"Come, lass." Finnian waved her forward. "I've glimpsed the future."
Excited, she jumped up and scurried across the hall toward the laboratory.
"Wait a minute!" Torr roared and shot to his feet. "I deserve to hear what you're saying!"
"You'll know soon enough, lad." Finnian slammed the door after Cat and barred it.
Torr pounded a fist upon the thick wood.
"He can hear us, you ken," Cat said. "He has keen kelpie hearing."
Motioning, Finnian headed toward the back corner and a smaller door.
She followed into what must have been a dressing room at one time. Now 'twas filled with shelves, floor to ceiling. Stacks of books, scrolls, and a multitude of objects and artifacts. She wondered what these strange things were but was too curious about what he'd seen in the keek-stane to bother with them.
Finnian closed the door. "'Twill be more difficult for him to hear us now."
"Did you truly have a vision of the future?" she asked.
"I believe so. But 'tis hard to explain. Keep in mind this is the first time I've used a keek-stane." He kept his voice quiet. "I did indeed see your face as the lass who will shatter Torr's curse."
A thrill shot through her, and her mouth dropped open. "In truth?"
"But then your image became blurry and indistinct," Finnian said.
"What? Nay!" Her emotions shifted so quickly pain gripped her. "What does that mean?"
He shrugged. "I have no notion. 'Haps it means you could destroy the curse, but there are obstacles. You both must overcome these to be victorious."
She nodded and released a breath. She knew all was not yet balanced and aligned. "Very well. But why do you not want Torr to know?"
"Because he'll fight against it, trying to control his destiny. He's a rebel to the core. And stubborn." Finnian opened the closet door and headed toward his work table in the larger room.
Cat followed. "What else did you see? What of the woman who will break Brodie's curse?"
Finnian shrugged and busied himself with the papers on the table. Why was he ignoring her?
"Finnian?" she prompted.
"Pray pardon, lass, but I can reveal naught more."
"Why?"
"We're nay meant to manipulate other people's destinies."
"I'm but trying to help," she said.
"'Tis nay your place. You are to help Torr."
"Gladly. But... did you see a woman for Brodie?"
"Aye, if she will accept him, and if he will accept her. You must understand, lass, people have free will. Fate and destiny exist, but if people make different choices, 'tis all for naught."
Cat ground her teeth. She had hoped for more definite answers. "How do we find Brodie's future bride and bring her to Farspag Tower?"
Finnian sighed. "You cannot. She must find her way there."
"Blast!" Cat didn't have that much patience. She wanted to make things happen quickly.
