The words had played around in her ears ever since she had heard it, and she didn’t understand why she was finding it hard to fully understand what was happening. She had known it would happen. There was nothing else that was logical. And yet, it was only when the sentence had been indeed passed that Ceana realized that she had been waiting for some sort of miracle.
The Clan chief arrived, and when he stood up to speak, everyone was silent.
‘Tis with mixed emotions that I address ye all today. On the one hand, I grieve for the loss of the maidens which were killed, but it gladdens me soul that today I can present ye, me people, justice!”
Still, no one moved. If it hadn’t been apparent just how much the clan chief was respected before, it was now. Ceana’s eyes were fixed on the Chief. She felt sick to her stomach, and the suspense made it only worse. She hoped she would hold in the queasiness that she felt and not retch as her stomach was threatening.
“Bring out the prisoner!” a guard yelled, and Torcall was brought out. He looked haggard and worn, and Ceana felt a knife pierce deep into her heart. She moved as close as she could to the head of the crowd, and there, their eyes met.
There was pain, sorrow, anger, and even resignation in them. But there was no fear. None. Ceana wanted to laugh suddenly. And because she knew that the most improper reaction at that moment was a laugh, she was confused even further at the state of her emotions. Was the man stupid? What would it take to frighten him? Did he not know fear?
Then, just then, Torcall smiled at her. It was a soft smile, and it shattered what remained of her heart into a thousand pieces. She knew the words his eyes spoke: Do nae worry. It will all be well.
Ceana wept silently, the tears fell, for nothing would ever be the same again.
Do ye nae see?she wanted to scream to him.Naught will e’er be well again if ye are gone.
But of course, she could not. Instead, she was forced to listen to the clan chief's words, but they didn’t break eye contact even then.
“Torcall, ye have been arrested for multiple murders. After investigations carried out by meself and me right-hand man, I have sufficient proof to pronounce ye guilty of all the accusations.” The chief paused. “Therefore, I sentence ye to death! Ye shall be executed by hanging two days from now. Ye shall hang by the neck until dead.”
His voice boomed across his people, and not a soul moved. The finality of it shook the people of the clan to their roots. Despair filled the hearts of many present, but they couldn’t show it. How could they have been so wrong about Torcall?
A wail rang out then from Torcall’s aunt. Ceana saw Torcall flinch, and she understood just why his sentencing had been made public. It had been obvious to them that they could not hurt him, and so, they sought to hurt him through those he loved. Low but effective.
Torcall’s aunt’s wails continued until Rannoch and Tam walked her out, and Ceana suddenly wished she could expel the weight in her chest by wailing. Instead, the tears continued to roll from her eyes.
Ceana’s breath caught in her throat. The people would proceed to stone Torcall with rotting food. Ceana didn’t think she could take it. A hand slipped into Ceana’s, and she looked down to see Alina’s. Grateful to have some support, she looked back at Torcall, who was being led away. The parade would begin.
Chained by the hand, Torcall was led, first out of the market square, and then they set out on the largest path which led to the keep. The people walked behind him in silence as the guards rang out heavy bells from time to time.
Ceana wanted to see his face. She wanted him to see her eyes so that he wouldn’t doubt that she was there for him. She wanted to give him whatever comfort she could give him so that the humiliation they had planned wouldn’t get to him. But she couldn’t. She could only stay behind with the rest of the crowd and walk helplessly.
She expected the taunts to begin. She expected the people to toss food at him, but no one did. They all seemed subdued. Nothing had ever happened in the clan before, and none other than the beloved Torcall had been fished out. Most of the clan members were only beginning to come to terms with it.
* * *
At the other side of the clan, observing from his vantage point was the Laird’s brother. Francis, on his part, was bewildered and upset. He hadn’t marched with the people or even followed his brother. Instead, he had stayed on the walls of the keep, watching. At his side, he had his daughter, Lottie.
“Why are they nae taunting him and throwing food?” he grumbled.
“Oh, Faither,” Lottie said, with a shake of her head. “Ye are too cruel. Nae one takes any pleasure in what has happened.”
“I am happy,” he grumbled further.
“Why?”
“Murderers deserve to die.”
Lottie didn’t disagree with that, but she knew that there was more to it than that. However, she wouldn’t try to convince her father. She knew from experience that it was a futile effort. She had learned early that if she desired something that her father was against, she would never get it—unless she grew big enough to take it herself. Her father gave her everything she wanted—so far as it was something he wanted for her or didn’t mind giving her.
“Let us go in, Faither,” she urged.
Chapter Thirty-One
Ceana had known right from the moment that Torcall had been sentenced to death that she would have to see him that night. The next morning would be too late. She had stormed to her father and made a promise that she had no intention of keeping. “If ye let me see him tonight, ye shall ne’er hear a word about Torcall from me again. I will marry Scott, and ye and ma can live happily ever after!”
But because she had needed her father to believe her, she hadn’t veiled the pain and anger in her eyes. He had believed her and had arranged it. She didn’t know how he had tweaked the roster so that there was no guard on duty that night—nor did she care. What mattered was Torcall.
