Page 49 of Bond of a Bewitched Highlander

Finnian drew back and eyed him as if he were mad. "Neither an owl nor a bat looks like Wilona either."

Brodie muttered a curse. She couldn't be, could she? "On our way here, a giant sea eagle approached." He paused, reliving the memory.

"And?" Finnian waited.

"It attacked me on the birlinn, scratched my back and tried to drag me off. I almost lopped its head off."

"Aha!"

"Was it her?"

"I would wager 'twas. She has shifted into many animals, including a loch monster, a bear, a wolf, any bird you can think of, and a midge."

Brodie nodded, for Gavin and Torr had told him of their experiences.

"Has the witch been hiding in plain sight?" Finnian's wise blue eyes grew piercing. "Have a think on it, lad."

It sickened Brodie to imagine he might have bedded the witch for a month or longer. Couldn't be! He refused to believe it until he had proof.

"Can you use the keek stane to see who is kidnapping the selkies?" Brodie asked.

"Nay. I must visualize the person I wish to spy on." Finnian crouched in front of the hearth and dipped steaming water from the small three-legged cauldron into a wooden cup.

"'Tis nay helpful." Brodie muttered a frustrated curse and paced.

Finnian rose and perched on the settle. "'Haps I will have a dream or a vision this night where all will be revealed."

"'Twould be my fondest wish," Brodie said in a dry tone.

"You doubt me, Chief?"

Brodie shrugged. He knew naught for a certainty.

"Torr doubted too, but in the end, he witnessed the truth of it." The old man grinned.

The bitter herbal scent from the steeping tisane reached him. "She remembered one thing today—her father's death."

"I hope she took it well."

"She was devastated, but she will be all right." Brodie hated that she had to experience the fresh grief all over again. 'Haps he should've revealed the truth in a gentler way.

"'Tis an encouraging sign that she remembered something, at least."

"I'm hoping you can find a way to help her recover all her memories."

Finnian nodded. "I'm doing my best. Earlier, I sent a maid with a tisane for head pain and to help her sleep." He motioned toward the wooden cup sitting on the hearth. "Now, I'm steeping a different tisane to reduce the swelling of her injury. I had to consult my book and get some ingredients from the local herbalist. I did not bring everything from Blacktower, you ken. 'Twould require a dozen packhorses."

"Are you certain 'tis safe?" Brodie asked.

Finnian's bushy white brows shot up. "Aye, the herbs are safe. I smelled and tasted all of them, verifying their identities. Do you mistrust me?"

"Nay." But Brodie recalled Torr mentioning how some of Finnian's potions had made him violently ill.

Finnian pointed at him. "You see, lad, you do care about her." He grinned within his flowing white beard.

"Just because I wish her to survive your brew does nay mean I crave marrying her!"

Finnian cackled.