Page 43 of A Keeper of Time

Inside the house, Edna and Evanore sat in chairs facing the Council and the jury that had been assembled. Edna fidgeted a bit in her seat. The witches that had been brought together to judge her were concerning. She knew every single one of them and, at best, they were always jealous of her and of each other. She wasn’t sure how they would come to any sort of agreement on this matter or on anything they might have to discuss.

“We will join the others outside in a moment, but first I wish to say a few words to all of ye. It is our intent to make this process as fair as we possibly can. I ask that ye set any preconceived notions about either Edna or Evanore aside. Do ye think ye can do that?”

The jury of witches all nodded their heads.

“Excellent. The Council is counting on ye. Do what ye feel is right in yer heart. Now, if ye’ll all stand and make yer way outside where ye will sit facing the house.”

“Are there chairs?” one of the witches wondered.

“Aye. A jury box has been created for ye.” Mardella said, shooshing them outside with a sweep of her hand. “Off with ye.”

The jury stood and filed out the door.

“Evanore. Edna. Yer next. Ye will sit to the right of the door, facing everyone.”

Edna stood and followed Evanore outside. Her heart was filled with love and worry as she looked on those who had the most to lose if the jury found in favor of Evanore.

The Council emerged filling the conjured jury box, which was made of mahogany wood panels along the front and sides. There were two rows of seats with one being raised so that those sitting there had a good view of the proceedings..

The judges – Melusina, Mardella and Daire – took their places. Seats at the judges’ bench were much higher up. They were overseeing the trial and this grand bench gave them the authority and respect of those in charge. Once they were all seated, Evanore and Edna made their way out of the house and to their seats by the door. Melusina banged her gavel, drawing everyone’s attention to the bench. “We are ready to begin. I would like to start with a statement from each of those on trial. Evanore, ye may go first.”

Back straight and head held high, Evanore stood and moved to the front of the jury box so she could speak directly to those who would be judging her.

“I am Evanore,” she said, as she made eye contact with each and every witch. Her voice was calm and sure. The voice of someone who felt confident in what they were about to say. “Ye may or may no’ ken me, but ye will remember me sister, Brielle.”

The jury all exchanged whispered words with each other. Some appeared surprised and others shocked.

Evanore picked up on their reactions because she immediately addressed the one thing everyone knew about Brielle. “I ken she was no’ a good witch, but she was me sister and Edna Campbell murdered her.”

Edna watched the jury closely for reaction. When they heard the word murder, their eyes opened wide as their eyebrows arched and their mouths stood agape.

Evanore turned towards Edna and smiled as they reacted, but it disappeared before anyone else could notice.

“It is only fair that she pay for what she has done. Perhaps I should have gone to the Council with me complaint, but I have always been one who believes they must solve their own problems and so I have taken matters into me own hands. I am punishing her for her misdeed. Aye, I kidnapped her. Aye, I have kept her prisoner here in this house. Me intention was to make her watch the destruction of all she has done over the last several years. I exacted me revenge in a way that I knew would haunt her for the rest of her days, much as I am haunted by me sister’s death.”

Edna took a peek at the jurors. One or two of them tsk-tsked, but for the most part the others remained hard to read.

Evanore paused and looked around at everyone gathered. She wore a triumphant smile as she looked out at Angus. He glared back at her.

Edna eyed Maggie, who understood and went to Angus. She whispered something to him and he averted his eyes from Evanore.

“No’ a day passes that I do no’ grieve for her.” Like an actress on stage, Evanore played to her audience and they were hanging on her every word. “Edna Campbell pretends to create happiness for others, but she does nothing more than manipulate people. She bends them to her will and forces them to live in a time no’ of their choosing. She has no respect for life and I tell ye here today, she must be stopped.”

Angus shot up from his chair as an uproar from the crowd reverberated through the air. Maggie pulled her uncle by the arm so that he sat.

“Order!” Melusina shouted, banging her gavel until those assembled quieted. “Nae more outbursts will be tolerated.”

Evanore wore a half smile as she approached Edna, who merely shook her head. She couldn’t believe the nonsense this woman was spouting.

“Edna Campbell, ye may speak,” Melusina said.

“Me name is Edna Campbell and as ye all ken, I am a witch. I'm also an innkeeper in the Scottish village of Glendaloch. I own The Thistle & Hive Inn and live there with me husband, Angus, me niece Maggie and her husband Dylan.” She took a breath and gathered her thoughts before continuing. “One of me gifts is the ability to see someone, understand what they are missing and give them a chance to change their life for the better. To find love. Aye, I will admit, there is a bit of meddling, but there is nae manipulation. I arrange for couples to meet. Whether they fall in love or no’ is completely up to them. What year they choose to live in is also up to them.” Edna looked out over those gathered. She could feel their love and support bolster her as she spoke. “The reason I meddle is that I'm no’ sure people always ken what's good for them, especially when it comes to love. Personally, I'm in love with love and have been since I was a wee lass. I ask ye, is there something wrong with that? Isn’t love the ultimate gift ye can give someone?” There was more shouting from the warriors assembled as they agreed wholeheartedly with what she was saying and wanted the jury to know. Edna surveyed the jury. They seemed receptive to what she was telling them. Some whispered to each other but still, she couldn’t be sure what they were thinking.

“Quiet!” Melusina’s gavel pounded the bench. She stood for extra emphasis. “Quiet!”

Once everyone had quieted down, Edna turned back to the jury. There was a sadness in her voice that hadn’t been there when she spoke about love. This was the difficult part. She understood Evanore’s grief and she did not wish to make it more difficult for her to accept, but the tale had to be told. The jury and the council needed to understand what had happened and that it was unavoidable.

Edna gazed up at the blue sky above before she began again. “I must now speak to ye about Brielle. I doona look back on what happened without feeling the pain and fear that was felt by all involved. Me memories of it are vivid. Brielle wanted the Mackenzie clan destroyed. She knew me relationship with them. Knew that they were like family to me. They were the perfect target. Her relentless attacks were no’ limited to them. She went after me niece Maggie and her husband Dylan. She almost killed me Angus. We thought he would die, but Maggie and I worked hard to save him and we did. She had nae respect for human life. She wanted the bridge and would do anything to get it. The day that she died, she went after Maggie. She marshalled everything in her arsenal for what she thought would be one last battle.”