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“I will dae as ye say. I’ll speak tae Niall, but I cannae offer any promises that he will listen. He haes a firm idea of what he believes.”

“Aye, I know. That’s the part of his father in him. But ye hae tae try and make him listen. Ye hae tae open his eyes, please, for the sake of all of us! If ye dinnae, then the spirits wilnae stop until they’ve punished us all. It all rests on yer shoulders, lass. Ye are the only one who can talk tae him now. Remind him of the old ways, please. Try tae convince him that I’m nae just some fool. I know ye understand the way the world truly is. I can tell by yer heart that ye hae an open mind and that ye can commune with nature.”

“I’ll try,” Moira said, nodding to appease Grizel. However, in her heart, she wasn’t entirely sure that she believed what Grizel believed. Was it possible that the spirits were responsible for all this? Convincing Niall of this was going to be challenging, especially because she was going to be speaking without the full force of her belief. But she could not dismiss the prospect entirely, and neither should Niall. He should at least consider the possibility that the spirits are at work, otherwise, things were liable to get worse.

Grizel’s head swayed to the side and she breathed deeply, falling asleep for a moment before waking herself up with a cough.

“Grizel, I think it’s best if ye stay here for the night.”

“Oh nay, lass, I must return home. Perhaps if I gae intae the woods I can talk with the spirits myself and undo what haes been done.”

“But what if the spirits decide tae punish ye as well? I couldnae hae that on my conscience. Please, stay with us the night and wait for me tae talk with Niall. If we need tae gae intae the woods, it’s better that we dae sae taegether.

And I want ye tae stay close just in case we need yer help.” Moira used an imploring tone, and this worked to convince Grizel to stay. Moira helped her up from the chair and led her to the room that she had stayed in on her first night with the Calbraith clan. Grizel seemed satisfied that the wreath was hanging above the bed.

“At least they hae nae forgotten all I hae taught them,” the old woman said, smiling softly before she sank into the bed and rested her weary bones. Moira bid her a good night before she left and returned downstairs, cleaning up the plate that Grizel had left and pondering the matter of this illness that was running through the clan.

There were murmurs and worried whispers in the halls, and Moira wished that there was more she could do. Being in good health herself, she helped the servants as their number had been depleted. Moira knew the mood, for it was one that had taken hold in the Monroe clan more than once.

It was a mood of fear, and it could be as insidious as a plague. People were prone to suspicion and paranoia. Moira had only seen it before an attack, though, and the mood always changed once the battle began because people had an enemy to fight and to focus their anger on. But this illness was different.

There were no soldiers storming the walls of the castle. There were no bandits threatening them. They might as well have been fighting ghosts, and there was only so much Moira could do.

Eventually, Niall came downstairs. He looked weary and haggard. He ran his hand through his hair and puffed out his cheeks.

“How are they?” Moira asked, rushing up to his side as soon as he came to find her. Niall shook his head and wore a somber expression.

“They’re just…they’re nae looking well. Isobel is like Jamie, panting and resting. There’s something in this castle. I can feel it. Some force.” He frowned and curled his fist into a tight ball, before releasing it. “But how can I fight an enemy I cannae see? The healers are daeing their best, but they cannae dae anything tae help. At the moment all they say is that we hae tae wait and hope they’re strong enough tae pull through. But I cannae wait, Moira. I hae tae dae something. I cannae just sit by and let my people die. I cannae watch Jamie and Isobel…” He trailed off, not daring to finish the grim thought.

Moira’s heart went out to him, and she wished there was more she could do. She gnawed at her bottom lip and went over to him, clutching his hand and staring into his eyes imploringly.

Moira could feel the hurt and the anguish bristling upon his skin. The fierce love he had for his siblings was radiant. She liked to think that he would react in the same manner if she was suffering too. Even though she hated the circumstances, she liked the fact that she was seeing his true character emerge.

There had been so many suppositions and assumptions about his character because of the history that existed between their clans, but she could see the real him now, and she was thrilled with the man who was standing before her.

There was nobody else she would have rather loved, but now was not the time to tell him that because she had to put others first.

“We will get through this, Niall. I know we will. Jamie and Isobel will get better, as will everyone else. This will all pass, we just hae tae be strong for them.”

“I’m trying, Moira, I truly am,” Niall spoke quietly. He lifted his gaze, and Moira could see all the sadness in the world interred in those eyes. There were shadows on his face, and he parted his lips to exhale heavily. “It’s just sae hard. My da…he always seemed to know what tae dae. There were never any moments when he failed tae act and now I’m the laird and I feel as though I should know as well…but I’m at a loss.”

“But what can ye dae?”

“I can find the cause of this,” Niall said tersely, his hand clenched into a fist. Moira nodded, sensing the anger, but in her experience, no good decision had ever been made in anger.

“But where would ye start?”

“I dinnae know!” he raised his voice and threw up his hand. Moira was startled, and Niall immediately looked apologetic. Moira knew that his frustration was not directed at her. They had to remember that it was them against the situation rather than against each other. Moira pursed her lips and paced around the room, standing behind a chair. She rested her hands against it and drummed her fingers.

“I haed Grizel in here nae long ago. The poor woman is out of her mind with worry,” Moira said.

“Aye, she’s been out of her mind for a long time,” Niall said, chuckling at his joke.

Moira remained silent, as she didn’t think it was very funny.

“She’s worried, Niall, and she knows a great deal about the land and everything around us. What if she’s right and there haes been a curse placed on us? Given that we know sae little about what’s happening, can we afford tae ignore her warnings?”

Niall shook his head. “Ye sound just like Isobel. Grizel tells stories, that’s all she does. She lives in a world of make-believe. I cannae act as though this clan haes been targeted by a spell. I’m nae gaeing tae believe that spirits and demons are attacking us. How am I supposed tae fight a demon?” he asked.