It was a rowdy tavern in old England, when the tavern owner received his shipment of liquor,
he acquired a Scottish lass, "a pretty little thing for something from those beasts to the north."
The bald owner put Scotland to work, serving drinks and soon made the tavern a popular spot.

When it was found out that a Scottish girl was at the local watering hole, all the men came to see her.
Some men would tear her clothing, tease her, and spit on her for fun. Scotland was the local entertainment, even some of the nobles visiting from London, came in to see what the fuss was about.

Connor, heard the rumblings about her when he visited the area. Upon entering the tavern in his best noble garb,
he spotted Scotland, dripping from head to toe in ale, mud and the cut on her lip was bleeding.

Scotland approached him seated at a corner table. He looked his fellow Scot up and down then asked politely for a mug of ale.
Scot smiled at him as if to say "Thank You."
As night went on, the young lady was teased and taunted by all who come through the door, including Duncan.

"What?" Duncan protested, as Scotland headed out the back door.

"Come with me." Connor got up and walked out the front door of the pub.

"But....." Duncan tried talking to him, following his friend out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~

Scotland had her arms around an English nobleman with short blond hair and hazel colored eyes, outside the tavern.

Connor and Duncan turned the corner, right into the waiting bodyguards of the nobleman.

"Jeremiah!" Connor called out to the man holding Scotland under a spell.

Upset, Scotland unwrapped her arms from her lover, and flattened herself against the wall of the bar.

"Jeremiah." Connor and Duncan were closer, then before.

With a kiss Jeremiah plunged a silver dagger into Scotland's heart.

~~~~~~~~~~

"OK, OK. So what have you been doing with yourself?" He took a drink.

"I'm a teacher."

"You're kidding me right? You were the worst possible student."

"No joke!"
~~~~~~~~~
"What do you teach?"

"Religions and History at a Scottish university. Wicca is my most popular class."

"Do you teach them about black magick as well?"

"I teach them any magick in the wrong hands is dangerous."

"But you don't practice black magick anymore."

"Not black, just white."

"You promised not to have anything to do with magick."

Scot shrugged. "I heal."

"Its late Richie," Duncan told him "you should get going."

"But its only...." Richie pointed out.

"Good night Richie." Hinted Scotland, toasting him with her wine glass.

"OK then, I'll um, see you guys later." Richie gathered up his jacket and left.

"He seems like a good kid Mac." She commented after he left. "You have done well with him."

"Thank you. How are you doing?"

"Fine why do you ask?"

"I just thought that you had a lot on your mind and you might want to talk about it."

"Duncan..."

"I mean it Scot. Have you had any premonitions?"

~~~~~~~~~~~

Connor picked up the blood soaked body of the young woman and carried her to his waiting carriage.

"What's happening?" The driver asked.

"Nothing, just go." ordered Duncan poking his head out the door.
Back inside, Connor had wrapped the body in a heavy wool blanket. "She's dead Connor."

"Now, yes." He looked like a mad scientist as he held the dead body close to him.

~~~~~~~~~~~
Connor made Duncan clear the way for the them when they arrived at the small castle an hour later, even though it was still dark,
Duncan took extra caution and ordered all others in the front hall.

Through the back, they came, Connor was very edgy about keeping her a secret. Up two flights of stairs and to the end of a long hallway.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The room was decorated in jewel tones and the bed had a canopy. Duncan stripped the bed of its bedding, before Scotland's body was placed on the bed.

"Duncan, go downstairs and double the guards." Connor told him, un wrapping the body. "Then get something to eat, wine, water and then come back here."

"Why?"

"I will explain everything to you when you come back."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You believe he will come for her?" Duncan took a bite out of his turkey leg.

"Yes, but that is a minor concern right now. Our main concern is her."

"But why her? I mean he could have picked someone prettier and older."

~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I stabbed you after I woke up." Giggled Scotland, pouring the last of the wine in her glass.

"It didn't hurt that much." Duncan wondered if he should pop on the cork on the next bottle. "It was more surprising then anything."

"Who was surprised? You didn't bat an eye, when I ran you through."

"You were quite a handful the first few weeks." Duncan remembered what a hell cat she was.

"Both of you were so patient with me, how on earth did you do it?"

"Lucky," he looked at the time, "its very late."

"I should get going." She hung her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek.

When the door finally closed for the last time, and all was quiet, he laid in his bed and remembered.

~~~~~~~~~

"She is a holy terror Connor. How can you put up with her?" Duncan asked his friend at the dining table that evening.

"She doesn't like you?" Connor questioned between sips of wine from his goblet.

"No, I do not think so."

"How did she do today?"

"Before or after she tried taking my head off?"

"Ha!" Connor slammed his fist on the table. "I told you the girl has spirit!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~