Page 67 of Dancing On Air

Chapter15

Connor dressed for the execution the next morning, having taken an hour just to be able to pick up the sword and wear it on his weapon belt. This all seemed like a dream—a nightmare, and he wished he would wake up so it would all be over.

The door to the cottage burst open and his siblings all rushed in.

“Connor, we’re home,” cried out Leoric.

“I missed you,” said Alaric, running over and clinging to Connor’s leg.

“I have a doll to keep me company since I’m so sad,” said Ginevra, holding up the doll in front of his face. “I named her Elly after Lady Eleanor.”

“I missed you all,” said Connor, giving the littles ones a hug. When he went to hug Leoric, his brother stepped back as if he were afraid.

“What’s the matter?” asked Connor.

“You’re dressed in Father’s executioner’s robe. And you’re wearing his sword. The one used to behead criminals.”

“Aye, I am,” said Connor. “You know I have to take his place now that he is dead.”

“You are going to kill the poor boy Finnian, aren’t you?” Hatred poured out from Leoric’s eyes.

Connor couldn’t bear to see his brother staring at him in this manner. He also wasn’t sure how to answer. Now all three of his siblings stared at him, seeming as if they were afraid of him, and that didn’t feel good at all. He had always been there to comfort them. Connor was their protector. But now, he wasn’t sure what he was anymore.

“All of you know that I have to take Father’s place now that he has died,” explained Connor. “I don’t have a choice. It was part of the deal that saved Father’s life.”

“But you’re going to kill a boy?” asked Ginevra. “That’s so sad.”

“Yes, I agree, it is awful. However, I have no choice. It is my job now,” Connor told them.

They were silent for a moment and then Leoric spoke up.

“Then, I’m coming with you. To assist you,” said his brother.

“Nay, Leoric. This isn’t for you. You stay here with your siblings.” Connor reached out to put his hand on Leoric’s shoulder, but his brother slapped his hand away. Once again, Leoric’s arms were hugging himself, and he stared at the ground.

“Well, I’d better go,” said Connor, grabbing the executioner’s hood from the hook on the wall. When he turned around, he stopped. There stood Eleanor in the doorway with the morning sun illuminating her, almost seeming to make her glow.

She wore a bright green velvet gown with a tall gold collar that framed her face. Orange stitched roses were on each shoulder. The sleeves were trimmed in gold and green, and her waist belt had small green beads encompassing it. Her red locks were crowned with a gold metal headpiece that had a small veil attached to it. And around her neck, hanging from a chain, was that damned big gold cross that only reminded him she was an angel and he was naught but the devil.

“Eleanor. What are you doing here?” he asked. Damn, why did she have to look so pretty?

“I brought your siblings home. Of course, I’d be here. Besides, we’re joining you at the castle today.”

“What?” His head snapped up in surprise. “Nay. You’re not bringing my siblings to the hanging. What the hell are you thinking?”

“Why not?” she asked. “If you’re the hangman now, they’re going to have to get used to seeing you execute people, starting with a boy that isn’t much older than Ginevra.”

“Don’t do this to me,” he said under his breath, feeling angry and also a little panicked. How could she even think of subjecting his siblings to something like this? He didn’t want his brothers and sister to watch him execute a man—a boy. A damned boy. God’s eyes this wasn’t at all what he wanted.

“Eleanor, we need to leave now if we’re going to find seats near the front.” Rook came in with Rose at his side. “There will be a crowd today since there is also a festival happening at the castle.”

“God’s teeth, you’re all coming? And you plan to sit up front?” asked Connor, feeling his heart almost beating out of his chest. It was hard enough that this would be his first job, but even worse that everyone he knew would be watching. Especially his family and friends. Eleanor had to be doing this on purpose for some reason, and he despised it.

“Not all of us will be there,” said Eleanor. “Lark is staying back at the abbey with Lena and Margaret. The girls are very young and don’t want to witness the execution.”

“Bid the devil, so are Alaric and Ginevra. I don’t want them witnessing it either,” said Connor. “Or even Leoric, for that matter.”

“You can’t stop us, just like we can’t stop you from killing Finnian,” said Eleanor.