Chapter 62: Chapter Three

ADA

Evening was settling in as we sat around the table. There was a cool breeze in the air, reminding us that summer was officially gone.

Torches were beginning to light around the camp, and I realized just how many people were here. Due to Cayden’s eagerness to be alone, I was not able to scout out the entire place when we arrived.

I stared out from the table now, observing the other warriors as they passed by. I wondered how much Barra had paid each to join, or where he had even gotten the money for such a large army.

“Ada…,” Sayer said, bringing me back into the conversation.

“Yes, I’m sorry. I was deep in thought.”

“My question was, how did you know the man Padriac killed was one of Kyra’s attackers?”

I looked over at Kyra. I hated to talk about her rape so publicly. There was always so much pain and hurt in her eyes when the topic was brought up. Even now, they darted to her lap.

“The scar across his chest. Cayden had shared with me details about her attackers. One was that one of the men bore a strange scar, almost in the shape of a staff across his entire chest.

“As soon as I saw it, I confronted him.”

“And he did not deny it. He almost looked proud of the memory,” Padriac added. He was standing behind Kyra’s chair and placed his hand on her shoulder.

It was the first time Cayden saw his friend touch his sister in such a way, but he kept himself composed.

“Do you think the other attacker is there? Is still alive?” Barra asked me. How would I know if the other attacker was alive or not?

I had to answer carefully to make sure I did not look like I was protecting anyone. They had been surprised I was brought there as royalty.

Rankin, who had also been invited to the table, even went as far as questioning my loyalty to the family. I assured them I had planned to escape the day they had rescued me.

Once Cayden and I explained the king’s reasoning for bringing me to Oranmore, Barra seemed satisfied. Rankin was quickly losing his advantage.

“Kyra, I’m sorry to do this, but do you remember any other details about the other attacker? I met many of the soldiers in the castle. If there is any feature you can recall?”

“Yes… There was a marking on his face. It was above his right eyebrow, almost like a scar that made it look like…”

“…He was missing part of his eyebrow?” I finished her sentence. All of their eyes fixated on me as I said this. I should have known; the two men had gone on many journeys together.

I would not have put it past them to partake in such a heinous act together.

“You know the man?” Barra asked.

“Yes,” I said, looking at Kyra and then meeting Barra’s gaze. “His name is Silas and he is the king’s son.”

***

For the next several hours, we sat there talking strategy for the battle. Rankin pushed the idea that the town should be overthrown for harboring such a man.

It was like he was hiding a secret agenda. Many of the men agreed with his plan, but a part of me could not. The townspeople of Oranmore were innocent in this fight.

These were the people I had spent the past six months feeding and clothing. How could I turn around and slaughter their children, set fire to their homes, watch their women be raped?

I could not, and made a bold proposition to the table. “Could we not negotiate?”

“For what?” Rankin sneered. “They cannot bring my nephew back from the dead.”

I felt Cayden put his hand on my knee, but I was not to be silenced. Even if they went ahead with the battle, I would try to save the town.

“To spare the lives of our people and the people of the town. Has there not been enough bloodshed? We know the attacker. He is the one that needs to answer for the wrong he has done to Kyra.

“Can we not ask for King Toren to hand over his son?”

Rankin laughed at my suggestion. “What father would agree to that?”

“I know this man. He is clever and many of his actions are unforeseeable. King Toren knows that Oranmore has no chance in victory against us without England.”

“Are you sure it is ~us~? You seem to be more concerned about Oranmore than your husband’s family.”

“That’s enough, uncle.” Cayden slammed his fist on the table. This brought a devious smile to Rankin’s face. It was disgraceful how much pleasure Rankin got from provoking his nephew.

Before Cayden completely lost his temper, Kyra raised her head up and began to speak with conviction.

“Ada makes many good points. We have lost good men, many strong warriors, to this pursuit. If we can avoid any more bloodshed, then I think we should try.

“What is the harm in attempting to negotiate? If they do not agree, then we still ride to battle, do we not?”

Barra looked proud of his daughter. In all the time I had known Kyra, she had rarely spoken aloud during these meetings.

He looked to the rest of the men for their thoughts; their vote was unanimous. We would attempt to negotiate.