Page 65 of Dancing On Air

“What’s going on?” asked Rose. “Why did you go there?”

“Nothing is going on,” said Eleanor with a flash of a smile. “I just thought Connor might need someone to talk to, that’s all.”

“I saw some of the castle guards ride by just before you arrived,” Rook told her. “They seemed to have a prisoner. A boy who only looked to be in his teens.”

“Yes,” said Eleanor sadly. “It is one of the boys who was an orphan here at the abbey at one time. His name is Finnian.”

“Why did they have him with them?” asked Leoric, his arms falling to his sides. “Did he do something bad?”

“They arrested him for stealing and stabbing a guard,” Raven explained.

“Oh, no! Is he going to the dungeon?” asked Rose, moving Alaric to her other hip.

“Yes. Yes, he is,” she answered, barely able to speak.

“If he’s going to the dungeons of Marvane Castle, he’ll never walk out of there again,” said Rook.

“What do you mean?” asked Leoric, concern showing in his eyes.

“It’s known that Lord Sampson is a son-of-a-bitch and doesn’t let any of his prisoners live,” said Rook.

“Rook, please watch what you say in front of the child.” Rose kissed Alaric on his head and the boy clung to her.

“I’m just saying that anyone who is arrested by Sampson is always executed. He’s not even giving his prisoners trials anymore.”

“Executed?” Leoric’s attention shot over to Eleanor. “Is my brother going to have to kill Finnian?”

“Leoric, don’t worry about these things,” said Eleanor. “Now, why don’t we all go get a bite to eat?” The church bells started ringing, announcing that mass was about to begin. “Oh, on second thought, why don’t we go to mass? Mayhap we can say a prayer for Finnian.”

“Yes, that would be nice,” agreed Rose.

As they walked to the church, Leoric ran up next to Eleanor, his arms still hugging tightly around his ribs.

“Connor is the hangman now. He’s going to have to kill Finnian and I’m going to have to help him. Isn’t that right?”

“Leoric, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do,” Eleanor told him, not sure what to say.

“Connor doesn’t want to execute anyone. He’s never done it by himself, and always fought my father when he tried to get him to pull the lever or swing the blade.” Leoric swallowed hard, one hand going to his throat.

“Connor has made his decision, even though I don’t agree with it,” said Eleanor. “He will be executing Finnian.”

“Nay!” cried Leoric. “Lady Eleanor, you have to talk him out of it.”

“I tried, but I couldn’t do it.”

“He can’t execute anyone. It’s not right. If he does do it, he is going to turn into our father.”

Eleanor stopped and put her hands on the boy’s shoulders. She didn’t want to lie to him and give him false hope. Leoric might be weak like Connor said, but he was still old enough to know the truth and learn to deal with it.

“I’m sorry, Leoric, but I’m afraid that perhaps your brother already has turned into your father, and there is nothing we can do to change that.”

* * *

When nightfall cameand his siblings still hadn’t returned to the cottage, Connor knew that Eleanor had kept them at the abbey, and a part of him was glad. Tomorrow would be the first time he would have to do an execution on his own. The thought disgusted and terrified him, but he realized he would have to accept it.

The worst part was that his first hanging would be with a boy he knew. Finnian used to be one of the orphans that Eleanor cared for, too. Connor wasn’t sure that Finnian would ever be anything but a thief, but Eleanor seemed to have faith in the boy. She didn’t want to see him die, and honestly, neither did Connor. He also didn’t want to have to be the one to kill him.

God’s toes, his life just kept getting harder and harder. He had paced the floor most of the day in worry. Once again, he was going to have to make a decision that would affect so many other lives in the end.