The Condemned Highlander (Highland Intrigue Trilogy 2)

Annis waited patiently, though eager to hear more as he paused to scoop up some of the cabbage with a chunk of bread.

Nolan wiped his mouth on his worn wool sleeve before he continued. “I was relieved when the mist began to fade. I feared it would swallow me live it was so thick.” He trembled and gripped the bowl again. “That’s when I saw the raven perched on a low branch, his beady black eyes staring right at me, silent as can be. I kept a wide berth as I went to walk around it. It squawked and I stilled, and the bird turned its head slowly. I didn’t want to look where his beady eyes focused, but when he turned his black eyes on me again and turned his head once more, I knew it was a command, and I turned my head.” He paled. “She stood there swathed in all black, gripping a walking stick as tall as herself, strange symbols carved into it. Her hood was drawn over part of her face, but a cloud partially covered the moon that night making it difficult to see clearly.”

He shook his head slowly and Annis wondered if he even knew he shook it.

“‘I’m lost’ came out of my mouth, though I didn’t know why I said it. She told me I was treading on her land.” He suddenly hugged himself. “I apologized over and over, fearful of what she might do to me. She raised her stick and warned me that if I ever happened upon her home again…” He paled and his whole body trembled as did his words when he spoke again. “She told me she would turn me into one of her minions—the ravens that serve her so well.”

A tremble ran through Annis. Was the witch that powerful? Could she turn a human into a bird? Did she even want to find out? Bliss. She was doing this to save Bliss.

His eyes turned wide. “Then she parted the clouds overhead to reveal a full moon and it lit a path in front of me. She ordered me to go and never return. I ran as fast as my legs would go and kept running until I collapsed. I rolled on my back, breathless, and fear struck me as I looked up at the sky and saw a half moon. I didn’t know if the witch had used her evil magic to force the moon to turn full or if more time had passed than I realized. Or if it truly had been nothing more than a dream.”

Annis’s flesh prickled along her arms, and Garda’s strong shudder drew her attention even though the woman had heard the tale many times before.

It took Annis a moment to ask, “Can you tell me where this was that you encountered her?”

Nolan shook his head. “I don’t know. I found myself in a village, if it could be called that there were so few dwellings and people. I was on my way here after taking a message to Lord Lochlann from Lord Balloch when I woke from a drunken stupor in the small village. I did recall meeting someone on the road who had shared his ale with me, much more ale than I had realized. I figured I made my way to the village and collapsed. I was given directions to return home and must have gotten lost. I thought myself lucky after my encounter with the witch to find myself on the right path and didn’t waste any time in getting home.”

“Did either lord learn of your encounter?” Annis asked.

Garda responded to that. “That they did, and Nolan was warned to stop spreading such nonsense. That’s why he now keeps the nonsense to the village.”

“Yet you tell me,” Annis said.

“Only to warn you. To make you see what you will face if you dare such an encounter with the witch,” Nolan cautioned.

“I appreciate the warning, but my sister’s life depends on me meeting the witch,” Annis said. “This village you woke in, can you tell me how to get there?”

He nodded. “Aye, I can, but they are a strange lot. You would be wise to be cautious.”

“That I will do,” Annis assured him.

The witch was discussed no more, and Nolan left right after he finished his second bowl of soup. Shortly after, Garda sought her narrow bed and Annis made herself comfortable on the earth floor. She thought sleep would be difficult, her thoughts on what Nolan had told her, but a sound slumber claimed her as soon as she closed her eyes.

The next morning Garda offered her some bread and cheese to take along with her and wished her luck.

“I truly do pray that you can find a way to end this terrible curse that has inflicted so much pain and heartbreak on so many,” Garda said and hugged Annis. “May the forest spirits keep you safe on your quest.”