The Vampire & Her Witch

”Are there more traps?”

”Are we in danger?”

”What happened to Lady Cerys?”

”Where is she now? Why didn’t she come back with you?”

”Is the boy hurt?”

”There are Inquisitors in Maeril. Should we send for one?”

Loghlan’s explanation had triggered a wave of questions, many of which were reasonable, but it was the last one that sent a cold shiver down the baron’s spine as he heard several people asking if they needed to fetch a priest to protect them from the demon’s ancient witchcraft.

”Please,” Loghlan said, holding his hands up again and calling for quiet. ”Let me address your concerns. First and most importantly, you are all safe. The trap that caught Lady Cerys was ancient, and it’s frankly a stroke of horrible luck that it was even still functional after all these years. The chances of there being another such trap in the area are very slim.”

He let that sink in for a moment, allowing people to absorb the reassurance, before continuing.

”As for Lady Cerys and young Dalwyn,” Loghlan said, taking a deep breath as he launched into the version of the truth that he and Cynwrig had agreed on. ”They are both safe, though Lady Cerys was injured. When the trap triggered, it slew her horse in an instant, and she was thrown from her saddle. Lady Cerys took the brunt of the fall while protecting her son, and she broke her arm in the fall.”

”Young Dalwyn is fine because of her selflessness,” Loghlan added quickly. ”She’s a good mother who would do anything to protect her children. Dalwyn didn’t suffer anything worse than a few bumps and scrapes.”

”Is she going to be alright?” someone called from the crowd.

”She will recover,” Loghlan said confidently. ”She just needs rest and the care of her loved ones. She won’t be able to join in the festivities,” he said more solemnly.

In truth, she and her son would both be under closely supervised house arrest until Loghlan could decide what to do about her attempt to flee after listening to last night’s discussions. He understood fear, but there were limits. If she’d run to her brother in the Inquisition with this information, it would have jeopardized countless lives, and that wasn’t something he could easily overlook.

”The only casualty from this morning’s incident was the horse,” Loghlan emphasized. ”And the danger has passed. When we reach Maeril, I’ll notify the Inquisition about what’s happened here so they can send an Inquisitor to investigate, but there’s no reason to summon one here before we leave,” he said, hoping that his promise would preempt anyone who felt as zealously faithful as Lady Cerys from running to the Inquisition before he had a chance to manage the situation.

”Thank you, everyone,” he said, bowing his head toward the soldiers and servants who had been dragged from their tents in the smallest hours of the morning before dawn.

Eira found herself studying the baron’s face as he spoke. There was something in his expression, something in the careful way he chose his words, that made her think there was much more to this story than he was telling, besides the need to hide Sir Ollie’s identity as a witch.

”Now,” Loghlan said, his voice taking on a more practical tone, ”I need to arrange for Lady Cerys to be brought back to camp safely and comfortably. Lady Eira,” he said, his eyes finding her in the crowd, ”might I have a word?”

Eira felt everyone’s attention shift to her as she made her way forward, suddenly very conscious of all the eyes watching her. She curtsied slightly when she reached the baron’s side, keeping her expression neutral and attentive.

”My lord?” she said politely.

”Lady Cerys will need tending when she arrives,” Loghlan said, speaking loudly enough that those nearby could hear. ”I wonder if you might be willing to accompany Sir Gavin back to where she’s waiting? Your presence would be a comfort to her, I’m sure, and you could help prepare her for the journey back to camp.”

It was phrased as a request, but Eira understood it for what it was, an opportunity to continue helping with an event that was clearly very sensitive. He was extending his trust to her, and with it, a helping hand in her efforts to attract his son’s attention.

”Of course, my lord,” she said immediately. ”I would be honored to help in any way I can.”

”Excellent,” Loghlan said, and she thought she saw a flash of relief in his eyes. He turned to scan the crowd, his gaze settling on a young man who was standing near the edge. ”Cadeyrn? Are you a good squire who can handle driving a cart over rough terrain? I’m sure Lady Cerys would prefer her carriage, but she’s too far off the beaten path for that. If you can’t manage a cart, we might need to have her carried back on a litter.”

”Yes, my lord,” Cadeyrn said, straightening up immediately, and looking both nervous and eager. ”I’ve helped Father bring the tithe in this year and last, I’m sure I can manage a cart.”

”Good man,” Loghlan said with an approving nod, preparing to move on before anyone could ask why a squire needed to drive a cart when they had plenty of handlers among the household staff.

Before he could do so, however, Eira saw an opening, and despite the feeling of butterflies fluttering in her stomach, she took it. After all, she’d promised herself that she wouldn’t leave her friend behind as she pursued the heights of a life with Lord Liam, and it was time to live up to that promise, before her friend was left completely behind.

”My lord,” she said, pitching her voice to be heard by those nearby, ”might Lady Morwen accompany us as well? She’s been very helpful all morning in organizing the staff and seeing the soldiers fed. I think Lady Cerys would appreciate having another lady present, and Morwen has a gentle touch with the injured,” she added hopefully.

She saw Loghlan’s expression flicker with something that might have been concern or hesitation. His eyes darted to where Morwen stood next to her in the crowd, then to Cadeyrn, and back to Eira. She could practically see him working through the implications.

He had just finished reassuring everyone that there was no danger, that the trap had been an isolated incident, and they were all perfectly safe. If he refused to let Morwen go on the grounds that it might be dangerous, he would contradict his own reassurances and potentially reignite the panic he’d just worked so hard to quell.

But at the same time, Eira could see the reluctance in his expression. There was clearly something about the situation that made him uncomfortable with the idea of sending too many people out there, and it likely touched on the secrets they’d learned last night. Secrets that hadn’t been shared with Lady Morwen, even though her younger brother had been allowed to remain under the pretense of preparing him to take over his father’s position one day.

When Loghlan hesitated, Eira took a step closer, closing the distance between them until she could speak more quietly without being overheard by the entire crowd.

”Morwen has been very helpful all morning, my lord,” she said in a low voice meant only for his ears. ”She’s kept the other women calm and productive, and she’s shown excellent judgment in managing difficult situations,” she said before offering up an additional incentive for Lord Loghlan to agree with her request.

”This would also be a good opportunity for her to demonstrate to Sir Ollie just how helpful she can be...”