She lay the keek-stane aside, stamped across the floor, and opened the door. Once Alpin was inside the room, she slammed the door for privacy. "I'll tell you what happened," she seethed. "Torr MacElrath and the MacCain hussy were discussing destroying his curse and Brodie MacCain's. Gavin must have notified them about what happened to him and how he defeated the curse."
"The bastard," Alpin gritted.
"My plan was to use Torr to lure Gavin away from all his guards so we would have a clear path of killing him and his new bride."
"'Haps you could force Torr to write a missive to Gavin, asking him to come and assist."
"'Haps, but he would bring all his guards." Wilona ground her teeth, then thought of an idea. "Along the trail, you could hide behind a boulder and shoot him with an arrow. Before the guards find you, I'll turn you into a bird, and you can escape."
Alpin grinned. "'Tis a grand plan, but his father still lives. He would become chief again instead of me."
"You would have to kill him too."
"Easier said than done. I've tried before."
"If we could lure Gavin, his wench, and his father to one location, you might kill all three."
"Aye, but again, 'twill nay be easy. We need Torr to lure Gavin out."
"Very well. First, we must go and see what Torr is about and stop the meddling lass."
***
CATRIONA KNOCKED ONthe thick oak door of Finnian's lair. After a moment, he opened it, wearing his spectacles, and allowed her entrance. "Aye, lass?" he asked impatiently. The window was open, and a strange smoky smell wafted through the place.
Glancing around at the many shelves, she tried to take in the dozens or hundreds of bottles and jars filled with mystery liquids or powders, along with various apparatuses she knew not the names or purposes of.
"Sorry to interrupt your work, Finnian. I wondered... do you ken if there is a love potion that could cause Elsea to fall in love with Brodie again? Or, when I see him, one that could make Brodie fall in love with Elsea?"
Finnian frowned, thought for a moment, then scratched his thick white beard. "My mother had one that she handed out on occasion. She was a healer, and when I was a lad, I would hide and listen to her talking to the women of the village. Many of them sought such a potion. Years later, after I was grown, I asked her for the recipe and wrote it down."
Excitement wound through Cat. "Did the potion work?"
He shrugged. "Many weddings were held every June, so it must have. I've nay mixed any or dispensed it myself."
"Could you make one that I could take along and give to Elsea? Torr has agreed to help me find her. We leave on the morrow."
"Aye, I suppose I could." Finnian sighed as if utterly uninspired by the idea. "I should have it ready in the morn."
Cat thanked him and left. Excited by the idea of extra magical help, she hurried across the great hall.
Was Torr avoiding her today? She hadn't seen him since that morn. He'd said he had work to do before they started their fool's journey to find Elsea.
'Twas not a fool's journey at all, and she disliked his pessimistic outlook. She would change his mind... about the mission and about her.
Through the narrow window, she noticed him striding across the bailey. Her heart rate sped up every time she glimpsed him. She rushed out the door, trying to think of an issue to discuss with him—some detail about the trip...
"Do you have a horse I can ride?" she called.
Pausing, Torr turned. "Aye. You can ride Rosie."
Cat hastened down the steps toward him, appreciating his stunning good looks, the way his broad, muscular shoulders filled out the doublet. "Oh, I'm glad. I was hoping we wouldn't have to walk."
His face took on a disgruntled expression. "There's a matter I must talk to you about before our journey." He headed toward the stables.
"Oh? What is it?" Feeling apprehensive, she followed him.
"'Tis about the curse," he muttered.
