"Potion evil ugly witch!" His father shouted. "Evil witch ugly potion!"
"Aye, Da. Calm yourself. Have you drunk your tisane this night?" Gavin went to the door. "Crocker! Bring the tisane!"
"Aye, m'laird." The response echoed up from the great hall.
His father continued shouting the four words in various orders.
"Da. Have you seen Dani today?"
His father dropped silent, staring into the bed canopy for a long moment. "Dani," he whispered.
If Gavin had known her name would calm his da, he would've mentioned it sooner.
"Sweet lass."
"She is, indeed," Gavin agreed. "Would you like to see her?"
"See." Da's gaze switched to Gavin with sudden clarity. In that moment, he was so like his old self; Gavin felt he'd been punched in the chest. Would Dani's presence make his father feel better? "See Dani." It sounded like a request.
"I'll go get her. Will you be all right until I return?"
His father nodded.
Saints! Even that was an improvement.
Gavin climbed the steps toward Dani's chamber, then knocked on her door.
She opened it, her gaze fixing upon his in the candlelight.
"Have you eaten?" he asked.
"Not yet. I heard your father yelling. How is he?"
"He is calm now, and he asked for you. Would you be afraid to visit him?"
"No, I'm not afraid."
He took her hand and kissed the back. Her eyes softened upon him.
They proceeded to his father's chamber.
As they drew near the bed, his father's gaze left the canopy and drifted to Dani.
"Hello, Mr. MacTavish. How are you feeling?"
"Call… Da," his father mumbled, unclear.
"He wishes for you to call him Da instead of Mr. MacTavish," Gavin explained.
"Oh, how kind of you. Da it is then." She smiled and blinked rapidly, close to tears. Was it because she missed her own father?
He felt bad she'd been whisked away from her own family—according to her—in another time and place. He believed her, for a journey through time was no more farfetched than his transforming into a hawk.
"Marry… tarry," his father whispered three times.
Not wanting to explain those words, Gavin remained silent.
"What does he mean?" she asked.
