“She gave us something very important,” Annis said, as if claiming victory.
Brogan grinned and nodded. “She let us know she is real and since she is real—”
Annis hurried to finish. “There is a chance the curse can be broken.”
They were almost to the village when Brogan said, “We need to keep this to ourselves. There is no telling what might happen if others learn of it. We also do not know what we will learn ourselves.”
“I agree,” Annis said.
Unease hit them upon their return. Even the MacRae warriors seemed disturbed. Iver and Rudd stood talking while everyone else lingered about.
Brogan was quick to address Rudd when he and Annis reached the two men. “What is it?”
“A raven, my lord,” Rudd said and nodded to a low branch not far from them. “He sat there watching our every move, his black eyes making sure to touch on every one of us. Then his head shot up as if hearing something. He squawked at us, then took flight.”
“A raven is a harbinger of bad things to come,” Iver said and those nearby nodded in agreement.
Rudd kept his voice low. “The men worry, my lord.”
Brogan was not going to take any chances. “We need more men.”
“Aye, we do, my lord,” Rudd said, bobbing his head in agreement. “I can send a man with a message to your father.”
Annis wondered what difference more men would make against a powerful witch, but Brogan’s command seemed to appease Rudd.
“Is today market day at the clan?” Brogan asked.
“I believe so,” Rudd said.
“I will deliver the news to my father myself and see if I can get some craftsmen to return with me. That will give us more experienced hands to help build the village,” Brogan said. “I will take two warriors with me.”
“Aye, my lord, I will see it done,” Rudd said and turned to speak with his men.
“How long will you be gone?” Annis said.
Brogan’s grin bordered on a light laugh. “You truly believe I would go and leave you here on your own?”
“I am not going with you,” Annis said. “Or do you so easily forget my quest?”
Brogan took her arm and walked her a distance away where they could talk privately. “Today we discovered the witch exists and learned there is hope the curse can be broken. And while we are delighted with the discovery those here may not be when they learn of it, for it means a witch does live in the hills. We need to take their mind off that worry. We will take Iver and Una to market and return with items that will put smiles on everyone’s faces. With horses, we will reach my home in a couple of hours. We should be able to return by evening and if we are delayed for any reason, we can leave at sunrise tomorrow and be back in enough time to wander the path once again.”
“You are right,” Annis said. “I am being selfish in my quest. It would do Una good to get away from here even for a short while.”
Brogan took her hand. “You are far from selfish. If it were not for you being here, many in this small group would not survive the approaching winter. Besides, you never know, you may hear something about your sister Elysia or even Bliss.”
Annis’s eyes brightened. “You are right. I never thought of that. And perhaps your father would not mind parting with some cloth so that warm garments can be made for those here.”
“I can see to that and more,” Brogan said, “but we should not delay if we prefer to return before dark.”
Annis tugged at him as she turned to hurry off and he followed, looking forward to the day with her.
“Are you sure we will be welcomed, Lord Brogan?” Una asked as they approached the village that surrounded the MacRae keep.
“Worry not, Una. I will make sure of it,” Lord Brogan assured her.
Annis noticed how stiff he sat his mare and how his eyes turned watchful, and she wondered just how welcome they truly would be.
Brogan led them through the village to the keep and passed the shocked faces, sneers, and whispers that showed no sign of welcome at all, and Annis feared the day would not go as planned.
Lord Balloch stood on the top step of the keep waiting. Brogan had sent one of his warriors ahead to let his father know they approached.
“Stay as you are until I speak with my father,” Brogan said as they came to a stop at the keep.
“Is there going to be a problem?” Annis asked before Brogan dismounted.
“Not in the least,” he assured her and quickly mounted the steps.
“You bring the ones from the village here when I have ordered their banishment?” his father asked, his anger obvious in the tight set of his jaw.