Page 45 of A Keeper of Time

“I am Cailin MacBayne.” He stood before the jury and the Council with confidence.

“Tell us yer story, sir.” Mardella eyed him with obvious appreciation.

“Edna brought me me wife, Ashley.” He gazed at Edna as he spoke. “We have two bairns.”

“Yer quite a handsome man. Would ye no’ have found a wife on yer own?” she asked, leaning forward on the bench.

“Mayhap, but I doona believe I would have found one who suited me more than me Ashley.” He paused for a moment as if he wanted that to settle in before he spoke again. This time, his tone changed and his voice deepened as he spoke of his wife. “I love her more than I can say. She is the brightness in me days and the warmth of me nights.”

Edna scanned the jurors. Several of them were fanning themselves, appearing to almost swoon at his words.

“Is there anything else ye’d like to share with us?”

“Edna is a motherly woman. She cares for all of us as if we were her children,” Cailin explained.

“She treats ye like a child who needs guidance?” Daire seemed appalled by this.

“Nay.” Cailin’s brow furrowed as one eyebrow popped up. “’Tis no’ what I mean to say. We are capable of making our own decisions. Edna loves us and cares for us the way a mother loves and cares for her children.”

The three witches seemed satisfied with that.

“Thank ye, Cailin, ye may sit.” Melusina dismissed Cailin and then looked down at her paper again.

Cailin strode back to the others and every witch on the jury had her eyes glued to him. As soon as he sat down they began chattering away with one another.

Melusina once again banged her gavel. “Shall we take a short break?”

Mardella and Daire nodded in agreement.

“Come, then.” The Council disappeared back inside taking Edna and Evanore with them and leaving everyone else talking excitedly about what they were seeing.

Chapter 13

Edna felt that so far things had gone well. Robert and Cailin had been good witnesses of her character and motives. That much was good, but the last thing Edna wanted to do was leave Angus behind. She hadn’t been able to speak with him, but they’d exchanged longing glances throughout the morning.

“How much longer do ye expect this to take?” Edna asked. She was trying without success to hide her impatience.

“’Twill take as long as it takes,” Melusina said. “We will no’ hurry things along for either of ye.”

Edna was relieved she didn’t seem to take too much exception to her tone.

“Ye would be the best judge of that, me dear Melusina.” Evanore’s smug expression as she eyed Edna had her bristling.

It was obvious she was trying to cozy up to the council and rile Edna in the process. If she thought she was going to get Edna to lash out at her, she was sorely mistaken.

“Good. Why doona ye have yer servant make us some lunch?” Daire nodded towards Barnes before heading into the dining room.

“Of course,” Evanore replied. “Lunch, please.” She waved a hand at Barnes and he left the room.

“Could ye no’ just conjure something up?” Edna asked, feeling irritable.

“Who’s to say I’m no’?” Evanore joined the women in the dining room.

Edna followed along as Barnes returned with tea and sandwiches for everyone. She tried to catch his eye, but he seemed intent on his duties as a servant.

“These are delicious,” Mardella said, popping the last bite of sandwich into her mouth. “Delicious!”

“Thank ye. I made them meself,” Evanore said, blushing for good measure.