Ceana realized just how large of a risk what her father was doing for her was. Appreciation welled in her heart, but she said nothing. It wasn’t the palace and time. Her father gave her one more hug and hurried away.
Ceana took in a deep breath and thrust the key into the lock before turning it as quietly as she could. She pulled the heavy chains aside. Finally, she grabbed hold of the doors and pulled them open.
Torcall was seated on the sorry piece of mattress they had given to him for a bed. He was looking out through the heavily barred windows. He didn’t turn when she entered, thinking it was a guard. It gave her enough time to look at him with tears running down her face. Her heart swelled with feelings that she couldn’t understand. How could she feel so much pain and happiness in one breath?
Struggling not to cry, she sobbed his name in a whisper; “Torcall.”
He turned around slowly and saw her standing there in front of him. She walked to him in measured steps even as her body shook.
Torcall was up from his bed like a bolt. They met at the middle of the floor, neither moving another step. “How?” Torcall whispered.
Rather than reply, she threw herself into his arms, and her restraint broke. Sobbing like her heart would break, she held on to him.
“I’m sorry,” she said over and over again, soaking his shirt with tears. ‘I tried, Torcall, I swear, but no one would listen to me. I am sorry I accused ye. Alina filled me head with rubbish. I was foolish, and I brought ye here.”
“Ceana, Ceana,” Torcall said, trying to calm her down. “Shhhh,” he soothed, “Ye must be calm. Do they guards ken that ye are here?”
With teary eyes, she shook her head, refusing to loosen her hold on him. Torcall swore he pulled away from her and pulled her to him again. “Ye silly, silly girl,” he whispered in her ears. “‘Tis nae safe to be here. Oh, heavens, I have missed ye, but ye must leave.”
Ceana pulled away from him. “Nay, ‘tis fine for now. We have an hour.”
“How did ye-” Torcall paused and close his mouth. He wasn’t going to ask questions that he didn’t want answers to. Instead, he pulled her to himself again. “I have missed ye, terribly.”
“I am sorry, Torcall,” Ceana pleaded again.
“Ye did naught wrong.”
“Nay, I did,” she shook her head. “I have to right that wrong, but it doesn’t seem as though anything I do can fix it. Ma and Alina do nae even speak to me anymore. They say ye did it, and I am only lying. Da wouldnae say aught. I am so angry at them all. If they will nae stand by me side, how will the rest of the clan?” Anger was clearly written in his features.
Torcall’s heart swelled. “Ye really believe me? Ye believe I didnae kill those girls?”
“Aye,” she cupped his face in her hands. “Dirk does too. He says that there is naught I can do, but I refuse to believe it.”
“Me uncle believes me?”
“Aye. Everyone who kens ye well will ken that ye would ne’er kill a woman—or anyone.”
Torcall looked down at his palms. “They will kill me, Ceana. There is naught we can do.”
“Nay,” she pleaded. “Do nae speak like this. Maybe I can get me da to-”
“Ceana,” he held her hands in his. “Ye cannae tell anyone about what ye saw. Ye will be tagged an accomplice. I have nae fought them, but if they take ye, I will kill every one of them.”
Ceana hugged him to herself again. “Torcall ‘tis been awful without ye.”
For the first time, she stepped away from him and observed him. His eyes had sunken slightly, and he looked skinny. Suddenly, she remembered the food she had brought with her.
“I heard they do nae give ye food,” she whispered and pulled the small bag she had hidden. “I brought ye some.”
Torcall looked at her in shock, and his eyes watered a little, but he pushed it back. “‘Tis dangerous enough that ye are here. And ye bring food.”
“Yes,” she said and pulled him towards the mattress. “ye need to eat this fast. Do they really starve ye?” her eyes threatened to tear up again.”
“Nay. They hand me a cup of water and a slice of bread once a day. They let me wash myself clean too — nay, do nae cry. ‘Tis nae so bad. Ye are here now, and that is enough for me.”
Ceana nodded and watched him eat ravenously. In mere moments, all the food she brought had been devoured. She wished she had brought in more.
“This is terrible, Torcall. We cannae let this happen.”
