Lost in the Highlands Vol. 1 Readers Choice Edition by Lorraine Beaumont

Author:Lorraine Beaumont [Beaumont, Lorraine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Witches, sexy highlanders, gypsy, paranormal romance, hunky highlanders, higlanders, steamy romance, Scottish romance, scottish time travel, scottish time travel romance
Amazon: B01AZLZUEY
Publisher: LB Books
Published: 2016-04-22T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWO

LOCH MORAR, SCOTLAND

Sometime during the reign of King James

A fortnight later, mayhap a bit more, he had lost count; Gavin de Gray took his first breath of fresh air.

Early morning mist clung to the Earth like a shroud as he and his men were ushered from the filthy pit they had been held; out into the full morning light. Blinking against the bright rays, he stumbled up the steep steps, his legs leaden from lack of use, to the landing in front of the executioner’s block. A solitary black hooded man stood at the ready with an ax in his hand.

Gavin averted his eyes.

He tasted bile on his tongue, burning hot and bitter. That unholy sight was the last thing he needed to see on a day such as this.

“Have ye any last words?” bellowed the stout powdered-wigged Magistrate from his lofty perch on the dais, which was lifted only slightly higher than the scaffolding where Gavin stood.

“Aye.” Gavin looked at his men. They were skin and bones. Some did not even have the strength to stand fully. A deep sadness closed in on him as he gazed at each one. Morgan, Muir, Callum, Alec, Graham and the apparent empty spot at their side where Angus would have stood had he not died so painfully before this day. There were other men; ones he did not know well. They too were on their way to meet their maker. Like Callum and Muir, some had barely become men.

“What say ye?” the Magistrate bellowed once more pulling Gavin back from his dark thoughts.

Gavin tried to stand fully, but the lack of food and the cramped space they had been held had taken its toll on his person. His body bent in half and his head listed to the side as darkness closed in, surrounding him on all sides until there was nothing left but a miniscule ray of light shining down on him from above. He lifted his face to it, trying to garner what little warmth he could before the end came.

“I beg ye,” he rasped, his voice barely audible. “Have mercy on my men. Tis not their fault,” he said. “I was acting alone. Punish me for the crime, but please,” he begged. “Have mercy on them.”

The Magistrate rolled his eyes and pulled a snuffbox out from under his robe. Taking two fingers, he dipped them inside and pinched out small amount of the powdery substance. Holding one finger on the side of his nose, he snorted the powder. Then he repeated the action on the other side. With watery eyes, he put the box back inside of his robe and then he placed his meaty hands on the table and tapped his fingers in an uneven cadence on the rough surface.

“That is not for me to decide.”

Gavin forced himself to his full height. “Then who?” he asked.

“She is the one ye need ta convince.” The Magistrate pointed a stubby finger at a woman huddled in the corner.

Gavin frowned.

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