“Plans keep one safe, and ye ken verra well I do nae like risks,” I said, stepping through the door.
“Ye are living to survive, and that is nae living at all. Ye deserve a life of happiness.” Her response followed me as I shut the door and strode off to convince Bruce to take me to the MacLeod land and to the Dark Woods to see Morgana. I was going to plead my case of why I’d stolen the goblet the night of Samhain, ask for forgiveness, and beg her to lift the curse. It would take a day to get there, a day to travel to the Kerr Stronghold, and hopefully, Liam and I would be returning to my home together in two days’ time, to spend the sennight before our wedding hunting and feasting, exactly as planned.
“Why the devil would I take ye to the Dark Woods and put myself in the line of Mama and Da’s anger?” Bruce demanded, turning to mount his horse, dismissing my request.
I ground my teeth as I glared at the back of my brother’s head. I’d already explained why, but clearly helping me simply so I wouldn’t lose Liam was not appealing enough for Bruce to risk whatever punishment Da might dole out for his aiding me.
As he mounted, I planned my attack. “If I do nae get this cursed lifted, ye’ll likely be stuck with me living at this stronghold forever.” When Bruce stilled, a smile tugged at my lips, and I pressed forward to drive my point home. “I’ll be the sour aunt to whatever children ye eventually have when ye eventually wed.”
“God help me,” Bruce muttered, turning to face me, his dark eyes narrowed on me.
I clapped, excited. “I kenned hearing I’d be around forever would get ye to want to aid me.”
He pointed a finger at me. “Ye always have a plan, and I’ve nae a doubt that ye thought just what to say to get me to picture ye old, lonely, and unwed.”
I had to bite my cheek not to grin.
“I am too nice for my own good,” he growled.
“Aye,” I agreed, kissing him on the cheek. “Ye are.”
“I have to be back at court in two days,” he said, grasping his reins. “There is nae time to go to the MacLeod Stronghold.”
“That’s all I need,” I assured him. “I have it all planned out. There is time if we leave now. I already wrote a note for Mama and Da and left it where they will find it after we’re gone, so they will nae worry.”
He rolled his eyes. “Of course, ye did. I fear this is a fool’s errand, Murieall, and one that will end with Da screaming at me.”
“I have to try,” I said. “I can nae just sit here while the man I planned to wed goes off and weds another. If I can convince Morgana to lift the curse, I believe Liam’s parents will change their minds. They adore me. Or they did.”
“They still do, lass. It’s a matter of the clans’ needs.” He stared at me long and hard. “What if the witch will nae lift the curse?”
“I will willingly return home.”
“And if she lifts it? What then? I do nae have time to accompany ye to Kerr Stronghold, wait for ye to convince Laird Kerr or nae, and then bring ye back here.”
“Ye’ll nae have to,” I said, whistling to the stablemaster who appeared immediately. “My mount, please, Gunner.”
As he disappeared into the stables, I said, “Liam can bring me back nae matter what his da’s decision.”
Bruce chuckled. “I should have kenned ye’d planned for every outcome.”
“Aye,” I agreed, feeling pleased with myself. “Ye should have.”
“Murieall.”
Bruce’s voice dragged me from sleep.
I blinked, disoriented for a moment. Last I remembered, I was riding my own horse when the voices had risen loud and demanding my attention. Fighting the noise had been especially exhausting. A headache had started immediately, sharper than my earlier one. The pain had split through my skull, and then—nothing.
“Did I black out?” I asked as I straightened from leaning back against Bruce’s chest.
“Aye,” he replied. “’Twas lucky we were riding so close, or ye would have fallen off yer destrier and hit the ground.”
My horse was trotting behind us, tethered to my brother’s destrier. As I took in my surroundings, I realized why he’d woken me. We’d already crossed into MacLeod Clan territory and entered The Dark Woods. The woods rose around us, ancient and waiting. Mist curled low along the ground, coiling around the horses’ legs like grasping fingers. The air smelled different here, like damp stone and cold earth. Something sharp and metallic swirled within it as well.
The voices of the dead stirred immediately, restless, as if they recognized the place. I was tired, so tired, but I dragged up my defenses, repeating a tune I’d learned in childhood. Still, the ghost’s pleas were a low echo beneath the song I replayed in my mind.
Tell my son I loved him, though I did nae show it.
