Furiously, Alina stomped out of the room, leaving Ceana alone. Ceana stayed in that position until her father returned from his shift. Sweeping up her skirts in her arms, she ran to him and hugged him tightly. She was angry with him, but at least he had not called her a liar.
Sadly, he looked down on her and stroked her cheek.
“What has happened, Faither?” she asked.
Behind her, Alina and her mother stepped into the room, but neither of them spoke.
“They have him in the cell,” he started. Ceana closed her eyes, feeling the pain intensely. “They are starving him of food and water to make him confess,” he finished.
Ceana’s eyes snapped open in horror. “Surely, they cannae do that, can they?” Ceana held on to his arms.
“I am sorry, daughter.”
“What else?” she asked.
“There is to be another announcement made. The brother to Milord has concluded his investigation.”
“In one day? Surely he needs more time than that.”
“He claims that he has gotten all he needs, and the people are only too eager to hear his verdict.”
“When will the announcement be made?”
“At evening when the sun begins to set.”
Ceana nodded. She would be there. Picking up her skirts, she marched back into her chamber, ignoring her mother and Alina.
Ceana stayed in her chamber until it was time for the announcement. Briskly, she walked to the town hall dressed in a pink dress that contrasted with what she felt. Despite how hard it was, she forced herself to be hopeful. Maybe the Laird’s brother would exonerate him. After all, they said that the truth was strong even when it seemed weak. Hoping for a miracle, she wrapped the shawl around her body and waited for the announcement to begin.
“‘Tis a sad thing that brings us here today,” the clan chief started with a somber tone. “Our clan has lost three women. Women who were to birth our warriors and our farmers were to nurture our men while they struggle. Yet, a callous person killed three. This is unacceptable. I placed me brother in charge of fishing out the evidence, and he has done well.”
Francis stood up from where he sat. “As ye requested, milord, I carried out the search. I interviewed the suspect and the poor families. We have overwhelming evidence that Torcall is responsible for the murders.”
Ceana felt her heart break.
“He refuses to confess, but we are nae surprised. A man capable of doing that wouldnae confess.”
“And if he ne’er confesses?” someone shouted from the crowd.
“Whether or nae he confesses,” Francis started, “he will be put to death.”
Ceana gasped, and despite the surprised looks that she got, she ran out of the hall, struggling not to cry; she made her way home as fast as she could. Her mind was blank. It had to be. She put in every iota of strength she had to ensure that she didn’t throw herself down and sob to her heart’s content.
Torcall would die? No!“Come on, Ceana,” she begged herself. “Walk, do nae think.”
Even worse, he wouldnae die in battle like a revered man. He would be executed in front of everyone for a crime that he didnae commit.
Ceana slipped and fell. Just as she was about to hit the ground, an arm stretched out and caught her. She looked up to find Tam smirking at her.
Quickly, she snatched her arm away and glared at him.
“Yer savior is nae here anymore,” he snarled. “I would be careful what ye do.”
“Ye cannae do a thing, ye coward!”
Tam’s face grew hard. “Ye still have fight in ye, do ye nae? Ye should have been one of those girls that Torcall killed.Bitch!”
His words didn’t faze her. “Torcall killed nae one.”
