They both bowed and walked out to do her bidding. Leeth shut the door behind them, and some of the tension in Erik’s shoulders eased.
“I didna do it.”
Edna waved a hand at him as she fell into her chair, with both Leeth and Finley hovering near her. The woman suddenly looked as if she had aged years because of the confrontation, and he felt sorry that he had brought this on her.
“Why were ye there, Erik?” she finally said, looking up at him. “I want the truth.”
“I told the truth,” he bit out, noting the exchange of glances between Leeth and Edna. He had been walking alongside the path, trying to clear his bloody head after his encounter with Finley and tamping down his aching member in the process. “I went for a walk. ’Tis something I do often before I go tae mah chamber.”
“I showed him mah path,” Finley added. “I had never seen the warriors on the path before.”
Edna sighed, rubbing her head. “This is not a good situation, Erik. I cannae...I have tae do something.”
Erik cleared his throat. He understood the predicament she was in, having another clan’s warrior murdered on her land. A lesser laird would have already turned him over to McIves to deal with and washed their hands of the entire mess.
Erik just wished he didn’t have so many regrets floating in his thoughts, regrets to Kaiden for failing him, to Finley for not being honest with her about his feelings. He wished he hadn’t allowed his previous time with Isabel to override any happiness he could have had after she left. “He wilnae stop until I am dead,” he finally told her. “He might know aboot mah past with his wife.”
Edna arched a brow. “What sort of past?”
Quickly, Erik told her about his past with Isabel, leaving out the parts about how he grew up. When he finished, Edna drew in a breath. “Well, it’s certainly clear that ye could have been set up.”
“Aye,” he croaked, refusing to look at Finley. He couldn’t. He had just laid bare his entire livelihood in front of her and those that he trusted, that he cared about. She had tried to tell him, tried to warn him that perhaps Isabel had been looking to use him for something. Yet, he had ignored her concerns because his bloody heart had stood in the way.
Now he was looking at his life ending, and no Scot wanted to have these regrets eating at their soul.
Especially a warrior. When he left Scotland for the great beyond, Erik had always thought that his life would be fulfilled, that there would be no regrets for everything he had done. He would be welcomed by the gods and take his place amongst the great warriors that left before him.
Right now, he didn’t feel like that was going to be what happened at all.
Finally, Edna sat back in her chair. “I am not going tae rush tae judgment tonight,” she said, looking at him directly. “I have known ye for many months, Erik, and I believe that ye are a kind, fair Scot. I dinnae believe ye would have killed that warrior without some sort of provocation, so wot I need for ye tae tell me is that ye didnae do it for her.”
She heard Finley’s sharp intake of breath and knew she wanted to hear the same thing. She had all but accused him of still being in love with Isabel but hadn’t let him say otherwise.
Now was his moment to tell them all. “I dinnae love Isabel. A long time ago, aye, but now, mah heart doesnae feel the same.” He didn’t feel the same about Isabel. There was a moment when he first saw her that his heart had clenched tightly in his chest, but those feelings that he had for Isabel were gone.
Edna cleared her throat. “Well, then I am forced tae keep ye safe until I make mah judgment.”
Erik hung his head, knowing that he was destined for the dungeons. It was where he would keep a prisoner accused of murder.
“Ye will be confined tae yer chambers. I will need ye tae surrender yer weapons.”
He caught Edna’s gaze, arching a brow. “McIves wilnae like it.”
She snorted. “I dinnae care wot McIves likes. This isnae his clan.”
If the situation had been different, Erik might have smiled at the Lady. “Then I owe ye a boon, Edna.”
She gave him a hard look. “Nay, not yet. I will post warriors outside yer chamber tae ensure that McIves doesnae take it upon himself tae pass judgment.” She turned to Leeth. “Please take McGregor tae his chambers.”
“Come, lad,” Leeth called out, motioning for Erik to join him. “Let’s get ye safely tae yer chamber.”
Erik didn’t try to protest, knowing that Edna was already putting herself in danger by not throwing him into the dungeons. There was a visiting laird and his warriors hungry for blood, and once McIves found out that she hadn’t put Erik where he belonged, he would be coming after her as well.
“Erik.”
Erik turned, and Edna gave him a small smile. “For wot it’s worth, I do believe ye.”
He inclined his head. “Thank ye, mah Lady.”
