"Catching the interest of highwaymen is naught to be pleased about." He turned away, trying to smother his lust.
"We were safe in our travels. Anyway, what are you doing living here instead of Castle Dubhuisge."
"'Tis a long story," he muttered, his mood darkening. "Would you care to break your fast?"
Cat's eyes lit up. "We would appreciate it. We had naught but bread, cheese, and water during our journey."
He approached the servants' stair that led down into the kitchen. "Maude! Bring up bannocks, porridge, and ale if you please. We have two guests." He again faced them. "What is this news you bragged about earlier?"
"Did you receive a missive from Chief Gavin MacTavish?"
"Nay." Torr had heard naught from Gavin in several months. "Why do you ask?"
"He sent one to Brodie. And since Brodie's been gone a fortnight at least, I read it." She held out a piece of folded paper. "Gavin said he sent you one."
Torr took the paper and read....The curse that afflicts us can be broken, and in my case, it has been broken. I am now a man whole again with no remaining ill effects from Wilona MacRae's evil curse. The requirement is an exchange of deep love and unwavering trust. So, you must find your soulmate.
Wilona and her accomplice, my cousin Alpin MacTavish, are headed north. I am also sending this missive to Torr. Keep watch for them. They may try to harm you or your clan.
"Is this genuine?" Torr examined the split red wax seal. Indeed, it had been stamped with Gavin's seal ring, and the handwriting appeared to be his. Saints! Gavin had been able to defeat his curse? 'Twas indeed grand news and what Torr craved most. He reread the missive.Love... trust... soulmate? Torr scowled. Where in blazes would he obtain these things? As a third son, he had little reason to marry.
"Brodie was nowhere to be found, so he's nay read the missive yet," Cat said. "He's off with the other selkies at Ròncreag, or lord knows where. We must help him destroy his curse. Brodie needs to return and lead our clan. We grow weaker each day. And he can prevent me from having to marry the horrible MacPeter chieftain."
A sickening and painful feeling rose up within Torr at this news. "MacPeter? You mean Long Nose John MacPeter?"
"Indeed. My mother and the clan elders will force me to wed him soon unless someone can prevent it. I detest the toad. He is vile and probably a murderer."
"You ken him well, I see. But, according to this—" Torr rattled the paper. "—ending the curse will be neither quick nor easy."
"Nay, but we must find Brodie's soulmate."
Torr snorted and shook his head. The lass lived in a fantasy land. "And how are you proposing we do that?"
"You will help me find Elsea MacAuley and convince her to return to Brodie."
Torr grimaced. "Are you mad, then? Brodie would string us both up. Last I saw him, he said he never wanted to see her again. 'Tis clear she has naught but loathing for him, or she would've never betrayed him and run off with that scoundrel."
"The curse caused her to do that. And I've heard rumors her lover sent her back home, so she is free." Cat looked too eager by far. "Elsea is related to your mother's clan, is she not? You must know where she resides."
"She's a distant cousin." Torr shrugged. "Still, Brodie will nay wish to see her. She would never regain his trust."
"'Tis worth a try. Our clan's future is at stake. My future is at stake." Cat's blue eyes burned into him, urging him.
He had never met a lass with so much fire in her veins. He had to admit, over the past year, he had lost much of his enthusiasm and joy for living. Could Cat reignite that spark for life? 'Twas too much to hope for, wasn't it? The curse had driven him down. His clan had all but ousted him. He couldn't perform his role within the clan, which he wished to do above all.
What the lass proposed—finding Brodie's soulmate—was naught but a fantasy. Brodie would have to find his own bride.
"Just steal Brodie's sealskin when he takes it off," Torr said. "'Tis the way to trap a selkie on land."
"I've tried to find it, but he hides it well... underwater somewhere. Anyway, he's miserable as a human as long as the curse is in force. He told me he yearns for the sea desperately and cannot stop obsessing over it when he's in human form and on land."
Torr nodded. He did not feel the same way, but when he shifted into a kelpie, he craved the cold water of the loch. 'Twas like his whole being was parched and overheated. He near went mad until he leapt into the refreshing cool water and swam for several minutes.
Cat eyed him curiously. "You're cursed too, aye?"
Torr nodded, hating the direction this conversation was going.
"How?" She lowered her voice. "Are you a selkie?"
