The guard’s surly voice and sharp demands roused Taryn from the half-asleep state she had been in since her mother’s departure. The lantern he carried nearly blinded her. She winced at the bright light.
“Where are ye taking me?” she asked, her voice shaking despite her best efforts to sound strong and sure.
“We are here to carry out the Laird’s orders.”
“Ye will have to forgive me, but I dinnae ken what those are. Nay one has been down to tell me.”
As she spoke, she walked to the cell door, her eyes finally adjusted to the man’s light. She could just barely make out the regretful look that haunted his dark eyes. His mouth, mostly hidden by a gray beard, pursed in displeasure.
“Ye are to be executed at dawn, lass.”
He uttered the words gently, but they still landed like a blow. Her knees threatened to buckle at the news.
“He is too late,” she murmured, thinking only of James.
Her stomach twisted at the thought of James having to watch her lose her head. She would do nearly anything to spare him such pain.
“Time to go,” the guard urged.
With a small sniffle, Taryn squared her shoulders and held her head up high. She was determined to see this through with courage.
“I am ready.”
As she said the words aloud, she felt the truth of them. She had lived enough life in these last three years to make her happy. She had created a family for herself, fallen in love, and seen much of the Highlands. If that was all life was going to offer her, she would be more than happy to take it.
Her only regret was that she had not thought to ask for paper and ink. As the guard walked her through the dungeon and into the castle corridors, she realized just how much she wanted to send a letter to Aila and Sorcha. She wanted to give them her last words, to assure the children that everything was going to be all right, even if she was no longer around. She wanted to tell her friends just how much they meant to her, how their love made running away and losing her life worth it.
She wanted to leave something for Laura, thanking her for giving Taryn the chance at a life beyond what her parents wanted for her. More than anything, she wanted to give a piece of herself to James. She doubted a letter would do much to change the way he would see things, but she could at least try to convince him that none of this was his fault. She would urge him to live his life from beyond her shadow. But there was no time for any of that now.
Her footsteps echoed through the silent but full corridors. Guards, maids, and everyone else in the castle had risen early to watch the Laird carry out her sentence. Some of the eyes she passed were filled with grief, a sadness that looked heavyto bear. Others were indifferent, as though an uncle executing his niece and heir was an everyday occurrence. Those who were left looked at her as though she were the prize lamb to be slaughtered and offered as a sacrifice to protect them from grave horrors.
Having seen more than enough of the pity and anger that swirled together as it was aimed in her direction, Taryn kept her eyes ahead. She walked, sure-footed and straight. The hallways were so much colder, so much longer than she remembered them ever being. She thought it a mercy and a punishment, that the walk to the courtyard was so long. Each step took her closer to the end of her life, to the bitter end of her time with James.
Three more steps, and she would be at the castle doors.
Two.
She faltered. The guard’s heavy hand on her back pushed her forward.
One.
