“Ye do nae have a say in what I do,” Ceana said to him. She wondered if he had heard all that had been said.
“I do. This, ye ken.”
“Did ye hear all that Wal said?”
A pained look crossed Torcall’s face, but he nodded.
“Aye,” Ceana said for loss of what more to say. “Is this why ye do nae want me here?”
“Nay,” Torcall sighed. “I thought to meself that now that ye have heard what Wall said, ye may nae want to be here.”
Ceana was bewildered. “Why? I am nae tryin’ to exonerate ye because I fancy ye. ‘Tis because I ken that ye are innocent.”
Torcall gave a small smile. “So ye do nae fancy me?” There was a grin in his eyes, so Ceana shrugged lightly.
“I did fancy ye once upon a time. I think ‘twas very glaring.”
Torcall stared at her. “Nae glaring enough for me to see.”
“Little matter to that,” Ceana said hurriedly, hoping her cheeks weren’t pink. “I am here because I ken that ye are innocent of the charges. Yer history with the women ye ken is a private matter.”
Torcall nodded. “Fair enough. I thank ye.”
Ceana nodded. “Time is past already will ye eat yer food while I give ye a message from yer uncle and aunt?”
Something flashed in Torcall’s eyes, but he said nothing. Ceana led him to the mattress and produced the food from her coat. Carefully, she laid it out and then turned to him.
“Eat,” she said.
Torcall nodded and picked up the first slice of his food.
“Yer uncle misses ye a lot. He says that he kens that ye didnae do this. He believes that ye are innocent. He says that yer aunt misses ye every day, but they cannae come to see ye because--”
“--they have nae been allowed to. I ken this.”
Ceana nodded. “He looks aged with grief, Torcall. And yet, ye live. I cannae imagine what he would do if ye were dead. Ye do nae do this for only yerself or for me. You fight for yer uncle.”
Torcall shook his head. “I stay here for me uncle. ‘Twould be easy for me to escape from here.”
“Ye wouldnae make it out of the gates. Yer uncle says ‘tis heavily guarded. “Twas his second message to ye. I have nae doubt that he would break ye out of here if he could himself.”
“‘Tis great to ken this. Thank ye.”
Ceana looked away shyly. “Ye do nae have to thank me.”
“Nay, I do.” Torcall bit into an apple. “Each time ye come here, I learn somethin’ new.”
Something in his voice made her nervous suddenly. There was an almost dangerous glint. Suddenly, she remembered what had happened the last time they had been alone in the cell.
“Ceana?”
“Aye?”
“What are ye thinking about?” he asked.
“‘Tis ye that I should ask.”
Torcall studied her, then shrugged. “We have little time left today.”
