenty of time to prepare for it. He had strengthened his defenses and ordered his men to be constantly vigilant. Even tonight, with the festival going ahead, the gates had been kept closed.
However, understandably, the sound of the alarm caused panic among the festivalgoers. He quickly ordered the guards he had stationed about to herd them to safety within the castle walls. He dropped the platter and the bottle of wine and raced towards where he knew his grandmother was with the other women, anxious to get them safely into the castle as well. He prayed Olivia was already on her way back and would meet him on the way, so he could make sure she went with them.
As he ran, he saw Zander and a couple of armed guards coming from the other direction, escorting his grandmother, Eileen, and the other ladies back to the castle. His heart sank when he did not see Olivia with them.
“Hurry, Zander!” he shouted. “Get them inside as soon as ye can.”
“Aye, I will,” Zander replied.
As his grandmother passed him on Zander’s arm, with Eileen on the other side and the other women following behind, all looking terrified, Edan called to her, “Dinnae worry, Grandmaither. It’ll be all right.”
“Aye, lad. Dinnae worry about me, I’ll be fine.”
“Has anyone seen Olivia?” he asked, scanning the red-tinted darkness ahead for a glimpse of her. But no one had seen her.
So, while Zander hurried them away and Edan no longer had to worry about their safety, he ran towards the spot where he had left Olivia, hoping to meet her on the way.
But when he did, he stopped dead in his tracks, feeling as though he had been punched in the chest as he stared in horror at the scene before him. Olivia was coming towards him, her face deathly white, her eyes wide with fear as they met his. And behind her, gripping her arm and pushing her forward, was Nurkirk!
“That’s right, Byrne. Stop right there, or I’ll hurt her!”
Edan ignored him. “Olivia! Are ye all right? Has he hurt ye?” he shouted, frantic with fear for her safety.
“Aye, I’m all right, Edan,” Olivia choked out, her voice shaking. “But be careful, he’s aimin’ to kill ye.”
“Let her go, Nurkirk, and ye can have me instead!” Edan yelled, starting forward, his blood boiling with rage at seeing her in such terrible danger and knowing he was the cause.
“Dinnae come any closer, Byrne,” Nurkirk warned, making Olivia cry out as he gripped her arm viciously.
“Ye swine! I’ll kill ye if ye hurt her!” Edan growled, unable to control his anger.
