“I see that I cannae convince you,” Ceana said. If Torcall was eventually going to be judged by Laird MacGregor, she hoped another witness would testify. As Tam had pointed out, people would not believe her because they knew of her feelings towards Torcall.
“I dislike bein’ at odds with ye, sister, but I do nae ken where to stand in all of these,” Alina apologized. Ceana nodded her understanding and watched her sister head back to her room.
Someone is tryin’ to make Torcall look like the killer,she thought to herself as she sat there. She walked over to the window and stared out at the slowly brightening-up day. She tried to check if she could see where the girl’s body had lain, but she could not. The girl’s body had been taken away by the crowd.
While she sympathized with the loss of the deceased woman’s family, she worried about Torcall. She wondered if she was the only one who truly cared what happened to him in all the clan.
No matter what happens, I will save ye,she promised Torcall and hoped he would hear it wherever he had been taken to.
There is so much I wish to tell ye. Please be safe.
Chapter Twenty
Bound at his hands and feet like the criminal they thought he was, Torcall was led into a very tiny cell. He was still struggling to process what had happened. How on earth had they imagined that he killed her? He had been trying to save her! Ceana saw it, and so did her father. Were they going to be quiet and say nothing? Yes, he realized with dread settling into the pit of his stomach. Even before this had happened, Ceana had accused him of the murders. Why on earth would she even attempt to save him?
He looked around the dingy and damp cell, revulsion building in the pits of his stomach. He was to stay in the cell? Even without being given the benefit of the doubt? How had the clan he had so faithfully served decided to treat him like this? He had been given no opportunity to defend himself. None whatsoever
The loud clatter of chains being pulled apart was a sign that the door was being opened. In stepped Laird Francis; the Laird’s brother. Francis had overseen the investigation to fish out the killer. If Torcall had expected an angry look on his face, he had been wrong. There was a small, pleasant look on Francis’ face instead. The lack of fury brought hope into Torcall life. Maybe this man would listen. Maybe- just maybe he would let him explain. Francis was dressed in full armor—a sight that was rare to see. If he had been dressed in casual wear, his bulky figure and hairy skin would have been in full view. Like his brother, he had black hair that quickly thinned out and became white.
“Milord,” he said hurriedly, trying to rush to his feet but failing woefully due to his bound hand at feet. He cursed and tried another approach. “Milord,” he said, sitting on the bare ground. “I didnae--”
“Torcall, is it?” the man asked.
“Yes, sire,” Torcall nodded.
“Now you see, Torcall, I want to help you. You have committed a very grave offense.”
“I didnae kill that girl, milord,” he interrupted.
Francis looked shocked, as though he couldn’t comprehend the words that Torcall was speaking. “Ye were found with the stabbed woman still in your hands, blood dripping from a stab wound in the early hours of the morning, and you still deny?”
“Sir,” Torcall said, growing desperate, “I heard her scream and rushed to her side. She had been stabbed and left for dead. I saw the killer run off, but I chose to save her instead.”
“And why were ye out by that evil hour?”
“I needed to clear me head!” Torcall stretched out his hands. “A lot has been going on in me life. I take strolls in the night to clear me thoughts.”
“How do ye ken of Samantha?” The laird’s brother asked.
Torcall considered telling the truth. It would be damaging, but they would find out from other people. It was best to come clean.
“I courted her favor once,” he said in a low tone.
“Speak up, Young man.”
“I courted her favor once upon a time.”
“And she rejected you, did she nae?”
Torcall nodded. “Aye, she did.”
“And this is nae a ploy to get your own? I mean, a successful young man like you was rejected. Surely, that had to bite.”
Torcall could hear the words that were spilling from the man’s mouth, but he couldn’t comprehend them. Would they really mark him as the murderer without even listening to him?
“I didnae kill those women,” he thundered.
Francis's look grew hard. “I see. Ye will have nae remorse for what ye have done, will ye? Ye will choose to do this the long way?”
