Page 93 of Laird of Secrets
“You must be mad,” Hugh said, gaping at him in astonishment.
“Why do you care so about fairy brew?” Dougal asked.
“I am something of a collector of fairy lore and magical things,” Eldin said. “I have heard of the fairy brew, and I must have it. Sell me whatever you have. I offer you a high price, one you should accept. I am sure you wish your loved ones to be safe.” He gestured toward Fiona.
“And if I will not sell?” Dougal growled.
“Then I will take all that you have, all the glen, and make sure the authorities have you jailed. I will hold the rights to whatever brew is produced in Glen Kinloch in the future. And,” Eldin said, “you will not see them again.” He looked at Fiona and the children. Taking a backward step, he lifted his pistol to point it at Hugh, standing nearest him. “Or the good reverend either.”
“The fairy brew is an ordinary whisky,” Dougal said. “Made from a family recipe. The legends are only that. Stories.”
“I will soon know for myself. I am among the few who will recognize the difference once I taste it,” Eldin said. “When I have the rights to the glen and any goods produced in it it, I will also have the exclusive privilege of the water source used to make whisky here.”
“No one can claim rights to water that flows from one glen to another. Nick, truly, this is madness,” Patrick said.
“Madness to one man, genius to another,” Eldin responded.
“Water source?” Fiona asked.
“There is a particular spring in these hills that is only used for this whisky,” Eldin said. “I have pieced that much together from asking around, and learning what I could of the local legend. The lairds of Kinloch will not say all of it, but others know some of the traditions. I want the rights to that spring. And you will show me where it is,” he told Dougal. “Cooperate, and all will go well. You can have the rest of the glen. And this will make you a rich man. Fiona would like that.” He smirked, glancing toward her. “She is desperate to find a wealthy Highland man.”
“I have found the one I want,” she said quietly, watching Dougal.
“A penniless Highland laird? Excellent,” Eldin said. “You will break the conditions of the will, and the bulk of Lady Struan’s accounts will come to me.”
“The laird of Kinloch has more wealth than you can imagine, or ever appreciate,” she said. “The wealth of the heart, and the good fortune of loyalty and love.” She looked up at Dougal, her eyes wide and sheened with tears.
He caught her gaze, held it for a moment. Felt his heart open wide, full to the brim.
“Sentimental nonsense,” Eldin answered. “What have you done to the girl, Kinloch? She was a sensible lass until she came here. I offer you a good bargain, sir. I advise you to accept.” He waved the pistol. “You need only give over the fairy whisky you hold now, with the rights to the spring, and Fiona and the children will be set free. I will pay handsomely, as I said.”
“All well and good. Do you expect to get out of this cave alive?” Dougal murmured.
“I do. You will lose your glen without the funds I am offering you.”
“Lose the glen?” Fiona looked from one man to the other.
“If you had all that—my stock of whisky, and the rights to the spring,” Dougal went on, “what then? You do not know how to produce the whisky. Little good the rest would do you in future.”
“Glen Kinloch distillery would produce it for me.”
“You think so?” Dougal kept his voice low, controlled, though he vibrated with anger.
“It is becoming a ready source of income for you, so aye.”
“There is a problem with your scheme,” Dougal said. “If the fairy brew is sold, that will undo its magic. So the legend says. But it is just a legend,” he added.
“What?” Eldin leveled the pistol at him. “You lie. The stuff is powerful, and the magic of the Fey is part of that.”
“If I take money for it—if anyone does—that will render it into a modest quality peat reek. The secret spring would cease to flow. It would never again produce water for the fairy brew. According to tradition, that is.”
“Not true. I have never heard that,” Eldin said.
“Because it is a secret,” Lucy pointed out. “Only our family knows. Not you!”
Quickly Fiona covered the child’s mouth, leaning to whisper to her.
“What do you mean, girl?” Eldin demanded.
