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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

‘Maybe. But shouldn’t we be keeping those women safe? After all, Edinburgh acquitted them.’ Bailie Bell pointed to the window. ‘Listen to the folk out there. They want blood. They want justice.’

‘Let’s be clear here: they want witches’ blood.’ Patrick folded his arms.

The men stared at each other.

‘In order to distract them from doing anything… hasty,’ said Bailie Cook, ‘to guarantee their, let’s say, co-operation in apprehending the main offender, I think we need to offer a reward for Mrs Cornfoot’s return.’

‘How much?’ asked Patrick, worried the kirk might be asked to provide it.

The bailies exchanged a look. ‘Ten pounds should suffice,’ said Bailie Vernour. The others nodded.

‘I take it the town council will raise the money?’ asked Patrick.

Wincing, Vernour looked to Cleiland, who gave his agreement. The other men assented too.

‘Very well,’ said Patrick, suppressing a grin. ‘Ten pounds it is then. Camron, ask the Stuart brothers and Sergeant Thatcher to meet me at the manse. I will organise for news of the reward to go not only to the people of the Weem, but to outlying parishes as well.’

‘The sooner the better,’ said Bailie Bell as another roar came from outside.

‘Aye. The sooner we catch the witch Cornfoot, the sooner we can ensure that this time, the right judgement is delivered.’

Patrick gestured for the bailies to proceed him out of the cell, his mind racing. At last he had the freedom to bring at least one of the women to trial. While he might not have Sorcha McIntyre in his grasp yet, it wouldn’t be long before all the witches would face the Lord’s justice for their devilish crimes.

And this time, there’d be nothing Captain Ross or Edinburgh could do about it.

Forty-Six

FORTY-SIX

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God forgive the minister.

— The words of Janet Cornfoot to Mr Ker of Kippilaw and Mr Robert Cooke the Advocate, 1704

In all her three score and ten — or more — years, Janet couldn’t remember being so cold. Or stiff. Or sore. Barely able to move as the frost that coated her clothing during the night seeped into her limbs and froze them, she rolled onto her side, crackling and groaning, and forced her eyes open.

Never again would she think kindly of woods or barns, even if they were attached to large farmhouses or filled with straw and the warm bodies, breath and farts of bovines and sheep. Not after the night she’d endured. At least there were water troughs nearby. Not too proud to drink from them, once she’d cracked the sheet of ice that coated the top, she’d drunk her fill. You’d think the bloody animals would be grateful she’d given them access to their water and let her sleep beside them. Not these dour mulls.