The Condemned Highlander (Highland Intrigue Trilogy 2)

She stopped and turned. He had not moved from where he stood or had he taken his eyes off his men. Yet, he still managed to catch her movement, which proved he kept a steady eye on her. She could not be upset with that. He protected her, which made the quest safer for her.

“Hurry,” she called out, letting him know she had waited long enough.

A few minutes more and he was by her side and took her hand. “I told them to camp that we would not return until morning.” He winked at her. “I want time alone with you since I do not know where our quest will take us from here.”

“I would like that since I feel the same, though after speaking with your father, I believe there is more to what happened all those years ago than we have been told.”

“As usual we think the same,” he said, and they both looked overhead when the raven squawked again as if hurrying them along.

“Lady Aila had two sisters, Gunna and Verbena. Gunna took on the role of a servant to help her sister, what then did Verbena do?” she asked, searching for an answer.

“She was gone by then if my father spoke truthfully. Maybe Verbena did nothing,” Brogan suggested, keeping a keen eye on his surroundings especially since his wife was too caught up in her thoughts to pay mind to anything else.

“That is not possible. Her sister would have been there for her,” Annis insisted.

“Not all sisters are close like you and your sisters.”

“You could be right, but I do not believe so. The three women were peasants and would need to rely on one another and with Aila marrying a noble, she would be able to help her sisters.”

Brogan shook his head. “So, Lady Aila made her sister a servant?”

“Or did anyone know Gunna was Lady Aila’s sister? Your father made no mention of it. He referred to Gunna as a servant,” she reminded and turned wide eyes on him. “Maybe Gunna resided elsewhere and returned when trouble rose to help Aila and she gave the bairn to Verbena, who had already left the area, to raise. That the bairn was given to a childless couple could be nothing more than a ruse to distract.” Her eyes lost their excitement. “Nay, that would be foolish to give the bairn to a woman your father would recognize when they chased after the bairn.”

“Do you think I have all day to wait for you?”

Brogan and Annis looked to see the witch standing in the distance, her tall walking stick gripped tightly in her hand.

Annis left her husband’s side and walked right up to the witch. “Thank you for helping us last night. We are grateful.”

The witch’s annoyance tempered some. “Why do you return so soon to see me? You have a quest to finish.”

“I wondered about something. You did not send me to find Gunna and now I know why.”

“Do you now?” the witch said with a hint of haughtiness.

“I do,” Annis said with a smile that hinted at satisfaction. “She hides with the mercenaries.”

“They can be an evil lot,” the witch warned.

Annis’s thought rolled off her tongue. “Yet she has lasted all these years with them. And what of Lady Aila’s other sister—Verbena—what happened to her? Surely, she helped Lady Aila in some way.”

“She is long gone,” the witch said.

“Oh, I am sorry to hear that.” Tears pooled in her eyes. “That leaves Gunna all alone except for her niece the MacWilliam lass. No wonder she protects the woman. It must be so difficult for her losing her sisters. I would be heartbroken to lose mine.”

“You shed tears too easily, a foolish weakness,” the witch scolded.

Brogan suddenly appeared at his wife’s side. “Tears prove that she has a kind heart and even kinder soul, which this quest proves as well. She does it for the love of others without thought to herself.”

“I did not ask for your thought,” the witch cautioned.

“It matters not to me. I will defend my wife, witch or no witch,” Brogan warned.

The witch’s eyes narrowed. “I have never met people more obstinate than you two.”

“That is good,” Annis said. “It means we will see victory in our quest.”

The witch raised her walking stick and a raven suddenly flew around her head to perch on the top of it. “He will travel with you and do his best to warn you and keep you safe, since you intend to meet with the mercenaries.”

“Do you know why the mercenaries want Annis?” Brogan asked.

“Someone fears Annis will ruin plans long in the making,” the witch said.

“It has nothing to do with the group who wants me, Odran, and Rannick dead?” Brogan asked.

“You need to look closer to find that answer,” the witch advised. “Though, end the curse and the plan will fail.”