Page 58 of Dancing On Air

“I know that part, dammit. How did Father die?”

“He was weak and he wanted me to do it.”

“God’s eyes, nay. Please tell me you didn’t.”

“I-I wanted to help him. I wanted to be strong like him. Like you. I told him I could take your place, Connor, but I couldn’t do it.”

“Did Father carry out the execution?”

“Yes. But since he was so weak it-it took him several tries to complete it.”

Connor closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. This must have been awful. Especially for Leoric who had never assisted in an execution before.

“What did Lord Sampson do?” Executioners botching beheadings wasn’t something that was easily accepted. Sometimes they were even killed for not doing the job right the first time.

“He wasn’t happy at first. But then he called Father to him and he gave him a chalice to drink from.”

“He did what?” Connor started to pace. “That makes no sense at all. Why would he do that?”

“I-I don’t know. I had to leave to bury the body. Lord Sampson made me bury the chalice as well. When I returned, Father said he felt ill and wanted to get home right away. I drove as fast as I could. But-but he died in the wagon, Connor.” Leoric’s eyes filled with tears. “He was gasping for breath and I didn’t know how to help him. So I put him in bed when we got here but-but he never woke up.”

Eleanor and Rose hurried over to comfort the younger children.

“I’ll dig a grave for him outside the cottage,” said Connor heading for the door. “I’ll put him next to Francesca.”

It took every bit of Connor’s strength not to cry as well. If he hadn’t been so angry about what happened, he just might have broken down. Instead, he went to the shed and got a shovel and started digging a grave next to his sister in the woods.

“Connor,” said Eleanor, coming to his side. “I’m so sorry.”

“What for?” he asked, digging the hole like a madman.

“If I hadn’t asked you to meet me and you hadn’t stayed so long at the Woods’ house, mayhap none of this would have happened.”

“I blame no one but that wretched bastard, Sampson. He is supposed to give us at least two days’ notice for executions. It’s like he wanted this to happen, I swear.”

“As soon as Rook returns, I think we should take your siblings to the abbey for the night. It’s not healthy for them to stay here right now.”

“Well, they’re orphans now, and your job is to take in orphans, so how can I stop you?”

“Rose and Rook will be staying there as well, in the guest house. I’d like you to come to the abbey for the night as well.”

“Nay!” He shouted. “I won’t leave my father. I should have been here to help him and I wasn’t. I was off pretending to be something and someone I wasn’t. If I had been here my father would still be alive and my brother wouldn’t be going crazy from what he saw today. This never should have happened.”

“Please, Connor. It’s not anyone’s fault.”

“Eleanor?” called out Rose, coming to join them. “The children are crying and scared of me since they don’t know me. Will you help me convince them to pack a few things and to come to the abbey with us?”

“Yes,” said Eleanor, looking at Connor and sighing deeply. “But I don’t want to leave before Connor’s father is buried.”

* * *

Rook returnedto the cottage with Raven, since Raven knew the way to get there. It was already dark and lanterns burned outside. Conner had taken care of the horse and finished cleaning out the wagon and digging his father’s grave.

“What’s going on here?” asked Raven, getting off her horse.

“Come here,” said Eleanor. “Come inside and I’ll tell you everything.”

They buried Wensel Wyland in the dark, with Connor and Leoric filling in the grave. Rook had offered to do it, but Connor and his brother wanted to do this one last thing for their father.