Page 98 of Sins of the Highlander

“That’s because she likely didna see his true face.” Father Kester stood and shook his finger at her to punctuate his remark. “The Prince of Darkness took a man’s form when he stole into her chamber and took carnal knowledge of her body!”

The judge nodded but motioned for him to sit. “Everyone knows how an incubus does his evil work, Father Kester. There’s no need to go into lurid detail.” Then he turned to Elspeth. “Proceed.”

“My wound, which I canna show ye for modesty’s sake, came from a crossbow. The bolt was shot by Lord Drummond.” There was a name she didn’t mind bringing to the judge’s attention.

Drummond stood. “Ridiculous! Why would I shoot my betrothed?”

“I dinna think ye meant to,” Elspeth said. “Ye were aiming at a dog at the time.”

She heard several suppressed snorts.

“Pray, be seated if it please ye, my Lord Drummond. Ye are not required to give testimony unless ye wish.” The judge turned back to Elspeth. “A crossbow bolt results in a wicked injury. Since ye survived it, ye must have had help. And whoever it was, they most likely had knowledge of the dark arts to affect such a healing. For the sake of your eternal soul, ye must give us their names.”

Hepzibah Black already had the whispered reputation of being a witch. If she were named in a witch trial, even her home’s remote location wouldn’t protect her.

“If I gave ye names, I would be repaying their kindness sorely.”

“Doing so might earn ye a bit of clemency.” When she refrained from answering, the judge narrowed his eyes at her. “Upon your head, so be it. Continue.”

She swallowed hard. “Mrs. Beaton has testified that she saw me prophecy. In truth, I do possess the Gift of Sight. She witnessed the expression of that Gift.”

“Such things have been known to be,” the judge said solemnly. “Men of faith have been visited by visions from God, but the devil is prone to imitate the Almighty’s gifts. Demonstrate your ability that we may judge from whence this Sight of yours comes.”

“I canna control its coming or going. I am shown that which I am meant to See. No more.”

“And what did ye See?”

“A great battle, Father.”

“And did this vision prove true?” the judge asked.

“No, but—”

“Sounds like the wiles of the devil to me,” Father Kester said.

Elspeth resisted the urge to glare at him. He might claim she was trying to give him the Evil Eye.

“Finally, I freely confess that I canna fly,” she said. “Though I’ve wished I could several times during this trial.”

This time unrestrained laughter ringed the hall, and several faces actually seemed friendly toward her. The judge’s wasn’t one of them.

“Perhaps we should adjourn this court and repair to a high tower,” he said. “If ye are given a push off, we’ll see whether or no’ ye’re telling the truth right enough.”

She sucked her breath over her teeth. The judge was serious. “The truth is, if ye do that, ye’ll see me plummet to my death.”

“Which would lead to an acquittal,” the judge said, bringing his circular argument to its logical conclusion.

“And my death,” she reminded him.

“There are things worse than death, my child,” he assured her. “Your soul would at least be clean before God.”

Mrs. Beaton leaned over and whispered in Father Kester’s ear. He nodded and stood.

“If I may, I have one question for the accused.” Father Kester cast a wolf’s smile at her. “If ye are no’ willing to do as the judge suggests and offer us concrete proof that ye canna fly, will ye at least explain how ye were able to make Lord MacLaren and yourself appear suddenly inside a locked fortress?” Mrs. Beaton nudged him with her elbow. “And how ye were able to leave undetected the same way?”

Elspeth’s knuckles whitened on her lap. She couldn’t divulge the secret of the back entrance to Caisteal Dubh. It would mean betraying Rob. She’d rather take a leap from the tower.

At last, she understood Fiona. And the judge was right. There were things worse than death.