Anna and Rogan entered.
“Anna, please see that everyone waits for us to share the delicious bread,” Aliss said, her hand gently guiding Margaret out the door. She nodded for Rogan to follow.
The old woman’s steps were slow and Rogan helped her to sit on a bench near the door, which Aliss closed so no one could hear their conversation.
“How long have you been baking black bread, Margaret?” Aliss asked, sitting beside her.
“As long as I can remember.” She smiled. “Not everyone has a taste for its distinct flavor.”
“So I have learned.”
Margaret pointed a finger at Rogan. “He never liked it.” She patted Aliss’s arm. “You should try it.”
“I will. Have you made it the same way all these years?”
The old woman seemed reluctant to answer.
“It is important,” Rogan said firmly.
Margaret leaned away from Aliss and cast an anxious look to Rogan. “Have I done something wrong?”
“No, Margaret, not at all,” Rogan assured her.
Margaret sighed. “To be truthful, it is not I who have baked the black bread these last few months.” She held up gnarled fingers. “I cannot knead the bread as I once did so Tara has been kind enough to mix the ingredients and knead the dough and leave the loaves for me to bake.”
Aliss placed her hand on the old woman’s arm. “Have you eaten any of the bread she has prepared for you?”
Margaret cast her eyes to the ground, gave her head a shake then looked up at Aliss. “I never favored the black bread, I only make it for those who do.”
“I need the loaf you brought to James.”
“I thought he might enjoy it,” she said, and stood with Aliss’s help.
“I’m sure he will but this loaf is mine if you don’t mind,” Aliss said.
Aliss soon had the black bread safely in her hands and she and Rogan went directly to Tara’s cottage.
The young woman was busy mixing another batch of bread and welcomed them with a smile and an enthusiastic greeting.
“We are here to see if you can help us with something,” Aliss explained.
“Of course,” Tara said, and wiped her hands on the cloth tucked by a corner in her waistband.
“You have been baking bread for Margaret, but you don’t eat any yourself?” Aliss asked.
“She confided her secret finally, did she?” Tara asked with a laugh and shook her head. “And no, I don’t like the black bread though Daniel does.”
Aliss asked, “Have you followed her recipe exactly?”
Tara hesitated. “Has she complained of my bread?”
“No, she has praised your baking skills.”
Tara sighed, relieved, and plopped down on a chair at the table. “Good, I didn’t want her to find out that I accidentally changed her recipe.”
“How so?” Aliss asked.
“I’m not very good at identifying herbs, most look the same to me, and only recently did I realize I had been using the wrong herb in Margaret’s black bread and returned to her original ingredient.”
“That would explain why the illness suddenly stopped,” Aliss said to Rogan.
“Illness?” Tara said, grabbing at her chest. “I caused everyone to get ill?”
“Do not worry yourself,” Aliss said. “Have you any of the herb you had used?”
“A little, I think.” Tara looked in her crocks and soon presented a single leaf to Aliss.
One whiff of the sickly-sweet dried leaf and Aliss knew she had caught the culprit. The old healer whom she had learned from had taught her to distinguish scents. She had warned that a knowledgeable nose could save lives.
“This is poisonous,” Aliss said.
“You are sure?” Tara asked, tears welling in her eyes.
“I am sure.”
Tara looked to Rogan. “I am sorry. I did not know. You will not make me leave here, will you? Daniel and I have no place to go. This is the only home he has ever known and the only place I have ever felt wanted and safe.”
“You are not going anywhere, Tara. This is your home and here is where you will stay. I told you when you first arrived here years ago that you became part of this clan and will remain so until you take your last breath.”
“But I have hurt my family.”
“Not on purpose,” Aliss reminded.
“No one will trust me ever again,” Tara said sadly.
“No one need ever know of this,” Rogan said firmly.
“You will tell no one?” Tara asked with surprised relief.
“It is not necessary for anyone to know. The problem has been solved and no more will grow ill. That is what matters.”
“You are a good man, Rogan,” Tara said through tears. “I am in your debt.”