Page 5 of To Wed a Witch
Enough.
"SILENCE!"Bhaltair's voice boomed through the hall like thunder, cutting through the chaos with such authority that every person froze mid-shout.The sudden quiet descended over the hall.
He stepped forward, bringing Sìne with him, his arm still firmly around her waist.Every inch of his tall frame radiated lethal power, and his dark eyes promised violence to anyone fool enough to challenge him.
"I am a guest of the MacKay.I dinnae ken who ye think ye are," he said, his voice deadly quiet now that he had their attention, "but no one," his gaze swept over them, "will harm this woman while I draw breath.Cross me on this, and ye'll have hell to pay."
Dugald, Murphy and his men stood resolute beside him, and their scowls and stance gave the villagers pause.For once, Bhaltair was glad he had brought them with him.
The villagers shifted nervously, suddenly aware they were facing a warrior who could likely cut down half their number before they could blink.The angry muttering died to uncertain whispers.
Without taking his eyes off the crowd, Bhaltair drew his dirk from his belt, and several villagers took an involuntary step backward.Moving with care, he sliced through the ropes binding Sìne's wrists with one clean stroke.
She gasped softly as her hands came free, rubbing at the raw marks on her wrists.
Bhaltair saw her bloodied wrists for the first time and clenched his jaw.He wanted nothing more than to cut down every villager before him for daring to harm her.
"Now then," Bhaltair continued, his voice carrying the quiet menace of a predator, "let's speak of this child ye were so eager to bury.Where is he now?"
The villagers exchanged confused glances.The burly spokesman frowned."What d'ye mean?"
"I mean," Bhaltair said, "in yer righteous fury to chase this lass through the forest, what became of the supposedly dying lad?"
The silence stretched uncomfortably.Several faces began to show dawning realization and shame.
"We...we left him..."a woman whispered.
"Ye left him," Bhaltair repeated, his tone flat with disgust."So concerned were ye with hunting a so-called witch that ye abandoned an ailing child in the dirt?"His voice dropped to a growl that made grown men flinch."What manner of Christians are ye?"
The mob shuffled their feet, no longer meeting his gaze.The burly man cleared his throat and gestured to two women, who immediately ran out of the hall.No doubt they were returning to see to the boy."We...we were frightened.She made him move when he was dead, and we..."
"He was never dead!"Sìne cut him off."As any fool with sense would have discovered had ye bothered to check for breath before digging his grave."
"Steady, woman!"Bhaltair growled.
Sìne just frowned at him."I'm tired of them sullying me name as if I'd ever work for the devil."
"I ken it, but calm yerself."Bhaltair then asked the crowd, "Who checked that the lad was alive before ye decided to bury him?"
There was an awkward silence before a man with a ruddy complexion replied, "I did.He were dead as can be."
"Are ye a healer?"
"Aye, and he was lying on the ground, pale, with his eyes closed.None of my methods could rouse him."
"Did ye check for breath or listen for the beating of his heart?"
"Uh, no.'Twas like he were in a deep sleep with barely any movement.I decided it best to bury him quickly because he was already spirited away."
"Well, clearly he was not dead.He was knocked unconscious.I've seen it many a time on the battlefield.An injury to the head can do that, but after some care, people recover."
Someone shouted to the healer, "Ye said he were dead with no heartbeat or breath?Do ye mean ye did not even check?"
"No, I thought 'twas not normal to lie so still for so long."
"Did ye even try to care for him longer than a day?"another shouted.
"People usually rouse within a short time.'Twas not normal for him to be still for so long."
