Page 67 of The Cruel Highlander's Healer
It was the only thing that he could think about. So it took longer than it normally would have to write the final, few sentences and sign it.
He couldn’t wait any longer.
Storming from his office, he made a quick pace as he traipsed through the corridors. He glanced at a clock as he passed, quickly noting the time.
Hopefully, if they’d eaten slowly or if they’d gotten caught up chatting, Eliza and Kate would only just be leaving supper. So he made his way toward the formal dining room, where they’d been having meals since turning the great dining hall into a sick room.
Turning a corner, two figures came out of a doorway, and as Conall’s eyes landed on them, he stopped short.
Kate and Eliot were a few feet away, turning and walking in the opposite direction. Kate laughed over something Eliot had said, the sound of it echoing off of the walls around them.
There was no Eliza to be seen.
“Eliot,” Conall barked, “Kate!”
The pair stopped in their tracks, whirling to face him. Kate immediately dipped her head to him in a solemn, respectful acknowledgment.
He was before them in only a few quick strides, eyes roving over their faces as if it might hold some clue as to where Eliza might be. But the pair just stared at him in question.
“Me laird?” Kate asked, tone hesitant.
“Eliza, where is she?” Conall grumbled, and then his eyes landed on Eliot. “And why are ye nae with her?”
“She went to her chambers,” Eliot began to explain. “We were havin’ food sent up to her when we left. The servants should be headin’ that way now.”
Conall grit his teeth. “Ye are supposed to stand watch outside her door.”
“She told me…” Eliot began, but his words were interrupted before he could finish.
“Where the hell was yer guard goin’ with me daughter?”
Marissa appeared in the hall, walking at a brief pace as she made her way toward them. Her arms were crossed, and her bright eyes stared daggers at Conall.
“What do ye mean me guard?” Conall asked, whirling to face the Witch of the Wood.
“I meant what I said,” she argued back, pointing a finger directly at Conall’s chest. “That guard of yers, the one that came back from the village with us. He had Eliza on a horse and was ridin’ away from the castle. Where are ye sendin’ her and why did she nae tell me she was goin’? If she’s goin to heal someone, I want to help her.”
Conall wracked his mind. “Dougal? She was ridin’ away from the castle with Dougal?”
Marissa shook her head. “Nay, nae the young one. The old one. With the stooped shoulders.”
“Alistair?”
Quick as a flash, the facts of the day started assembling themselves. Conall had identified that it had to be someone within the castle that was poisoning the lake. He had told Alistair to conduct an investigation to find out who it was. And now he was riding away with Eliza without telling anyone.
Eliza, one of the only people capable enough to heal all of the people who’d been harmed by the poisoned water.
Alistair was the one who poisoned it.
“We have to go,” Conall barked, eyes flashing to Eliot. “We have to ride after them.”
Eliot didn’t argue back. He simply nodded, the pair immediately turning and began sprinting down the hall. Kate’s mouth popped open in surprise as the men pushed past her.
Marissa, however, tried to run after them.
“Where is me daughter?” she screeched.
Conall wanted to answer her. He knew what it was like to worry about a loved one and fear for their return, after all. But he didn’t have time.
