Page 49 of A Keeper of Time

“Ye would be dead otherwise?” Daire asked.

“I would. I was prepared to die on that day, but it wasn’t my time. Edna made sure of it.” Richard bowed to them before turning to head back to his seat.

Evanore’s cool and calm demeanor was beginning to crack. She glared at Richard and followed him with her eyes as he walked away.

The council put their heads together and spoke in muffled tones. They glanced over their notes and looked out at the crowd of onlookers and witnesses.

“Thank ye. I think that is enough for today. We’ll meet back here tomorrow morning at ten.” Melusina banged her gavel and everyone rose. The jurors wandered off into the woods once again while Edna, Evanore and the Council went back into the house.

***

“May I join ye?” Angus asked. Not waiting for an answer he took a seat on the ground next to them.

“Yer always welcome, Angus,” Cormac said.

“Can ye no’ sleep?” Cailin asked.

Angus slowly shook his head.

“Neither can we,” Cormac said, pouring him some whisky.

“Our wives are well, but we miss them,” Cailin said.

“Are ye worrying about them being able to come back?” Angus took a sip of his drink.

“We must believe they will. It’s too hard to think otherwise.” Cailin wrapped an arm around his brother’s shoulders.

“I could no’ believe this would happen,” Cormac said. Dark circles under his eyes showed the wear the past few days had been having on him.

“All will be well, brother,” Cailin assured him.

“I pray ’twill be.” Cormac replied in somber tones.

Angus didn’t want to get their hopes up about the next day. Whatever was going to happen might not affect the Council’s ruling on the couples that had been separated so it was best not to say anything.

“What’s going on here?” Hamish asked as he joined them with Donal and Latharn by his side.

“We’re reminiscing about our wives.”

“I miss Sophia,” Latharn said, sitting and stretching his legs out in front of him. “When she’s back I’m going to marry her.”

“It’s about time!” Cormac clapped him on the back. “What’s taken ye so long?”

“I was afraid she would no’ have me,” he admitted. “I’ve nothing to offer her. Nae land. Nae home.”

The men all laughed at this.

“Why do ye think that to be funny.” Latharn seemed puzzled.

“Because she loves ye for some unknown reason and yer practically married already. Little will be different for ye.”

He seemed to think about that for a moment before chuckling. “Yer right. I’ve been a fool to have put it off for so long.”

“What of ye, Donal?” Angus asked.

“I’m verra happy. I work for Zeke teaching medieval martial arts at the studio in our town. Tina has a tea shop that is verra successful and we’re expecting a wee one soon.”

“Ye’ll be wanting to get back then,” Cailin said.