Highland Sanctuary (33 page)

"Not the town! They already saw my fit at the market and will have plenty of people to testify against me. Ye canna do this. Have mercy and give me sanctuary in the kirk. I've done naught to hurt anyone."

"You know the church will not abide any sort of evil. This thing you have . . . it isn't normal, and I'll not fool myself into believing it is. I'm not weak like you're mother. I serve God."

Serena fell silent, at a loss for words. No amount of begging would change this man's hardened heart. Was this how Jesus felt—utterly lost? Forsaken?

"What will happen now? Will ye escort me there or will they come for me?" she asked.

"They're on their way. I thought it best to get the matter over and done."

"Will I be allowed to see my mither one more time?" Her lip trembled.

"It's up to the magistrate. My understanding is that you'll be held in a cell."

Like a criminal.

She stood in silence a while longer until footsteps in the hall grew louder. Chains rattled on the other side of the door. Someone knocked.

Her breath caught in her throat and she clenched and unclenched her fists. She looked down at her feet and hands, cherishing her last few moments free of chains.

Dearest Gavin,

I've been concerned as I haven't heard from you in a while. Leith hates letter writing, but I always look forward to my letters from you.

By the time you receive this, we will be on our way. I'm coming with Bryce and Da. I've arranged for a nursemaid for my wee one. As you're probably guessing, if I'm willing to leave my bairn, I must have good reason. I believe God has spoken to me in another dream and I will be needed. I overheard Bryce and Da talking about Serena. Based on what you say, I believe no evil exists in her heart. Many could claim my dreams are not from God, but we know the truth. It sounds as if she and I have much in common.

Dear brother, I don't know how to say this, but I dreamt of a woman burning at the stake. A crowd of people were around her and a cloud of darkness covered her face. I'm not sure if this darkness represents the evil around her, or if it is meant to conceal her true identity since naught has yet happened.

Keep in mind that my dreams do not always come true. Yet, I do know that it is a warning. Da has appealed to the King on Serena's behalf. He wrote back that he would ask his physicians and the pope. In the meantime, we must find every legal means of delaying Serena's trial. The King's inquiries could take a while. Da will arrive with the King's letter, and, hopefully, that will be enough to delay further proceedings until we hear from the King.

I will pray for everyone involved and see you soon,

Love, Akira

An eerie warning swept through Gavin as he looked up at the expectant faces sitting at the tavern table. He met Leith's gaze. "Da and Bryce are on their way. Akira is with them." Should he tell them about the dream? He didn't want to worry Evelina. The knowledge of it was enough to dash his own hopes of gaining Serena's freedom.

"Akira's coming, too? What about the wee bairn, Evan? Is he not still nursing?" Leith asked, suspicion crossing his brow.

"Aye, but she has left him with a nursemaid. She's with her husband, Bryce, and ye know how much she loathes being away from him when he takes overnight trips."

"Even though wee Evan is now weaned, Akira is even less likely to leave him behind." Leith narrowed his gaze on Gavin. "Ye're not telling us everything. What have ye left out?"

Gavin sighed. His brother wouldn't leave the matter alone, so he walked over and thrust the letter out to him. "Here, read it for yerself. But I warn ye, some contents are a private family matter so ye may not want to share it with everyone." Gavin kept his gaze averted from Father Tomas and Evelina.

"I understand." Leith's eyes flickered, as he took the letter, sat back, and read in silence. A moment later he looked at Gavin, equal concern in his eyes. He cleared his throat. "Um, they've already left so they should be here soon."

"And that's not all. Our da has appealed to the King on Serena's behalf. He carries a letter that the King is checking with his personal physicians and the pope," Gavin said. "But that will take some time, so we don't know how much we may rely on that. The sooner our da arrives with the King's letter, the better."

Evelina's mouth dropped open and she lifted her fingers to cover it. "I don't know what to say. Yer da would go through this much trouble for people he's never met? Indeed, he must be a mon of some great importance to have the King's counsel."

"I'm blessed to have a father who trusts my word so well." Gavin could not mistake the tears of gratitude in her voice.

"And only Gavin. If I'd written him, he would have written Gavin in turn to verify my account," Leith said, crossing his arms and rolling his eyes.

"Trust comes when ye earn it, Leith." Gavin glanced over at his younger brother, willing maturity to soon take root in the lad's wayward thinking.

"Well, I'm thankful to both of ye, for all ye've done," Evelina said.

"Do ye think yer father might have a recommendation for who I may contact concerning my plight over Braigh Castle?" Iain asked.

"Mayhap." Gavin went over and retrieved the letter from Leith before the wrong pair of eyes could see it. He folded and placed it back into the pocket folds of his plaid. "We can ask him when he arrives, which I'm hoping will be within the next sennight."

The wood door swung open, the hinges squeaking like a wailing cat. Booted footsteps rushed toward them. Roan and Craig charged into the room. Their eyes were wide and their faces grim with anger. Roan's lips were in a straight, thin line, his hand upon the hilt of his sword at his side. Gavin straightened, prepared to diffuse the man's temper, which often barreled out of control at the slightest provocation.

"Gavin, we've bad news." Craig spoke first, his expression one of sympathy as well as anger.

"Aye?" Dread crawled through Gavin, but he contained it as he folded his arms and took a warrior's stance. He prayed whatever it was didn't concern Serena. Akira's written words echoed through his mind, haunting him.

"A notice was just nailed to the outside door of the courthouse. Serena is to have a public inquisition in two days' time."

Serena lay on a narrow wooden bench that rocked against the uneven stone floor with each move she made. Her cell was the size of two privy closets. The stench of decay, mold, and urine lingered in the air like rotten fruit, but no longer stung as hard as the first day.

She covered her face with her elbow, the chains around her wrists jingled against the floor and bench, cutting into her flesh. Her ankles were now raw from the iron shackles.

For two days she had endured the shrewd comments from other prisoners held within earshot on the same hall. Having new female blood in the area amused their time.

Only one other person shared her cell—a thin woman about a decade Serena's senior, but she looked much older. Her bones bulged through her skin. Serena guessed she hadn't bathed in a while. Dirt smudged her face and she lived on a bed of straw in the corner, talking to the rats as if they were her friends. The sight had reduced Serena to tears on her first day making her forget her own miserable circumstance. She wondered if she would be reduced to a similar state before it was all over.

"Lord, however long I must be here, please don't let me lose my wits. Help me keep a presence of mind, and the determined will to not denounce ye or confess to anything evil regardless of the agony I may be forced to endure. End my suffering early."

A shiver passed through her and fresh tears gathered, trailing a hot path down to her hair. "God, have ye forsaken me? Whatever happens to me, have mercy on my mither. Give her someone that will be a true friend to her. Now that Gunna is gone, and I'm separated from her, I fear how alone she must feel." Her shoulders shook as she wept into her sleeve.

Thoughts of Jesus praying in the garden before the Romans came filled her mind. What had Tomas said? Something about Jesus asking God why He'd been forsaken. In that moment, she understood what He must have felt. A deep connection rooted inside her and a presence overcame her, bringing a peace she couldn't explain.

A door at the end of the hallway creaked open and prisoners began yelling and calling out, whistling to someone who must have been female. Serena sat up, the chains prohibiting too much movement as she tried to wipe her face. A guard led a woman to her cell. She carried a tray of food and wore a brown cloak with a hood covering her head.

The guard unlocked the cell door. "Mind both of 'em," he warned. "The one is naught more than a witch if ye ask me. Don't look her in the eyes lest she cast a spell over ye. I'll wait right here."

"Thank ye, kindly." A familiar voice answered.

As she walked closer, Serena tilted her head trying to peer beneath the hood to see the woman's face, but the torch on the far wall outside her cell didn't shed enough light. The woman adjusted the hood so Serena could see her face. She gasped. The woman held the tray in one hand and lifted a finger to her lips.
Praise God, it was Doreen!

"I've brought ye a bite to eat," she said aloud then lowered her voice to a whisper. "There's a veil beneath the tray from yer mither. If ye receive a guilty sentence, ask to wear it."

Serena's cell mate scrambled toward them after the food. Doreen picked up a chunk of bread, tore it in half and threw it at her. "Here, that should satisfy ye," she said aloud for the guard's benefit. The woman caught it and crouched in the corner, content to devour the meager portion.

"What do ye know?" Serena asked.

"Yer public inquisition is to begin within the hour," Doreen said. "I'll pray for yer soul." She set the tray down on the bench and backed away. "We'll all be there," she whispered.