Page 32 of The Highland Curse
“Nay, that knowledge was given tae me in my sleep,” she said, her voice sounding dead-pan with conviction.
Duncan fell silent, remembering too late that she had hinted at the horrific details of her dream. He recalled that night in the cave when she had awoken. At the time she seemed afraid that harm would come to her parents. Now he wondered if there really was something to her fantasies. There was no telling what was happening behind the fortress walls. All he could do was to observe, and not dismiss anything. Unless Fingal wanted to usurp the role of the new laird of Dunnvie, there was no reason why he would injure, or even murder his protector. And as much as Duncan hated to acknowledge it, he knew that greed was a potent motivator for men who sought power. In his travels, he had come across ruthless men who would terminate their own mothers in exchange for prestige and authority. In this case a power hungry cleric would slay his laird.
“Sae what are your voices telling ye now?” he said, letting out an exasperated sigh.
Adrina shook her head, and bent down to touch the earth. “The voices are silent, and I have nay impressions in my mind’s eye at the moment.”
He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. With the sudden storm, and the extraordinary occurrences that happened along the way, he was starting to question his staunch disdain for anything that couldn’t be justified through simple logic.
Ye are a fool, a voice inside berated him. Duncan compressed his lips into a grim line. Fool or not, he couldn’t come up with any other explanation for the strange incidents. As well, he couldn’t determine whether his instincts guided his thoughts, or whether Adrina’s irrationality rubbed off onto him. Perhaps he should just deliver her to the castle gates. Only then could he ascertain what was valid and what was make-believe.
“We cannae wander around in the forest until nightfall,” he said finally. “Soon it will be dark. We either have tae enter through the gates, or find some other way tae get in.”
“I’ll find the hidden entrance,” she said, lifting her chin with stubborn defiance. “I just need time tae think.” She stomped over to a nearby rock and sat down.
Duncan was about to retort when a noise, like the soft rustling of silk, came from the rowan tree above them. When he looked up, he saw the unmistakable black iridescent plumage of a raven. It was perched on the branch, its beady brown eyes peering down at them. Adrina was too busy sulking, and she didn’t appear to notice the bird’s sudden appearance. But was it eavesdropping on their conversation?
Under normal circumstances, Duncan would have dismissed the creature, but the last time they saw a raven, a severe storm had pummeled them. Was the bird simply a bad omen, or was it something else? And if Adrina’s story was legitimate, and Dunnvie truly was enchanted, then did he really want to turn her over to Fingal? But this was her home, his inner voice reasoned. There was no reason for anyone to harm the sweet lass.
The analytical part of him knew better to leave the matter alone. His role was to seek intelligence about Tavon MacGill, not investigate the man’s principal advisor. But it was this new illogical part of him that made him pause. Every time Adrina spoke about the cleric, she seemed visibly shaken. With her fear evident, could Duncan turn his back on her, and allow her to fend for herself? Somehow he didn’t think so. Despite all reason, he had come to care for her. The last thing he wanted was for Fingal to harm her.
He swept his eyes all around them, taking in every single detail of their surroundings. While most of the undergrowth had died off, he saw a tiny break in the ground cover. This place wasn’t as secluded as he first thought. Moving to the partially bald area, he bent down to thread his fingers through the vegetation, and discovered a faint trail. Though not used recently, he was certain that this path was made by a man. His eyes followed the branches along the side, and he observed old cuts that were now healed and knotted. At one time this path was well frequented.
He stood up and brushed his hands together to rid himself of the dirt. “Follow me,” he said.
Since she had no other suggestions, she followed him without argument.
The flutter of wings came again, and he pulled her quickly behind him. If his hunch was correct, then they would stumble upon a possible shelter at the end of the old trail. A few minutes later, an aged dilapidated shack came into view. The thatched roof of the building had caved in long ago, and the moss and numerous saplings pierced through its broken center.
Adrina hesitated and stared at the ramshackle cottage, her mouth hanging open.
“Och, I had forgotten about this place,” she said. “The auld woodcutter used tae store the tree logs in the cottage until he had help carrying them inside the castle. However the man has since retired from his post.” Her eyes lit with triumph. “I’ve visited this place many times. And seeing this shack proves that the tunnel exists.”
Duncan shrugged. “We’ll have tae get ye inside the castle another way.”
“But the passagewayishere somewhere,” she said unhappily. She then turned, her wide eyes looking at him. “I’m nae losing my mind, I swear it.”
But Duncan brushed past her as if he didn’t hear a word she said. Nay, she wasn’t losing her mind, but she realized that from his perspective, she still appeared as if she was a mad woman. But she knew this place. When she first came upon the old woodcutter, she had spied on him. But he knew that she watched him, and called her out. It soon became a game for her wait for him in the shed. And when he returned from his work, he would tell her fascinating stories about wood nymphs, brownies and fae creatures. “I have yet tae meet one, ye ken,” he had told her. “But ‘tis certain that they watch over me.”
She had enjoyed their secret meetings, and she believed that he liked her company as well. But as she grew older, it became more difficult for her to leave the castle without being detected, so her adventures outside the castle walls dwindled. Still, she would come across her old friend in the great hall during meal times. And it was then that they exchanged warm, secretive smiles. But that all changed in the past few months. The old woodcutter now looked at her with suspicion and fear, and any friendliness they shared had withered away to nothing.
Adrina smoothed her palm over the palfrey’s mane, the gesture calming her, and reminding her of her present circumstance. It wasn’t good to dwell in the past since it always left her feeling unhappy. At present, she had the elixir from Lady Venora, so she could make things right. And then once again, the people she loved would return to normal, and love her in return.
Mentally pitching aside thoughts of the future, she drew in a deep breath. She was finally home. It was now just a matter of getting into the castle without going through the secret passage. Unfortunately at the moment, the task of getting into the fortress seemed impossible.
She lifted her hand to her shoulder, squeezing it in an attempt to release the tension there. Closing her eyes, she focused on retrieving her lost memory. But it was as if a thick cloud had descended upon her mind, obscuring everything. How was it possible that she couldn’t remember the location of the hidden corridor when she had exited from it on numerous occasions?
Adrina started to place her foot in the stirrup when she paused. The sack that contained her possessions hung at the side of the horse, but for some reason there was a dark spot at the bottom of the bag. Her mouth went dry as fear seized her. Slowly she placed her foot back on the ground. Reaching for the sack, she rummaged through its contents. All the while her heart pounded in her chest. She already suspected what that dark patch meant, but she had to confirm it. And when her fingers encountered the sticky substance and then the empty vial, her worst fears were realized.
She swallowed the lump in her throat as a half sob escaped from her lips.
“The potion is gone,” she said, holding the empty bottle in the air to show Duncan. The cork stopper at the top of the bottle was useless, as something had chipped away at it. While the hole was small, it was enough to allow the liquid to escape.
Duncan was scanning the trees, and turned at her cry of dismay. “Are ye certain ‘tis all gone?” he asked, surprised.
“Aye, every last drop.” Her eyes started to blur. “’Tis too late tae return tae Tancraig Castle, and obtain another bottle of the elixir. Lady Venora says that the mixture was difficult tae make. How long will it take tae brew a second batch? By the time I return home again, my parents might be dead — if they arenae dead already…”
“Listen, Adrina,” he said, gripping her shoulders.
