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Back The Darkest Shore Save as PDF
Chapters (76)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Author
  3. Also by Karen Brooks
  4. Title Page
  5. Dedication
  6. EXPLANATORY NOTE
  7. PART ONE
  8. One
  9. Two
  10. Three
  11. Four
  12. Five
  13. Six
  14. Seven
  15. Eight
  16. Nine
  17. Ten
  18. Eleven
  19. Twelve
  20. Thirteen
  21. Fourteen
  22. Fifteen
  23. Sixteen
  24. Seventeen
  25. Eighteen
  26. Nineteen
  27. Twenty
  28. Twenty-One
  29. Twenty-Two
  30. Twenty-Three
  31. Twenty-Four
  32. Twenty-Five
  33. Twenty-Six
  34. Twenty-Seven
  35. Twenty-Eight
  36. PART TWO
  37. Twenty-Nine
  38. Thirty
  39. Thirty-One
  40. Thirty-Two
  41. Thirty-Three
  42. Thirty-Four
  43. Thirty-Five
  44. PART THREE
  45. Thirty-Six
  46. Thirty-Seven
  47. Thirty-Eight
  48. Thirty-Nine
  49. Forty
  50. Forty-One
  51. Forty-Two
  52. Forty-Three
  53. Forty-Four
  54. Forty-Five
  55. Forty-Six
  56. Forty-Seven
  57. Forty-Eight
  58. Forty-Nine
  59. Fifty
  60. Fifty-One
  61. Fifty-Two
  62. PART FOUR
  63. Fifty-Three
  64. Fifty-Four
  65. Fifty-Five
  66. Fifty-Six
  67. Fifty-Seven
  68. Fifty-Eight
  69. Fifty-Nine
  70. Sixty
  71. Sixty-One
  72. Epilogue: Autumn 1706
  73. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  74. GLOSSARY
  75. LIST OF CHARACTERS
  76. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Patrick knew the captain had been about to say ‘more’ but stopped himself in time. ‘Taking into consideration the severity of their crimes, the fact they’ve confessed —’ He didn’t mention their retractions. ‘How fearful everyone will be if they’re released, I think five hundred marks not be out of the question.’

‘Five hundred?’ The captain did a quick calculation. ‘Why, that’s not unfeasible…’

‘Each,’ finished the reverend.

There was silence. A bee buzzed outside the window. A tic in the captain’s jaw pulsed in time with the clock. Patrick couldn’t tear his eyes away from the man’s face.

‘You know that will be impossible for them to pay,’ said Captain Ross finally. ‘They’ve been locked away for months, unable to draw a wage. They’ve used up all their savings. They’re not healthy. They need time…’

The reverend stood up and stretched. ‘That’s not my business, is it? If they can’t find the bond, then they’ll have to remain where they are.’ He made a show of folding the letter and pressing down what remained of the wax seal again. A thought struck him. ‘Or, perhaps,’ he said, coming around to the other side of the desk and clasping the captain’s shoulder in a friendly gesture, ‘they could conjure the money.’ Laughing at his own joke, he moved to the door and opened it, waiting, aware the captain was using every ounce of will not to lash out.

The man stood. Dear God, but he was maucht. Tall, sinewy and broad, like a highlander. If he came at Patrick now wielding a claymore and shouting unintelligible words, he wouldn’t have been surprised. Just terrified.

Scooping up his hat, without a word of farewell the captain marched from the room.

Patrick watched the captain’s retreating back, his sword swinging against his hips. He heard the maid usher him out.

Patrick may have won that battle, so why did he feel like he was on the losing side?

Twenty-Eight

TWENTY-EIGHT

image

If a’ tale is true that’s no a lee.

(Indicates scepticism.)

12 August 1704

The last thing Sorcha expected upon being released from the Tolbooth was the crowd waiting to greet them. As she stepped into the muggy, mizzling summer’s day, holding the door frame with one hand, the other shielding her eyes from the brightness, aware of the guards close behind her, there was a cheer.

Blinking back tears, Sorcha gave a watery smile, trying to find words to thank those who’d come to welcome her for their faith, their efforts and, most of all for the money few could afford to part with but so many had given regardless.