“Then, will you help me?” I blurted out without a second thought or even a first thought to the repercussions of interrupting the testimony the families were giving.

Once again, unintentionally, all eyes were on me. I didn’t care. I didn’t care their eyes were on me. Why would I? If I could help Steele – save him – why would I hold back now?

There was hesitation in their eyes. I felt a lump in my throat. Even after what they heard, they still hesitated.

Why? Why would they hesitate now? Steele was running out of time. I needed their help to bandage the wounds – to remove the dagger. Steele needed herbs from the apothecary to stanch the blood. Things like yarrow and boiled nettles and goldenrod. He needed twine to bind and suture his wounds.

I could not do all of these things on my own I needed help, and I wasn’t ashamed to admit when I needed assistance. A painstaking silence settled over the people and an even heavier silence settled between the four and myself. My heart pounded with a rapid rush that filled my ears.

The tips of my fingers tingled, growing numb from gripping the axe handle for so long.

“We need time to discuss, but shall take this into consideration.”

No.

Emptiness filled me. I was at a loss for words. What could I say now? If my plea didn’t convince them before, what would save Steele now.

Had I failed?

“What is she doing? That girl?” There were shocked gasps and screams. Fingers pointed not at me but past me. Two people nearby even fainted. With defeat in my heart, I barely had the wherewithal to turn my head and look at what was going on behind me.

They were staring at my daughter, Terrilyn, and I suddenly came back to my senses and understood their shock and awe. I wasn’t sure when she managed it, but Terrilyn had climbed onto the side of Steele’s head by his ear, using strands of his hair for balance and stability.

A desire to call out to her, tell her to be careful and try to call her to me, was instantly silenced as was the crowd when Terrilyn began to speak.

“S…S-Steele? It…It’s gonna be okay.” Her voice was so soft and yet it carried through the air. “You… have to get better. Okay? For momma. She… she’s worried about you. Don’t make momma worry. Please.”

Her thoughtful voice sent a swell through my aching heart. I could hear the tremble in her voice. By stilling my own breath, I could see a very faint shake to her shoulders. She was scared; however, she was still there trying to help.

I listened to Steele’s laborious inhale and exhale. His brow, slick with a cold sweat, furrowed at hearing Terrilyn’s voice followed by a wince.

“Child! Get down! Before it knows you’re up there!” shouted one of the other adults from the crowd. Terrilyn looked out at them before looking at me, as if asking for permission. I nodded and stepped forward toward Steele to help her get down.

The crowd watched as Terrilyn descended, using Steele’s hair to rappel down, before hitting the ground and coming into my embrace. I was standing by Steele’s hand – the same hand he had protected and carried me in. I didn’t realize that the four or the crowd had dared to follow behind as I approached my daughter and Steele. It wasn’t until they spoke that I realized that they were even there. They were still what they may consider a “safe distance” away, but the fact they approached at all was interesting to me.

My daughter, before I had a moment to speak, addressed the four.

“Sirs! Please. You’re making my momma upset. She… she really cares about Steele. Please help him!” pleaded Terrilyn, tears in her eyes as she looked between me and the four.

“You know the Orion?” asked the four. Terrilyn, bashfully, pulled closer to me and nodded. “And how do you know him?”

“He… um… w-we met when he brought my momma. She said he was here to help and my momma always tells the truth,” responded Terrilyn. I couldn’t help but weakly smile and pull her close, playing with curls in her auburn hair.

“Is that so?” asked the four.

Terrilyn nodded. I closed my eyes for a moment, listening as Steele continued to breathe.

I wanted him to live, but he was also in so much pain. Was he trying to fight? Was he able to hear us as we stood so close to him?

“Factotum,” said the four as they addressed me. I snapped from my trance and looked to them.

“Yes, sirs?” I asked as I hurriedly wiped some of the residual tears from my cheeks with the back of my hand before looking back to the four.

“Do you swear on your life and honor – everything you hold dear – that your testimony is the truth?”

I couldn’t believe the question.

“Yes!” I said eagerly. “I’ll swear by whatever you ask of me – give anything you ask. Please… just help me save his life.”

The four of them exchanged another look between one another before looking back to me.