Tam held it for barely a second before letting it drop.
“How did ye all get in here?” Torcall asked in amazement.
“Yer aunt. She’d been talking to the clan chief’s wife,” Dirk said.
“I think they realized that even murderers have family,” Tam grinned.
Torcall sighed but was shocked to see how everyone ignored Tam completely.
“Do they feed ye?’ his aunt asked with a pained face, as though Tam hadn’t spoken.
It became obvious to Torcall that Tam had been acting up right from home, and they were all tired of dealing with him. He didn’t doubt that his uncle had mandated that he come.
“They do,” Torcall fibbed. “I am well.”
“Ye do nae look well, Torcall,” she shook her head.
Torcall smiled and took her hands in his. “I never imagined that I would get to see ye again before me death. ‘Tis the best thing that can happen to me.”
“Oh, Torcall…” his aunt said.
“Ye must nae speak of death,” Rannoch cut in. “We ken that ye are innocent. There will always be an opening for the truth.
Torcall turned gratefully to Rannoch. “They will discover the truth. After me death, the killer will strike again. Then, they will ken. However, before then, there is naught we can do. We must nae be sad.”
“Oh, Torcall, are ye really going to give up just like that?” his aunt’s eyes welled up.
Torcall sighed. “Me parents were murdered on this soil. Perhaps ‘tis me way too.”
It was all it took for his aunt to start sobbing again. This time she refused to be comforted, and Rannoch had to take her out, leaving only Dirk, Tam, and Torcall.
“How do ye fare, son?” Dirk asked him.
Torcall grinned and stretched forth his arms to his uncle. “Do ye nae think I deserve a soldier’s greetin’?” he asked with a grin. “I am nae dead yet,” he smiled. “And until me death, am I nae still a soldier ye trained?”
Dirk smiled a bitter smile but obliged Torcall. “Ye do nae show fear, and this is good.”
“‘Twould be an insult to the men that raised me.”
“Have ye heard me words?” his uncle asked.
Torcall understood what he meant immediately. He was asking about Ceana and if she had delivered his message.
“Aye,” he nodded his head. “Advice is a reliable messenger, and she delivers quickly.”
Dirk nodded with a satisfied look on his face.
“Ye must be strong, boy,” Dirk nodded.
To any other person, Dirk would have looked cool, calm, and collected. However, those who knew him would have seen the raw torture that was in his eyes. They would have seen just how much hurt he felt and how helpless he felt.
Once more, Dirk hugged him. “Yer faither would be disappointed in me,” Dirk said to him.
“Nay,” Torcall was quick to say. “Do nae speak like that.”
“Oh, but I must,” Dirk said, his eyes looking old and wary. He showed his age in ways that he never had before. His eyes looked tormented and helpless.
Ha leaned in close so only Torcall could hear his last words. “Ye must fight, son. When the doors are closed to ye--”
