Odran turned his attention away from the village to his da. “If the cause is not recognized, the problem will continue.”
“Isn’t that what the bloody curse wants, continued strife and suffering? You don’t know how much I have wished I could return to that day and change what I did. As soon as Lady Aila’s curse fell from her dying lips, I knew we were doomed. It felt as if her words were caught on the wind and swirled around us, capturing us in its evil. I should have never listened to Lochlann and Lochlann never should have allowed the King’s rule to touch the Highlands. None of it was worth it.”
His da’s regret was something he had heard often through the years. It did little good now, except to let his da spew his remorse, then offer what he always did to his da—absolution.
“You couldn’t know the cost, Da. You did what you had to do at the time.” This time, however, he offered something he never thought possible. He offered hope. “The past is done, Da, it can’t be changed, but we can take charge of our future. It’s time we spoke with the clan leaders who opposed us on a matter that should have never brought on a battle. We need to bring about a peaceable solution.”
“I would like to believe that is possible, son, but it isn’t the clans we need to worry about—it’s that blasted curse. It waits patiently to attack us again and I fear its strength has grown through the years and will bring more sorrow than ever down on us. Be careful, son, your hope will be dashed before you have a chance to enjoy it.” Fergus rested a hand on his son’s shoulder as if drawing from his strength. “I go visit with your mum. She grows stronger in body and spirit and it is a pleasure talking with her once again.”
His da entered the keep, his shoulders sagging from the guilt and burden of the curse that had weighed him down all these years. His da’s warning couldn’t help but strike a chord in Odran. How often, through the years, had he allowed himself to hope only to be delivered a blow that felt like a stake driven through his heart? Was it better he always expected disappointment? Maybe at one time that was so, but since Elysia entered his life things had changed. His wife may have had difficulty letting go of Saber, but he also continued to have difficultly freeing himself of the man.
Saber had no problems, no past that haunted him, no regret, no worry of pain and sorrow haunting him endlessly. When he thought of that, he questioned once again his selfishness in marrying Elysia. It was one thing enduring the years of suffering. It was another having one so kind and innocent join you in that suffering.
“You ponder heavily.”
Odran smiled at the sound of his wife’s voice and turned to hook her waist with his arm and swing her up against him with ease to steal a kiss.
She rubbed at the creases that lingered between his eyes. “What burdens you?”
“That you have been gone from my side too long,” he said and kissed her again.
“Your tongue fibs too easily,” she scolded.
He placed her on her feet and took hold of her hand. “The quiet.”
“Oh, you wait for harm to strike the clan,” she said, understanding.
“It is the way of things.”
“Isn’t that life, though? Good things happen and bad things happen,” she said.
“And when there is more bad than good?” he asked, hungry for an explanation.
Her response came quickly. “It tortures the soul and makes one question. What tortures your soul, Odran?”
“Seeing those I love suffer,” he said, “which is why I will make sure this curse ends with me.”
Shouts and screams had them both turning to the village.
They both rushed forward, Odran holding firm to her hand.
“He killed her! He killed her!” a woman screamed and pointed to a man trapped by a circle of men.
They parted when Odran drew near and Elysia gasped seeing Bram in the middle, his garments askew, his hair disheveled, blood spatters on his face, and his hands soaked with it.
Bram shook his head. “I didn’t. I wouldn’t.”
Finch stepped out of a nearby cottage and Odran cast him a questioning glance.
“Glenis is dead. She’s been stabbed—several times,” Finch said.
Lendra pushed her way through the crowd and an arm shot out to stop her from entering the circle of men and going to Bram.
“I didn’t do this, Lendra. You know I would never harm a woman,” Bram pleaded to the one person he knew would believe him.
“He’s not of our clan,” someone shouted.
“He’s here to do us harm,” another called out.
“Hang him and be done with it,” yelled another.
Bram shook his head, his eyes wide with fright. “I did not do this. I did not kill Glenis.”