The prince moved into my personal space, forcing me to lift my chin to meet his gaze. Barely restrained energy radiated from his body, and against my will I trembled in response. His warm breath pulsed against my ear as he leaned in and hissed, “That ’tis precisely what I am doing. But if you have no explanation for yer presence here, we’ll move on to the sentencing.”
Gideon moved in and pulled Jamie back. “If ye continue to let her speak, sire, she’ll beguile us all.”
Jamie scowled at the guard’s fingers, and Gideon snatched his hand back before continuing in a scornful tone, “Need I remind ye, they just appeared. By magic.”
At this latest allegation, the crowd clucked in disapproval. Jamie stepped away from me, and the breath I hadn’t realized I held whooshed from my lips. He nodded toward his father. “Gideon makes a sound point. We can’t risk these alleged witches beguiling us.”
On the second to last word, his voice cracked, but he turned to face the people and continued in an expressionless tone. “Any defense must be offered by a citizen of Doon.”
For the first time in the proceedings, the room was as silent as a crypt. Jamie declared, “Is there no one willing to speak on their behalf?”
Duncan stepped down from the dais and winked in our direction. “Don’t be daft, Jamie. You know I’ll defend them.”
Jamie’s eyes narrowed slightly as his mouth quirked into a tight, shrewd smile. “You can’t, little brother. As a member of the royal family, you sit in judgment on this hearing.”
Duncan’s expression mirrored his sibling’s. “Then I renounce my royal claim. You must now be an only child and I an orphaned commoner.”
I waited for the king to stop them, but he retained his Zen-like nonchalance. Either he was used to his sons’ antics or his health was too compromised to intervene. Maybe a bit of both.
In an unexpected display of emotion, Jamie leaned toward his brother. Despite the quiet, I strained to catch his barely audible reproach. “Stop this madness. Ye know what’s at stake here.”
In an equally intimate tone, Duncan replied, “What happened to your heart, brother? What would Mother say if she were here to witness your callous behavior?”
Jamie’s eyes widened as he turned away, dark color staining his cheekbones.
Duncan addressed his father. “If these girls held the power to bewitch us, they would’ve done it by now. As defense, I would like the lasses to give an account o’ how they came to be in Doon.”
When the king nodded in agreement, Duncan addressed Kenna and me. “Dinna be afraid. Speak whatever truth is in your hearts.”
I glanced at Kenna, and she nodded for me to take the lead. Clearing my throat, I locked my knees against their shaking and focused on the king. “Respectfully, sire, we walked across the Bridge of Doon.”
What I thought was a straightforward statement incited the mob, and Gideon had to shout to be heard. “Ye see, sire! The Brig o’ Doon does no’ open fer two more weeks—until the Centennial. Yet these lassies crossed it. ’Tis witchery, I say!”
“NOT—” Duncan paused until the roar died down. “Not if they possessed the Rings of Aontacht.” Behind him, the assembly gasped.
“That is a bold claim, m’ laird.” Gideon scoffed and crossed his arms over his spindly chest.
Duncan smiled. “Is it?” Without taking his eyes off Gideon, he inquired, “Fergus Lockhart, what say you?”
The gentle giant stepped forward. His pale blue eyes met mine briefly before refocusing on his co-conspirator. Prompted by Duncan’s nod, Fergus addressed the king. “Sire, we did remove rings from these lasses. One gold and ruby, the other silver with an emerald.”
The king considered this for a moment then turned his attention back to Fergus. “If this is true, where are the rings now?”
“Gideon confiscated ’em, sire.”