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Calem, in the meantime, is still frowning, trying to figure out what has happened and why the Laird has such thoughts.
'And who has given you that information about Elsie whom you have never seen before?' Calem asks Darah calmly, keeping his voice under control.
'I have,' a woman's voice is heard from behind Darah, and someone emerges from the group of people who were standing behind the Laird.
A young woman with long and curly black hair and pretty face is looking at me with eyes that are almost red burning with rage.
I freeze. Of all the people in the world, I would never have thought that I would ever see her again, in this situation, in this place, with these people. My breath gets caught in my throat, as I open my eyes widely and raise my eyebrows in utter surprise. Everyone dissolve around me, and only she stays. Everything goes to the second plan, and she stays right there in front of me, looking at me maliciously. I barely recognize my voice when I speak:
'Kaithria?
'Yes, it is me, you recognized me right,' she says maliciously. 'You would never expect to see me, right? Well, here I am, telling the truth to the people whom you wanted to deceive!'
'Yes, I did not expect to see you ever again, after you murdered your mother and ran away!' I tell her, shaking with rage.
Calem and Darah are looking at us in silence and listening to our conversation, which gradually escalates and turns into a shouting match.
'There has never been such a thing,' she says. 'You are now just doing your average thing – lying. I wonder how you were able to bewitch this strong warrior. I am surprised at your witchcraft skills.'
'You know that you are the liar here,' I say, shaking with anger. 'You have lied to everyone whom you have ever met! You have even killed your own mother!'
'Can someone tell me what is going on? What is all this shouting? Can't you speak without screaming?'
'Her accusations are not real,' I speak calmly, trying to sound normal. 'She has murdered her mother – I know her for some time already, and she is an evil woman.'
'She is a witch,' Kaithria interrupts me, turning to Darah. 'As I have already warned you, she practices witchcraft and can do anything to get to what she wants. She has bewitched this poor man and now wants to lie to you, too.'
'You are the liar here, Kaithria, and the Laird will soon find out about it,' I say angrily.
'Stop right now, ladies,' Darah says, and I can sense that he is annoyed. 'Calem, I am confused. We need to sort this out. Each one accuses the other of lying. I am not sure if I can believe any of them, and your word will not play a role in my decision, because, as Kaithria says, you may be bewitched and unable to see things how they are in reality.'
I look at Calem and get amazed at how calmly he reacts to what Darah says. He just stands there and nods. I am sure that it is what he thinks is the right thing to do in this particular situation, and it is for the good of both of us.
'Calem, I cannot give consent to you regarding your marriage until this is sorted out,' the Laird says. 'It may take time. In the meantime, this lady can live in my castle with you, while I understand what is going on in reality. Wynfreda, show her her bedroom,' he adds, turning to a woman, who, as I guess, is the maid. 'The warriors will go to the warriors' part of the castle, do not worry about them.'
The maid nods, while the Laird turns to go. 'Calem, get some rest, we will speak later,' he adds, looking at Calem, and goes towards the stables. The server takes our horses to the stables, and the warriors leave the yard, going to the warriors' part of the castle.
When Kaithria sees that the Laird has left, also turns to leave, but comes closer to me for a second and whispers in my ear, so that only I will hear it:
'I will never let you have this man. I will get my revenge from you for your sister marrying my fiancé.'
I grab her by her shoulders and want to sink my fingernails into her skin, but Calem holds me back.
'Stop, my love, do not do that. That is exactly what she wants you to do. You will get your revenge another way,' he says calmly, and I let her go. Kaithria disappears into the castle. The people, who were standing there, also start to go, and only Wynfreda stays, ready to show me my bedroom inside the castle.
'Let's go,' I say, and we start walking towards the entrance of the castle, too. Wynfreda walks in front of us, showing us the way to my bedroom. She walks calmly, as if she has not just witnessed a horrible fight between a murderer and a witch. Calem is holding my hand, and it gives me strength and clearness of vision. As we walk along the stone passageway and up the stone stairs, we appear in a large hallway with pictures on the walls that are lit with lanterns.
