CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
Elsy
Elsy groaned as she attempted to roll over, but something was in her way. Something soft. She tried to wiggle to make space, but the something in her way refused to budge. She grunted in annoyance as her eyes blinked open. Pastel spots blurred her vision as sunlight accosted her, making her wince in an attempt to regain her sight.
Elsy found the something lying before her: Scott, resting peacefully with her short red hair covering half her face. Scott’s soft snores made a smile come to Elsy’s lips, her fingertips reaching to brush the tendrils away from the young girl’s face. As Elsy watched Scott sleep, she felt something akin to maternal love, and for the first time since Connell’s supposed death, she wished for a child to call her own, a child for her to care for and love.
A shadow stirred in the room, catching Elsy’s attention, and her breath hitched as her gaze fell on Connell, sitting on Scott’s trunk. She stared at his form long and hard, finding his eye closed, and his body propped against the wall behind him. She waited for him to stir, for that single blue eye to meet her own, but he remained still with his arms and legs crossed. He looked both uncomfortable and at peace sleeping in that position, his eyepatch still covering his scar.
The sound of whimpering made Elsy’s breath hitch, and her gaze fell to Scott, the girl’s eyes now open, wide with both shock and terror. Scott clutched the blanket closer to her form. The trembling in her fingers, her shoulders, melted Elsy’s heart and she stroked the girl’s arm, hoping to provide Scott with some sense of calm and support.
“Elsy,” Scott whispered, her tone high pitched and frightened.
“It’s fine, Scott.” She brushed Scott’s hair from her brow. “Sssh. It will be fine.”
Scott’s quivering intensified and Elsy wished she could do more for the child as she heard her say, “He will find out.”
“Nae, he will not, dear child.”
“I suppose tis time to awaken now,” Connell groaned, opening his one eye and stretching his arms above him. “I don’t think I can get a wink more of sleep with all this racket.”
Elsy flushed, her cheeks heating as her heart slammed in her throat. She watched as Connell slowly rose from his place on the trunk, stretching his back and his legs. Her gaze shifted to the yellow bandages at his feet.Perhaps, he did not see them,Elsy thought while pulling Scott closer to her.
“I didn’t expect to find ye here, Elsy,” Connell said, his lips settling into a soft smile that looked unusual on him, given his cruelty from the day before.
“Brann told me Scott wasn’t eating.”
Connell frowned, turning his attentions to Scott, who seemed to shrink before him. Scott grabbed the blankets, burying her face under them as if trying to hide herself from his gaze. “Are ye alright, Scotty? Do ye feel any better?”
“Aye,” came Scott’s small voice.
“Do ye think ye can return to the stables today?”
Elsy frowned while shaking her head. “Tis too soon. Scott still needs some time to rest.”
Connell nodded. “Aye, I suppose yer right.” Elsy’s stomach churned as she watched Connell bend over and grab the bandages on the floor. He held them out to Elsy, his stern eye meeting hers. “I found these when I entered. What are they for?”
Elsy refused to look at the bandages. She knew the moment she did she wouldn’t be able to lie for Scott. She couldn’t give up the little girl’s secret. The child was so terrified. Elsy could feel her trembling form. Scott peeked out from behind the blankets, but she did not answer. Elsy cursed herself for not thinking up a lie quick enough.
“Well?” Connell asked, his head tilting to one side as he looked between them expectantly.
Elsy’s mouth opened, but no words escaped her lips.
“At first, I thought, perhaps, one of ye may be injured, but there is nae blood on the cloth.”
Elsy rose from the bed as she quickly said, “Tis mine. I injured my foot during our travels and wrapped it myself.”
Connell raised an eyebrow. Elsy could feel the sweat dripping down her face.He doesn’t believe me,she thought while holding his stare.
“Ye wrapped it?” he asked. “When?”
Elsy cleared her throat as she searched her memories of when she first arrived at the fortress. “Shortly after Brann showed me to my rooms.”
Connell shook the bandages in his grasp, his frown darkening. “With what?”
“From the dresses I found, of course.”
Connell laughed, the tone dark and cruel. “Why do ye lie, Elsy? Ye know yer nae good at it, so why do ye attempt to deceive me?”
