A tiny unease flared in her stomach at the troubling thought and it took her back to when Lendra had asked her if it was possible that she was with child. Her first thought had been to deny it, but in some strange way she’d been relieved that she would no longer be the only one to know. That she would have someone to confide in, someone she could trust with the news.
She had admitted the truth to Lendra and explained how she had foolishly taken the wrong herb that would have kept her from getting with child. But now that she was, she would do anything to keep the bairn safe.
Lendra had wanted to be happy for her, but she had expressed her worry that Lord Odran would be furious when he found out and she feared for Elysia’s safety.
Elysia smiled softly recalling her response. Just as you know Bram would never harm a woman, I know my husband would never harm me.
She had made Lendra promise to keep her secret until she could find the right time to tell her husband. What Lendra had said next continued to trouble her.
You must be close to four months by now. You should not wait. You are petite and will round faster than most women.
Elysia hadn’t thought of that and time was ticking away. She had to do something soon.
Lendra came running into the Great Hall, tears streaming down her face. “He is to be hung tomorrow. The news spreads. People rejoice.”
Elysia shot to her feet as Lendra reached her and as her husband entered the Great Hall.
Lendra ran to him and went down on her knees in front of him. “Please, my lord, please, I beg you. Please have mercy on Bram. He did not do this. Please.”
“Lord Fergus has ordered the execution. I can do nothing to stop it. No one can,” Odran said.
Elysia walked over and put her arms around Lendra to help her up. “Come, we will go speak with Bram. He probably would want to look upon familiar and trusting faces right now.”
“Speaking to Bram will change nothing and will only upset you more,” Odran said, seeing the disappointment in his wife’s face and feeling responsible for it.
Elysia choked back tears. “My upset is nothing compared to what Bram must feel, especially when he knows he’s innocent.”
“Lendra, wait outside for Lady Elysia,” Odran ordered firmly.
Lendra sagged with defeat as she made her way out the door.
Odran reached out to his wife, concerned she might reject his touch and was relieved when she stepped willingly into his arms.
“I know this is not your fault, Odran, but it is a burden for me to bear. He was brought here because of me and now he will die an innocent man because of me.”
“It was my doing that brought him here,” Odran corrected.
“Because of me,” she insisted. “It all comes back to me and now he dies because of me.”
Odran hated that his wife took on such a burden. “You are not responsible, Bram is responsible for being foolish and thinking only of himself. He is a skilled warrior but not a trained and responsible one and therein lies his problem. He is in the mess he is in because of himself and no one else. And I will not have you think otherwise.” He leaned down and kissed her. He walked her to the door, snatched a cloak off one of the pegs and draped it around her shoulders. “I will walk with you and wait while you speak with Bram.”
It was on Elysia’s lips to tell her husband it wasn’t necessary when the intent glare in his eyes told her that he’d have it no other way.
They stepped outside and could find Lendra nowhere in sight.
“She must have gone ahead,” Elysia said.
They were close to where Bram was being kept when Lendra suddenly appeared in front of them, her eyes overflowing with tears.
“He refuses to see me,” she said through her sobs and rushed off.
Elysia was about to follow after her when a bell tolled throughout the village.
Odran took hold of her arm and turned her toward the keep. “Get to the keep and stay there.”
“What’s wrong?” Elysia asked as he gave her a slight shove.
“Visitors who may pose a threat. Now go!” he snapped.
Finch was suddenly there, handing her husband a sword and just as quickly warriors began to gather around him. Everywhere she looked people were preparing for battle and as she neared the keep, she spotted Lord Fergus rushing down the steps his sword clasped in his hand as he hurried to join his son.
Elysia saw Willa standing, blackthorn stick in hand, in front of her grandson’s cottage ready to defend her family.
Elysia hurried over to her. “You should seek safety in the keep.”
“Not likely,” Willa argued. “I’ll go down fighting protecting my family, before I’d hide away like a coward. Besides, my blackthorn stick will ward those evil MacFarden off.”