Page 75 of Bond of a Bewitched Highlander

"All selkies? Including you?"

He shrugged and closed the door. "Probably. I visited the selkies this morn, and they send their gratitude for freeing the females."

Warmth filled her. "They are most welcome. I'm glad I could help."

"You can meet them if you wish. I'm going to take Finnian out on the galley so he can keep an eye on them in the keek stane."

"What's a keek stane?"

"A scrying stone that belonged to the witch. She used it to spy on Torr, Gavin, and me. Torr and Cat took it from her to reduce her powers. Now, Finnian uses it for good."

"Oh, I see." She had no idea what sort of magical powers Finnian possessed, but she thought him a benevolent soul.

Brodie paced toward the window, then back. "Though it pains me to admit it, I'm thinking you were right about Margaret. She is likely Wilona MacRae."

Finally, he believed one thing she'd said. She was speechless for a moment. "What caused you to realize this?"

"I returned to the cave this morn, and she wasn't there. She was nowhere to be found on Ròncreag, but her clothes remain in the cave. If she'd left on a galley, she would've worn the clothes. As well, the selkies told me their sealskins and swords were blown away in the wind during the raid."

"Swords... blown away?" Elsea tried to visualize such a thing. "The wind was nay that strong on the island."

He shook his head. "The witch had to be there, performing her tricks."

Remembering a similar detail, Elsea frowned. "When I was in the cave and you had gone outside, I pulled one of my knives on her because she was trying to bash in my head with a rock."

"Why did you not tell me this?" he demanded.

"We were discussing other things, and I've only just now thought of it. Anyway, an invisible force grabbed my sgian dubh, yanked it from my hand, and flung it away."

"The damnable harridan," he seethed.

"And then, I threw a rock at her, but it veered off course and hit the firepit. She kept vanishing and reappearing and muttering strange phrases."

Brodie shook his head, his dark glare shifting about the chamber. "Well, she's obviously helping the blackguard earl to abduct the selkies. She stole the females' sealskins so they couldn't shift, then she used her twisted powers to tie them up. She disarmed the males and bound most of them as well."

"Saints. What's in it for her?"

"Money, most likely."

The witch and Talnaroch had known each other a long time, but Elsea didn't want to bring that up now and enrage Brodie again over her betrayal.

"Well, I thank you for bringing back my dirk. It means a lot." She unsheathed the dagger and laid it on the table to dry. She would have to clean off the salt residue.

"I'm glad they found it."

What had Brodie done with the dirk she'd given him as a betrothal gift? Had he thrown it away or sold it?

"The weather is better today," he said. "If you're up to it, I'd like to set sail along the coast and look for the knave's castle."

"Aye. My head does nay pain me as much."

"The men are preparing the galleys." He moved toward the door. "We'll leave after the midday meal."

***

BRODIE WAS GLAD TO see that Finnian did not need any assistance descending the cliff steps toward the shore using his carved wooden staff. The man was agile for his age.

"Do you think the witch will attack as a sea eagle again?" Elsea asked, standing beside him.