The Queen's Lady. Shannon Drake
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alight with compassion. She had a leather skin of wine, and brought it to the young woman’s lips.
“Sip slowly,” Gwenyth said softly.
Liza did so, staring at her all the while. And when Gwenyth took the skin from her, lest she choke or become ill from too much too soon, she said, “God will bless you, for I am innocent, I swear it. Old Meg was not angry about her pig. She believed I cast a spell to seduce her wretched lout of a husband. I am innocent, before God, I am. And I owe you my life and my deepest loyalty forever,” she vowed brokenly.
“Well, let’s get you strong again…and into some decent clothing. You may use those trees over there for privacy,” Gwenyth said.
“I’ll be helpin’ the lass,” Annie assured her, and the two of them walked deeper into the copse.
Gwenyth knew Rowan was staring at her, and she flushed. “I believe she is innocent,” she murmured. “I find it ridiculous to believe that God has granted some people the powers to simply look upon another and cause evil.”
He sighed. “Ah, lass. You’d be surprised what evil can exist merely in the mind.”
“That woman is no witch.” She paused, then said softly, “Thank you.”
Would I have stopped such an obvious injustice had you not been with me? he wondered.
“I did as you wished today,” he told her, “because I don’t believe the trial was justly conducted or that the pastor had the right to condemn her to death. Such a grave penalty is held for the higher courts to dispense. But, my lady, I am sorry to say that people have often been put to death for the crime of witchcraft. Whether you believe in it or not, it is punishable by execution, for it goes hand in hand with heresy. And I will remind you again that the very queen you so adore believes in witchcraft, as does Lord James. As a rule, I believe the Stewart clan holds a belief in curses and hexes.”
She smiled. “Laird Rowan, you are, I know, a well-read and learned man. I know, as you do, that there are some who believe themselves able to create dolls, prick them and draw blood from others. Those who think they can brew up herbs and make magical potions. But you surely know, as well as I, that most of those accused of such evil craft are nothing more than healers who know the potency of certain herbs and flowers. Evil has too often been done to those who would do their best to help others, all because of what men believe, rather than what is known.”
“Be that as it may, if you brew a potion, you risk being accused of witchcraft, which means a pact with the devil. And heresy,” he said wearily.
“It is such foolishness—”
“It is the law.”
She nodded and said flatly, “Thank you. Our discussion has been most enlightening.”
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