The cottage was in terrible condition, but its thin walls allowed us to hear every word as Kip burst inside without knocking.
“Grier, ye’ve arrived just in time. I need yer help most urgently.”
I wanted to scream in response to the rage that built inside me at the sound of Grier’s voice, but her tone echoed surprise, and it gave me hope that Kip’s plan just might work.
“What’s happened?”
“’Tis Laird MacNeal. He’s been attacked by one of his servants and tied up in a tower. I canna stop his bleeding.”
“Have ye called for a healer?”
Kip played his part wonderfully. His voice never faltered, and his story never slipped as she questioned him.
“There is no time for that, lass. Only magic will save him, and Morna doesna possess the skills to aid him. If ye are worried that someone will learn of yer magic, ye needn’t be. I killed the servant that harmed him. Only Morna is with him now.”
I could hear Grier gathering things inside, and Mary reached over to squeeze my hand. Whispering so quietly that it was barely above a breath, Mary spoke, “’Tis almost time. Are ye ready to see him?”
“No, but as long as ye are by my side, I will be fine.”
From inside, I heard Jerry’s voice for the first time. “Do ye need me to go with ye?”
“No.” There was such command in the way she said it that I knew Jerry would object to her ordering him around. His silence was all the proof I needed that something was terribly wrong with him. “Which tower is he in, Kip?”
“The west tower. I’ll lead ye there.”
“No, ye stay here with Jerry. Ye would only slow me down if ye came. Doona leave here until I return.”
I held my breath as I watched her leave. Once Kip believed it safe, he called us inside.
* * *
It would’ve been so much easier if he’d looked different—if his eyes appeared spelled or if he’d not recognized me. What made it so much more painful was that he looked exactly the same, and he knew who I was immediately. He simply didn’t care.
“Morna, Mary, what are ye doing here? Ye should have entered with Kip. I’m sure Grier would’ve loved to have seen ye.”
It was such a ridiculous question—a ridiculous statement—I couldn’t even bring myself to respond to him.
Fortunately, Mary found herself far less speechless than I. She marched right over to him and grabbed his head between both of her hands.
“Ye listen to me, ye damned fool. What is the matter with ye? How can ye speak to her so plainly after what ye’ve done to her? Doona ye remember that ye love her?”
“Morna?”
The confusion in Jerry’s voice sounded entirely genuine.
Mary shook him a little more violently than was necessary.
“Aye, Morna. O’course Morna. Do ye really mean to tell me ye doona remember loving her?”
Understandably, Jerry pulled away from her. As he approached, my entire body went still.
“What is she going on about, lass? I did love ye, but I love ye no longer. I thought everyone knew by now.”
Nothing could’ve wounded me more. He remembered everything. She’d simply changed his feelings entirely.
Kip was in no mood to dawdle. He knew it would take Grier no time to realize she’d been tricked.
“I doona believe the castle is enough distance, lass. We must take him with us.”
