Chapter 12
Over the next two days, witches seemed to be arriving in groups of two or three with an occasional witch arriving on her own.
Angus and the others sat around the fire watching and waiting for any sign that the trial was about to begin.
Angus was exhausted from all the waiting.
It had been taxing him both mentally and physically.
He bid good night to the others and found a quiet spot away from everyone where he could close his eyes and perhaps forget for a while that his wife had been taken from him and he wasn’t sure when he would see her again.
He was seething and he had no idea what to do with his anger. Edna kept him calm. She kept him balanced. “Edna, I need ye,” he whispered then fell into a sound sleep and dreamed. “All will be well, me love,” Edna’s voice came to him from somewhere behind him.
He spun around, thinking she must be right there, but she wasn’t.
“Edna?”
“Aye, love. I’m here.”
He searched for her behind the nearby trees and along the banks of the stream. “Where are ye?”
“I’m here.” She appeared out of nowhere but just beyond his reach.
“Is it really ye?” he asked holding out a hand to touch her, but unable to move his feet to get close enough. “Or is it someone trying to fool me?” He prayed it wasn’t so.
“It’s really me,” she assured him.
“Oh, Edna I’m lost without ye.” He allowed the pain and anguish he’d been feeling to come out, no longer trying to hide it.
“It will no’ be long until we’re together again,” she said.
“Do ye believe it?” he asked, a note of desperation in his voice.
“I do. I’ve done nothing wrong. There can be nothing wrong with love.”
He so wished he could hold her in his arms, but he realized he was dreaming and as was the case with many dreams he was unable to reach her.
“Edna, I want to be with ye. To hold ye and to love ye,” Angus said.
“Oh, Angus, I want that, too. To lay in yer arms again would be me greatest joy. Please doona lose hope. I need to ken that ye believe we’ll be together again verra soon.”
“I believe in ye, Edna. If ye tell me ’twill be so, then so ’twill.” He felt her fade away as he woke with the pain of missing her.
Angus walked back to the camp and to a group that appeared as downtrodden as he’d felt only a short while ago.
“Lads,” Angus said. “I’ve spoken with Edna.”
“How?” Cailin asked.
“She came to me in a dream.” Angus rubbed his hand across his face. It had seemed so real.
All their heads lifted when they heard this and not a one doubted him. They all knew that anything was possible when it came to Edna.
“And… “ Lena stood and went to her father. “What did she say?”
“She believes all will be well and that ye should no’ worry. All that has been undone will be set right.”
“How?” Cailin asked.
“When?” Cormac wondered.
“I doona have the answers to yer questions. I can only tell ye what she has told me. She does no’ wish ye to worry.”
At that moment the door to the house opened and Maggie emerged and approached the waiting group.
“Everyone is here now. The proceedings will start shortly,” she announced.
“I can no’ believe they would think me mother meant anyone harm,” Lena said. Angry tears formed in her eyes
“Evanore has her grievances and they will be heard, but I agree. I doona ken how anyone could disagree with what Edna has done in the name of love.” Angus rubbed Lena’s back, hoping to put her mind at ease.
“Where will the trial be held? Will we be able to attend?” Lena held onto her father’s arm as worry filled her voice.
“’Twill be held right here, outside of the house. And, aye. Ye will all attend. In fact, ye may be called as witnesses.”
Excited murmurs went through the group as they spoke with each other.
“Ye’ll have an opportunity to talk about how Edna’s actions have affected yer lives.”
“We’re all grateful to her,” Logan said. “Our lives are full now with the love of our wives and our families.”
“And our husbands,” Brenna added.
Angus noted that she’d been exceptionally quiet this whole time. She was seated next to her brother and Dougall was doing his best to comfort her, but it was clear she was anything but comfortable.
“Aye, of course,” Logan said. “I’m sorry, Brenna, I did no’ mean to leave ye out.”
“I’ve been asked to stay outside for now and I’ve been assured that they’ll be out shortly.”
Angus was anxious to see Edna and for the proceedings to begin. He was also more than ready for all of this to be over. There was nothing to do now but wait.
***
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.