'Slud. He wanted to buck and toss her onto the rocks, but his body would not obey such a thought.
"Come now, quicken your pace, Torr. I wish to arrive home before sundown."
***
AN HOUR AFTER SUNRISE, Catriona searched the tower again for Torr—his bedchamber and the kitchen. Saints! He never arrived this late. She felt sick with worry. She'd already checked the stables.
"Where the devil is he, Finnian?" Cat hurried across the great hall, trying to keep her feet from tangling in the rushes.
The old man frowned and returned to his laboratory.
"Finnian?"
"A moment, lass. I'll consult the keek-stane."
"Blast!" She was too impatient.
Another strange thing she and Aggie had noticed that morn—a large hank of her hair was missing. She hadn't cut it. And some of her clothes were gone. Who had been there, stealing her things?
How could she have slept through someone lopping off a significant chunk of her hair?
Had the witch done it? She must have. A chill coursed over Cat's body.
Far more importantly, she must find Torr.
She opened the tower's exit door and scanned the bailey's broken walls and cobblestones. She rushed out to the stables. All was quiet and calm except for Rosie and Hercules nickering to her. Finnian had sent the stable lad to the main castle to see if Torr was visiting his brother. 'Twas doubtful; Torr seldom ventured to Castle Dubhuisge.
"Something terrible has happened. He would be here by now," she muttered, going into the bailey again.
"Torr?" she called several times, scanning the heaps of broken rocks from the ruined parts of the castle. She trotted down the hill toward the loch. Nothing moved except the water gently lapping the shore. "Torr! Where are you?"
Please, God, help me find him.
"Lass!" Finnian yelled, his voice echoing from the distant bailey.
Had he found Torr?
Lifting the hem of her arisaid off her boots, she dashed up the hill toward the castle.
"Lass! There you are!" Finnian motioned her into the great hall.
"What is it?" She breathed so hard from the exertion she could barely get the words out.
He shook his head, his eyes dark and troubled. "I saw in the keek-stane that Torr has been captured."
"Nay!" Cat gasped. Her chest felt as if someone had dropped a giant rock onto it. "By the witch? How is that possible?"
"I cannot see Wilona MacRae. She is likely using a cloaking spell, but we must assume 'tis her. Torr is still in kelpie form and wearing a magical bridle. He is completely under her control."
"Are you certain?"Please, God, nay. Do not let it be so.
"'Tis what I saw."
She didn't doubt him. Besides, what other explanation could there be for Torr's disappearance, plus her missing clothing and cropped hair?
She gasped. "The hag tricked Torr into thinking she was me! That's why she stole my hair and clothes."
Finnian nodded. "Most likely."
