Chapter 3

3

"Ifollowed their horses' tracks," Alexander said. "I couldnae think about anythin' except finding them and killing them. But I was on foot. And I was losin' more blood with every step."

Olivia kept glancing up at his face, trying not to stare at the cut that now disfigured him. She couldn't figure out the wave of emotions running through her. One second she was sure the man in front of her was a monster and a murderer, the next she felt her heart break for the things he had experienced.

"Eventually, I collapsed. A kind woman found me and took me in. The village healer tended me until I regained me strength."

"We must tell Mother!" Ciara said, suddenly standing up.

"It's all right," Magnus said, joining his wife. "We'll send a messenger."

"I've already sent one," Alexander called out, but it was too late.

Olivia smiled. Ciara clearly had a mission, and she was not going to stop until it was accomplished.

For a moment, there was a commotion as Magnus, Ciara, and Elspeth called for a servant. They set about writing messages to everyone who needed to know Alexander was alive.

Olivia took advantage of the privacy and looked across the table and catch Alexander's eye.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I didnae mean to accuse ye."

"Ye did," Alexander shot back, and she felt a surge of anger as he dismissed her apology.

"What was I to think?" she asked. "Ye were bleedin' over a body! Ye had a sword in yer hand."

"I would think ye would ken I am nae the man to kill me faither."

"How would I ken?" she asked, but Alexander only rolled his eyes. She felt waves of anger flood her chest. This man was infuriating!

"I was only tryin' to apologize," she spoke through her teeth, trying to control her fury, and for the briefest of moments, she thought Alexander might smile.

Was he trying to make her angry?

She wanted to lash out again, tell him it was rude to question her apology, but the others were back, and from the looks on their faces, they had news. They sat down at the table, a new gravity about them.

"What is it?" Olivia asked. She didn't like the expression on her stepbrother's face.

"Word is spreading," Magnus said. "The news of Alexander's arrival at the keep is already making its way to the villages."

"What of it?" Alexander asked.

He didn't seem like a man who took stock in rumors or paid attention to the gossip passing from servant to servant. But Olivia knew gossip and slander were dangerous weapons.

"There are already questions," Ciara explained. "They ken there was a fight and Faither was killed. And they've seen the scar and yer injuries."

"They're sayin' I killed him?" Alexander asked.

The thought made him stand up, and he looked ready to confront anyone who said this.

"It's nae an unlikely assumption," Magnus told him.

His eyes slid to Olivia, who immediately looked down. Yes, she had thought this. And if she thought Alexander killed his father, then she knew others in the town would think so, too.

"Ye'll be put on trial," Elspeth said. "Ye could lose yer title."

Though her voice was gentle, the words couldn't be more shocking. They hit Olivia in the chest, knocking the air out of her.

"What?" Olivia asked, unable to stay quiet.

"I'll tell them me story," Alexander said. "The woman at the village will tell them I was hurt and couldnae come back until I was healed."

"And if they question Olivia?" Ciara asked.

All at once, everyone at the table was looking at Olivia. She squirmed under their gazes.

"Why would they ask me?"

She was used to being nothing more than the Laird's younger sister. It usually meant she could go unnoticed, with little attention on her. The thought of going in front of a council made her feel nauseous.

She was glad when Alexander moved on from this line of questioning, seemingly ignoring her. He turned to Magnus, and they spoke as one clan leader to another.

"Things have been difficult since Faither arranged Ciara's marriage to ye. Many of me councilmen are already against me. I wouldnae be surprised if they use this to try to overthrow me."

"They could try ye for murder and treason. It wouldnae take much to make it stick. Especially if yer men have turned against ye."

"What would happen?" Ciara asked. "What will the clan do if Alexander is found guilty of killing Faither?"

"Let's nae speak of it," Magnus said.

But Alexander was looking down at the floor, his jaw clenched, and he let out a sigh. "They'll kill me."

Ciara gasped, and Olivia felt a sting of tears behind her eyes.

"We willnae let them," Magnus said. He sat up straight and solid, a show of confidence, but Olivia knew even her brother couldn't promise this.

"We have to keep them from talking to Olivia," Ciara said. "If she tells them Alexander was with Faither's body… it's a death sentence."

"Tell them I wasnae there," Olivia suggested.

She knew she would lie for Alexander if she had to. She couldn't see an innocent man punished for something he didn't do.

"That willnae work," Magnus said. He leaned back in his chair, his shoulders slumped.

"Surely nae many people saw her," Elspeth said. "We could say she was simply on a walk in the woods. She goes often enough."

"Aye!" Olivia said. She felt excited by the idea, as if they had found an easy solution. "They dinnae ken I was there."

"Ye cannae lie, lass," Alexander said.

"If it saves yer life, she will lie!" Ciara said.

But Olivia saw Magnus shaking his head. The uneasy feeling in her stomach returned as she looked carefully at her brother.

"It willnae work," Magnus said. "They already ken."

"How?" Olivia asked.

When she ran back to the castle, she hadn't seen anyone. She knew all the ways to get inside without being seen. She had run straight to Magnus, who had been alone in the hall.

"Ye left yer boots and sketchpad in the woods. They found them only feet away from Arthur's body."

"Shite!" Alexander slammed his fist on the table, making the plates bounce with a clang.

It was bad enough that his father was dead. Now he would be accused of his murder.

"I'll tell them I didnae see anything," Olivia said. Words were spilling out of her as she tried to find a solution. "Or I'll tell them I saw the man… the one who actually killed yer faither. Or I can say I kept me eyes closed."

"It's too risky," Magnus said. "They'll question ye over and over. One mistake, and ye could be accused of being a part of the plot."

"Plotting murder?" Elspeth asked.

Alexander heard the shock in her voice as she contemplated her daughter facing a trial.

"Enough," he said. "Ye willnae lie. Ye must tell them exactly what ye saw."

"Even if it makes ye look guilty?" Ciara asked.

He reached over and took his sister's hand. He was struck by how tired she looked. It was clear the events of the past few days had taken a toll on her, and he would do anything to take away some of that pain. But right now, he had no good solutions.

"I'll speak to the members of council who have always been loyal to us. If I can gather enough support, perhaps we can avoid a trial."

"It willnae work," Ciara said again. Alexander saw a fire behind her eyes that made her look like the headstrong sister he knew from childhood. "We must make sure nay one questions Olivia."

"I'm sorry," Magnus said. "I've already been pushing them off. But it's only a matter of time before they force Olivia to talk."

"We will make sure she isnae questioned," Ciara repeated.

The whole table was looking at her now.

"How?" Alexander asked.

"She cannae be questioned if she's married to ye."

"Absolutely nae!" The words were out of Alexander's mouth before he had a chance to think. He couldn't even bring himself to look over at Olivia. He just watched Ciara, shock on his face.

"We cannae do that," Magnus said, and Alexander felt relieved that the Laird would back him up on this. "Olivia's marriage isnae a decision to be made lightly."

"We're talking about me brother's life!" Ciara cried out.

Alexander was still holding her hand, and he squeezed it now, trying to comfort her.

"It's all right, Ci," he said, speaking quietly. "I promise, I willnae let anything happen to me."

Ciara slumped down and dropped her head in her hands. The ups and downs of this day were weighing heavily on her. Alexander watched her shoulders heave as she started to cry. He put a hand on her back, unable to find any words.

"I'll do it."

He heard Olivia's voice loud and confident from across the table. When he looked up, she was standing tall. Her gaze was over his head, her mouth set in a determined line, as if she were about to enter battle.

"Ye willnae!" Magnus called out, but his sister didn't look at him.

Instead, she walked around the table to place herself directly in front of Alexander. He didn't miss the fear in her eyes as she forced herself to speak with him.

"I cannae let you get in trouble for something you didnae do. If this is the only way to keep you alive, then I will do it."

He bristled as he heard how hard it was for her to get these words out. He didn't miss the hint of tears in her eyes that told him how much she regretted this decision. The last thing Alexander wanted was a woman forcing herself to be with him. Nothing was worth that. Not even his life.

"I'd rather take me chances with the trial," Alexander said.

Hurt and embarrassment flashed across Olivia's face as she processed his words. Perhaps he had been too harsh, but he couldn't let her sacrifice her life for his own.

"Ye dinnae want to marry me, little pest," he said more gently.

"And I dinnae want to marry ye, either."

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