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“Tie her to the post,” Lloyd called out.
Dara thrashed her arms in front of her, pushing against the crowd when she reached the marketplace. The post was the same one that Lothar’s friend, Aric, had been hanging from.
“No!” she screamed, remembering the feeling she’d had of her dangling in the breeze with the birds. She turned her head to wipe away the memory. She wouldn’t be hung; they’d burn her instead. Her vision from the Stone Circle was coming true.
“Goddess, help me,” she cried as three men hauled her to the post. She thrashed about, but they managed to shove her against the pole. Two men grabbed her arms, holding them still as she struggled to get free, as a third untied her wrists. She screamed, twisting her body as her arms were forced backwards and trussed behind the pole with a rope.
“Your magic will not save you, witch,” Rowena snarled.
“Stop this madness,” Park yelled.
“You’ve been taken under her powers.” Rowena waved a finger at him. “Tie him up with her.”
“You can’t do this,” Park yelped, and dodged away from the crowd, then tripped. He scampered backwards but was caught. He wrestled against the hold of two men, who jerked him to stand, then hauled him over to the same post and tied him next to Dara.
“Gather wood for the fire. We’ll burn the witch and her cohort in the name of all that is holy,” Guthrie declared.
“Who gave you the right to pass judgment in the lord’s name?”
Dara turned her head. “The knee-bender,” she whispered, watching the crowd open a path for Abbott Sean as he walked towards her.
“She’s a witch,” said Rowena
“He’s in league with her magic,” said Lloyd.
“Who accuses her?”
“She killed my Pegeen.”
“I hadn’t heard of her passing, Rowena, I’m very sorry for your loss.” He placed his hand around her shoulder, as she leaned in to him and wept. “I remember Pegeen brightened many a day when I saw her.” He held her until she finally stepped back and dried her tears. He turned to the crowd.
“Who accuses Park?”
“He was with her when we came to get her,” Guthrie said.
“I know he was there under the king’s order. Untie these people.”
“But she’s a...”
“She hasn’t been convicted by King Malachy or by the church; she will not be burned today. Take her to the fortress and we will set the trial to begin tomorrow.”
Two men untied Dara and Park.
“Do not harm her; she’s to be placed in a cell under guard. Park, go with her to keep her safe.”
“But, I just...”
“Remember, you were to protect her by the king’s order.”
“Yes, Abbott Sean.”
“Where’s Serle?”
“He ran through the haunted forest to find you, the king or Lothar about her being taken.”
“Good God, almighty; now I have to explain to the king what has happened to his daughter.”
“What about Lothar?”
“Hopefully Serle found him.”
* * *
“NOW, HAUL IT UP ON shore,” Brother Michael said.
Lothar raised the pole, lifting the trout out of the water, watching it flip its body in every direction. “He’s a real fighter.”
“The best ones are.” Michael grabbed the net, scooping up the fish on Lothar’s line and bringing it to the shore.
“Lotha.... There.... You....Dar....” Serle panted loudly, finally stopping, and leaned his shoulder against a tree.
Lothar dropped the pole and ran to him. “Serle, tell me why you are not with Dara.”
“Ughh...” groaning, Serle held up a hand. “Taken.... Crowd.... witch.... Market....”
“I’ve got to save her, Brother Michael, help him back to the village.”
* * *
“YOUR MAJESTY," ABBOT Sean bowed. "I’ve come to tell you the priestess is in your fortress.”
“Ahh, she’s finally accepted my apology.” Malachy rubbed his hands together.
“No sire. She’s currently in a holding cell, awaiting trial.”
“Why?”
“She’s accused of using witchcraft.”
“I warned Serle a month ago when he came to me with that tale.” The king bellowed, slamming his hands on the armrest. “Where is the man? I’ll have him whipped for spreading such lies.”
“It wasn’t Serle this time.”
“Who accuses her then?” The king rubbed his forehead.
“Rowena, a widow from the village; she blames Dara for killing her only daughter with magic.”
“I’ll talk to the widow to make some recompense for her loss.”
Sean paced the floor. “The village was about to burn Dara without a trial when I arrived. She must go through the trial to clear her name. I will act as Catholic representative and cross-examine her.”
“She’s my daughter.”
Sean stopped pacing. “I know, your Majesty. I am sorry.”
“What can I do?”
“You can keep the crowds from taking her at the moment; otherwise you’ll have to remain impartial.”
“My greatest fear has come true, I will not be able to help her if she’s found guilty, Abbott.”
“Then, your Majesty, I suggest you pray for the truth to be revealed during the trial.”
* * *
“KNEE-BENDER,” LOTHAR called out to the Abbot, as he walked towards the fortress. “Help me get to Dara.”
“You cannot see her now, Lothar. She’s being held in a cell for her own protection.”
“Out of my way, Sean, I’ll protect her.”
“She’s safer where she is. The people of the village want her gone. If she’s seen outside the fortress before the trial, they’ll burn her as a witch even without being convicted. It’s better that I tell her you came, and will wait to see her tomorrow.”
“Her father should release her.”
“King Malachy will do what he can, but he, too, has to uphold the law.”
“So you know.”
“I’ve known for a while. Their hair and green eyes match. Just like you and your father.”
“This cannot be.” Lothar put his hand on his dagger handle. “Tell me how you know my father.”
“I believe your father was part of a raiding party that attacked the monastery on Iona many years ago. You have the same brilliant sapphire-colored eyes and blonde hair. He could have killed me, but he let me live, and so I’ll keep silent about your true heritage as long as you leave soon.”
“Not without Dara.”
“Don’t you understand? She’s being tried as a witch. I may not be able to save her.”
“I love her, Kne... Abbott Sean.”
“How does she feel?”
“I believe she loves me too.”
“If she’s innocent, what will you do?”
“Marry her.”
“And if found guilty? Will you send your people to attack us?”
“I will stay with her. So is my word, so is my bond.”
* * *
“BRING IN THE PRISONER,” Abbott Sean called out to the guards. Sean turned and stood straight watching the two men bring in Dara and thrust her towards the center of the room.
Stumbling to catch her footing, Dara stood next to the knee-bender, turning her head looking at the small crowd gathered in the room, then stopped when she gazed upon her father. Taking a deep breath, she bowed to the king. She listened as murmurs from the people, allowed in the castle, echoed inside the meeting chamber walls.
“Stay silent and behave,” Sean whispered to Dara. He held up his hand and cleared his throat until all was silent. “Your majesty, Priestess of the Stone Circle, Dara Rogan, is accused of using witchcraft in the death of Pegeen.
King Malachy rubbed his hand against the edge of his armchair. “Who accuses her?”
“Rowena, Pegeen’s mother.”
“Rowena, are you here?” The king’s baritone voice filled the room.
“Yes, your majesty,” a female voice said.
“Come forward and explain your accusation,” said the king.
Dara watched a few people move as Rowena appeared from behind them, cradling a doll while shuffling towards the king’s chair.
“What is that you have there?” the king asked.
“It was Pegeen’s, I traded some linens for this doll, and gave it to Pegeen for her last birthday, it’s all I have left of her,” Rowena coughed.
“Please, tell the king what happened,” Abbott Sean began.
“She killed Pegeen,” Rowena said pointing at Dara.
“Rowena...,” Sean exhaled. “How did you come to be at the Priestess’s home?”
“Well... a few days after Pegeen’s birthday,” she sniffed. “She started to feel poorly for about a week. I tried everything I could for her. Keeping her uncovered to cool off her body, giving her broth, and I even took her to the river to bathe her poor body, she was so warm.” Rowena held up her hand as she coughed, then continued. “Her little chest sounded like a bubbling cauldron when she breathed. I knew of the priestess, and out of desperation I finally sought her out. While Pegeen was sleeping, I wrapped her in a blanket in case it rained and carried her to the priestess’s home.”
The king clasped his hands, rubbed his thumbs together and exhaled. He looked to Dara, then back to Rowena. “What happened next?”
“She allowed us to enter. I didn’t know that she was evil. I swear, Abbott Sean,” Rowena cried out, grabbing the Abbott’s robes, and pulling him down as she slunk to the floor.
Sean gently pulled her hands off his robes and patted them. “I know, Rowena, this is no place for confession though. Please continue.” He held out his hand, helping her to stand.
“She gave us some porridge. I fed a small portion to Pegeen, as the witch said.”
“Rowena...” Sean warned.
“Very well.” Rowena exhaled, but narrowed her eyes at Dara. “The priestess said it would strengthen Pegeen. But it was poisoned, I say. I just wish I had taken the bite instead of feeding it to my daughter first.”
King Malachy leaned forward in his chair. “Then what happened.”
“She put her head to Pegeen’s chest, then placed her hand on her head and said a spell over her.”
“I did not!” Dara yelled.
“Silence!” King Malachy slammed his hands on the armrest and stood. “Or judgment will be pronounced now.”
