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“The sickness comes and goes,” Olivia said as the tension eased a bit the moment they entered the great hall.
“I dae ken of a tea that will help wit’ that,” he said with a smirk. “I shall make it for ye, to help ease things a bit.”
“There is nay need for ye to go out of yer way on my account,” Olivia said feeling the shadow in her mind grow like smoke covering the dark sky.
Sionn smiled as he followed her into the kitchen. “It’ll be nay trouble at all. Sit, and relax a bit. I’m certain yer much like I am now, slow goin’,” he said as Olivia watched him shuffle to the cabinet and rummage through the dried herbs.
“Ah, here it is,” Sionn said pulling a small glass container off the shelf.
“This really isnae necessary,” Olivia said as she noticed Molly rushing to get water.
“Nonsense,” Sionn said, as he turned back to face her. “Yer carryin’ the next Laird, after all.”
Olivia sat, watching Sionn as he sprinkled herbs into the pot on the fire. Steam rose off the pot like ribbons. The smell caused her nose to wrinkle as she breathed in.
“Now be careful,” Sionn said as he handed her the cup of tea. “Daenae want to burn yerself.”
Olivia took the cup and stared at the contents a moment. She drew the cup to her lips and took a sip. The bitterness made her stomach twist and turn. Slowly, Olivia’s head grew faint and dizzy. She glanced at the cup in her hand and tried to shake off the sleepiness that consumed her.
“What did ye put in my tea?” she mumbled as she felt her head drop to the table and all went black.
* * *
Conner pushed his horse faster through the field. With the wind howling in his ears it almost sounded as if he could hear Olivia screaming for him. The cries nearly broke his heart as he tried to push aside his terror.
She’ll be alright. Olivia is surrounded by loyal guards and faithful servants who love her. She’ll be there, I ken it. I’m just bein’ paranoid.
Conner flew past the guard tower and instantly his heart sank as he noticed no one was patrolling the tower. There was a heaviness that threatened to drive him into the ground the closer he got to the castle. Swallowing hard, he jerked on the reins.
Where is everyone?
Sliding off the saddle, he rushed into the castle. “Olivia!”
Conner’s voice bounced off the walls and filled the empty rooms. The pressure in his chest was nearly too much for him to bear. It was as if every ounce of his strength drained from him as he moved through the entranceway. His eyes shot to the stairs as he tried to hold onto the last thread of hope.
Ascending the steps two at a time, Conner tried to keep a level head. He tried to come up with some reason why Olivia wasn’t answering and why there were no servants busily going about there day. But no matter what lies he told himself, there was no hiding the fact that his home felt like a graveyard, somber and empty.
A low muffled cry caught his attention as he passed by Sadie’s room. Without hesitating, Conner pushed through the room and gasped to find several of the servants hogtied and trapped within the room. Rushing to Bradley’s aid, Conner pulled off the cloth gag and proceeded to untie the servant’s hands.
“What happened?” Conner demanded.
“Sionn, he has an army,” Bradley gasped. The moment Conner freed Bradley, the two of them proceeded to untie the five others bound together.
“There was nay army,” Amiee said as she rubbed her wrists. “Only five men.”
“Where did they go?” Conner demanded as he found his heart tightening.
“I daenae ken,” Bradley answered. “The last thin’ I remember is bein’ clubbed over the head with a candlestick.”
“And we were in the kitchen,” the others said.
“Did anyone see Sionn?”
“Aye,” one of the servant girls answered. “He had the lady wit’ him.”
Conner’s heart sank like a ship in the middle of a storm. Exhaling sharply, he locked his attention on the young maid.
“Tell me,” Conner ordered as his hands darted to her arms. “What happened?”
