Chapter Eight

Lamorna finally finished changing the baby under Lulie’s watchful eye. She paid little attention to what she was doing for her thoughts were with Reena, still in the other room. She wanted to be with her mother, to lie beside her in the hopes that she might yet awaken and gather Lamorna in her arms. Every waking moment since the previous day, she’d been silently praying to the all-powerful god they worshipped to end this awful nightmare and return her mother to her, her gentle, loving mother who had never hurt a soul.

“That was very well done for your first attempt,” said Lulie. “I don’t think this little one will be wanting for much in your capable care.”

“Except Mam.”

“Oh, child.” Lulie put her arms around Lamorna who stood stiffly, not returning the embrace.

“I want to go to Mam for a while.”

Lulie slowly let her go, and Lamorna headed to her parents’ room. She was fervently hoping that her prayers had been answered. Inadvertently holding her breath, she hurried to Reena’s side, refusing to acknowledge the sickly-sweet smell that emanated from the still body.

“Why won’t you answer my prayers?” she said through gritted teeth. But silence was the only reply. Sinking to her knees, no longer able to hold back her tears, Lamorna wept long and hard; her mother was lost to her forever.

As her sobs quietened, it came to her that she could hear men’s voices. Dragging herself to her feet, she stared at Reena before backing away. She exclaimed softly when Logan appeared at her side. He was still wild-eyed and appeared even more bedraggled than before; she could not fathom his expression. “Papa?” Hesitantly she placed her hand on his arm.

It was if she did not exist in the room with this man she no longer recognised who gestured feebly at his dead wife. Without a single look at his daughter, Logan shrugged off her hand and crept to Reena’s side; he lay down beside her, sobbing loudly.

Unable to bear the sight, Lamorna took an unsteady step out of the room, in time to see Morien leaving. Lulie, still holding the baby, was standing by the table where her husband, Aherin, was sat gulping down a drink. Not wanting to draw attention to herself, Lamorna remained by the doorway; from Lulie’s expression she could tell that all was not well.

“If only we’d got to him sooner,” said Aherin, staring into the mug. “But he moved like a man possessed. He’d already had angry words with the soldiers. We tried to pull him away, tried to explain his grief to them but then the priest came. Hilmer came. He told us to let Logan speak.”

“Oh,” said Lulie, her mouth falling open.

“Logan fell to his knees, begged Hilmer to allow him to bury Reena in the grounds by the temple. He said Reena had died in childbirth, but she was a good woman, never missed a day of worship... It did no good.”

“Hilmer refused,” said Lulie.

“As we knew he would.”

Lamorna frowned, wringing her hands. None of this made any sense. Then she remembered Vanora’s words, that childbirth was considered a sin. That meant the priests believed her mother to be an undeserving sinner. But that went against everything they taught the people. They said that if you lived a good life, observing the holy days and saying daily prayers then god would reward you. Was this how Reena was to be rewarded for the good life she had led? To be cast into the pit of torment with no hope of redemption in the afterlife?

“Logan remained on his knees,” said Aherin. “He didn’t say a word. Without warning, he rushed Hilmer, punched him knocked him over. It all happened so fast even the soldiers were taken unawares. He had his hands around Hilmer’s neck, screaming... screaming I don’t know what.” He sighed heavily.

Lulie’s hand covered her mouth even as she held the baby closer. “Oh, Aherin, what will happen now?”

“The only thing that can happen.”

“But... what of the children?”

He shrugged, shaking his head before burying it in his hands. Then he said something Lamorna had never heard before. “White Lady, protect us, protect them–”

“Hush!” Eyes wide, Lulie grasped her husband’s shoulder.

“Why should I not say her name? She was ever good to us. Not like their uncaring god they force us to pray to.”

“I know. Who do you think receives my nightly prayers? My silent prayers? But we have two young boys, Aherin.”

He covered her hand with his. “I know, my love, forgive me. But it angers me. I understand how Logan feels. If it was you and I was not allowed to, to...” He shook his head and pressed her hand against his lips. “I want to help him, but there’s nothing I or anyone can do, and it makes me want to scream.” His voice faded as an unfamiliar sound intruded.

“Da! Da.” Maldon, closely followed by Marden, tumbled into the house. “Soldiers are coming! Soldiers are coming.”

“They’re riding their horses all the way in,” said Marden, his voice shrill.

“Aherin.” Lulie’s voice trembled; she pressed the baby even closer to her bosom as if she would hide him there.

“Stay out of sight. Boys, stay with your mother.”

Lulie hurried to Lamorna’s room, the twins dragging the young girl between them, and the door was shut. But it could not shut out the sounds.

Gruff voices demanded Logan show himself. Another voice Lamorna recognised as Morien’s pleaded on her father’s behalf, arguing that his grief had temporarily robbed him of his senses, that he was a good man who’d never done wrong, and to let him bury his wife for surely that was punishment enough.

The stranger replied that attacking the priest was an offence that could not be left unpunished, and the villagers could not afford to defy their lords.

Silence followed his words.

“If you do not give him up then we will be forced to search your homes. All your homes.”

Lamorna glanced at Lulie who inhaled sharply and wondered at the meaning of the words.

“Very well,” said Morien.

“And the body. Bring that too.”

Lulie tried to hide her tears and failed. The sight of their weeping mother and their fear of the soldiers had the twins clinging tearfully to each other.

Heavy footsteps sounded in the house. Then Lamorna heard voices in her parents’ room; pleading voices, Logan’s angry voice followed by: “Where are you taking her? Leave her! No, no...”

With a soft cry, Lamorna dashed out of her room, ignoring Lulie and the boys. She stopped by the door, hands clasped over her mouth, dark eyes wide, struggling to take in the scene before her.

The villagers had gathered before the house, the men in stony-faced silence, women weeping softly with children hiding behind their parents. Logan was on his knees. But worst of all was Reena; her body had been dumped on the ground before the soldiers’ horses.

“She is to be buried on wasteland on the other side of the hill,” said the soldier in front, clearly the one in charge.

Logan howled and was struck across the face by the soldier guarding him.

“And do not expect to see him again,” said the lead soldier, indicating Logan.

“Papa!” Lamorna rushed forward; Aherin spun around and grabbed her, holding her back. She struggled against him, wanting to go to Logan, to Reena who lay in so undignified a manner for all to see.

“Lamorna, please,” whispered Aherin, struggling to hide her from the soldiers.

“What’s this?” The lead soldier strolled forward. “The filth has a grown daughter?”

Ignoring the man, Lamorna continued to fight Aherin, all the while calling to Logan.

“Let’s have a look.” He took her by the arm and glared at Aherin who even then refused to relinquish her. Until Lulie called tearfully to him. Looking away, he loosened his hold.

The soldier pulled Lamorna away and ran his gaze over the still-struggling girl.

“Let her be,” growled Logan.

“Quiet.” His captor knocked him down and kicked him again in the side.

“Stop it,” said Lamorna, sobbing.

“Wait,” said another soldier, pointing to Reena’s body. “If this died in childbirth–”

“Ah yes, it clear slipped my mind. What of the baby? Did that die also?”

Left with no choice, Morien had to confess that the infant had survived.

“I shall let Priest Hilmer know, and he shall decide its fate. As for you...” He returned his attention to Lamorna who continued fighting to break free. “You’re a lively one. We may come for you too. It would be too cruel to leave you completely alone, eh.”

Loud laughter followed his words.

“No!” Again, Logan surged forward.

This time, Lamorna managed to twist her arm free and ran to him, flinging her arms around him. “Papa. Papa.” Then she was hauled off him.

“Leave her–” Logan’s words were cut short as a rope was thrown around his neck.

Shocked gasps issued from the crowd. Lamorna tried crawling to her mother, but Aherin moved swiftly to pull her up and into his embrace. Retreating, he held her tight against him.

“Sir–” Morien’s protest was silenced by a warning look from the lead soldier.

The soldier turned to Reena’s body. “Get a rope around that–”

“No!” Logan darted to his wife’s side, tenderly arranging her shift.

“It’s too stiff now to carry. Go on.” The soldier gestured again and one of his men tied a rope around Reena’s ankles.

By now, the women in the crowd had tearfully turned away, pulling their children against them, shielding them from the awful sight.

“Get away–” Logan tried to stop the man but fell back with a strangled cry as the rope around his neck was pulled tight.

The soldiers mounted; the one holding the rope attached to Logan gave it another jerk, pulling him forward. He laboured to his feet, tried to go to Reena but was pulled away.

“Papa! Papa...” Lamorna struggled against Aherin’s firm grasp. Her cries ended in a scream as she watched her mother being dragged away. Unending tears smeared her vision, robbing her of her final sight of her parents. Sobbing, she collapsed.