Page 108 of Bond of a Bewitched Highlander

Finnian entered, blue gaze calm but concerned. "What's happening?"

"His lairdship is trying to get up."

"'Tis nay a crime," Brodie growled. Trying to keep his torso straight, he used his legs to push upward into a standing position. He held on to the tall bedpost with his right hand. His head spun a bit more, then things settled down. He blinked and looked around. His legs were a tad weak, but he could walk, surely. He let go of the post and headed toward the window.

His hand bandaged, Finnian hovered, his arms outstretched, as if he would catch Brodie should he go down.

"Do nay even try it, auld yin. I would flatten you if I should fall on you."

"Nonsense, lad. I'm stronger than I look."

Brodie made it to the window and looked out over the land in the gloaming.

"Och! Would you look at this."

He turned slowly to glance back at Torr, standing just inside the door. "Looking good, brother."

"At least I did nay fall on my face."

"You'll be back to training in no time."

"I'll return later, after you eat and dress," Finnian said. He and Torr left.

Why had Ruskin brought his food instead of Elsea? 'Twas for the best. He didn't truly want to see her or talk to her, did he? Mayhap Cat had said something to her, told her she deserved better than his surly treatment.

"Thank you for your help, Ruskin. I'll be fine now," Brodie said, wanting time alone.

"I would feel better, m'laird, if you were sitting."

Brodie muttered a curse and took a seat at the table near the tray. He was tired anyway.

"Call if you need anything. I'll be right outside." Ruskin gave a brief bow and left.

The tray held the damnable haggis and black pudding again, along with bread, butter, fish, root vegetables, a tart, and a few other things. He sipped the ale, trying to settle his stomach. He had no appetite, but he would have to eat if he wished to heal soon and make up for the blood loss. He must continue to help the selkies until the threat was past.

His gaze darted over the table, catching on The Canterbury Tales book.

It reminded him of Elsea. What was she doing? Eating with Cat, Torr, Ma, and everyone else in the great hall? Would she sit beside his empty chair? Maybe he should've allowed her to read the book to him. It might have been a pleasant distraction.

After eating half the food on the tray, he gave himself a sponge bath at the basin, used the soap to wash his hair, and put on clean clothes. Every time he moved, his chest pained him, but he was starting to feel slightly normal again.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come," he called.

Ruskin entered, eyes rounding. "I was going to help you with that, m'laird."

"I did it well enough." The longer he stayed up, the less the dizziness affected him. When his legs grew weak again, he sat down at the table.

Was what Cat had said about Elsea true? Had the witch forced her to betray him by threatening to murder him? If only Elsea would've told him about the threats beforehand, he could've prevented so much heartache.

Mayhap his curse wouldn't even have taken hold if Elsea hadn't betrayed him.

***

IN HER BEDCHAMBER AT Dunrhyne, Wilona sat back on the chair by the crackling fireplace and gazed into the obsidian keek stane. She visualized Brodie because she wished to see what he was doing. He sat at a table in his chamber, talking, but his words made no sense. She couldn't hear the whole conversation, nor see who he was talking to.

What the devil? Irritation brought her out of her trance. Then she remembered, months ago, after Gavin's curse was broken, she could no longer observe him in the keek stane. Now, Torr's curse was broken, and he had been at Farspag. She deduced Brodie was talking to Torr, but Torr's part of the conversation was blocked out. He was shielded from her.