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“Grizel was…she was always right…the only reason I became this strong was sae that I could fight the monsters she warned us about…”

Moira wondered if Niall had ever confided this in his siblings, or if this was something that only she knew. It felt as though she was close to him, as though she was actually a part of the family, but that feeling only lasted for a moment. It didn’t matter how well she was treated by anyone in the clan but her husband. He was the key, and if he couldn’t forgive her, then she would never be at peace in this place.

Moira left Jamie with much on her mind. While she wasn’t entirely sure what he meant by this huge horse, she didn’t want to leave any lead unturned. Her trip to the well hadn’t shown anything, but perhaps there was something to the loch. It did worry her that Jamie had described something from one of Grizel’s stories, though. Had she been too hasty to dismiss the work of spirits? She decided to go back to the library and consult Grizel’s notes in case there was something similar to what Jamie had described, for there was always the chance that he was still suffering from some delusion of the sickness and his words were the product of a fractured mind.

Before this, however, she stopped in to see Isobel, as the girl’s chambers were on the way to the library. Moira peeked her head around the corner just in case Niall was there. Frankly, she wasn’t sure whether she wanted to see him or not, but for the moment, she decided to err on the side of caution, and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Isobel sleeping alone. After last night, Moira wasn’t sure she had the energy for another battle.

Isobel was flat on the bed, with a thin blanket draped over her. Isobel’s forehead prickled with sweat, and her face was pale, as though all the life was being sapped away by something ethereal. A lump formed in Moira’s throat as she thought about her own mother, and how the woman had become but a shadow of herself. Isobel’s chest rose and fell, and occasionally her hands twitched, but other than that, she was motionless. The fact that Jamie had recovered was a good sign, but Moira couldn’t be certain this would hold true for everyone else. Jamie was stronger than most, and here Isobel looked so weak, with her waif-like features and her slender frame. Would she have the fortitude to fight against this illness? And what of the children in the clan? What of the elderly? No, she could not afford to assume that everyone would be able to wait this out.

Moira took Isobel’s hand gently. It had only been a short time since they had begun to make friends, and yet so much had happened that it seemed an eternity ago.

“I dinnae know if ye can hear me, Isobel, but if there’s any chance then there’s something I want tae say tae ye…I dinnae know what’s gaeing tae happen with me and yer brother. I thought that it was all gaeing tae work out here, but I cannae guarantee it. This marriage…it is more difficult than I first thought. But ye…ye hae made me truly welcome, and I was glad tae be yer friend and yer sister…even if only for a short time. I know it may nae be possible given what the future might hold, but I hope that we can be friends for a long time. Ye are a kind soul, and it was a joy getting tae know ye. I hope that I can find a way tae make ye well again.”

Moira set Isobel’s hand back down and left for the library.

As she made her way to the musty old room filled with all manner of books, Moira wondered where Niall was if he wasn’t with either of his siblings. Sadly, she thought it likely that he was somewhere with his generals preparing for war, to strike at the Monroes and end this short period of peace. Moira hastened her pace, unsure of how many lives depended on what she was doing.

She found Grizel’s notes and opened them on the table, leafing through them wildly in the hope of finding something that was similar to what Jamie had described. Grizel was an eloquent person and had illustrated her notes with depictions of the creatures she described. Many of these pictures made Moira wince as they appeared to have been born from the bowels of horror itself. Just looking at them was almost enough to make Moira lose her mind, but it meant that she did not have to pore through Grizel’s notes for mention of a horse. When she came upon the right page, she clenched her fist in triumph, but then a ripple of fear surged through her.

The illustration was of a huge horse with a coat as dark as night, and eyes like pitted obsidian. As Moira read Grizel’s notes, her skin prickled with fear.

The Kelpie is a dangerous spirit, and one that many have seen by rivers, streams, and even lochs. It looks like a beautiful stallion, and many are the men that have tried to tame it. It can change its shape too, even into a beautiful woman, and many men have tried to tame this as well. By the time they see its feet are hooves, it is too late. Sometimes the mane is made of serpents as well. I believe that the Kelpie saw how men treated animals, especially horses; working them until they dropped, and took the form of one to punish men. Many bodies have been found in these bodies of water, drowned and drenched. The Kelpie takes them and throws them down into the water until they stop struggling. It might look beautiful, but like the other spirits, it has no love for us. It should be avoided at all costs.

Moira gasped. Her hands trembled, and she wondered if magic could really exist. Had Grizel been right all this time?

17

Moira got up from the desk and rushed through the castle, moving so swiftly that she barreled into a number of servants and maids. Most of them had the agility to react to her, but some didn’t, and she called out an apology. By the time she reached Grizel’s chambers, she was panting for breath and her dress was damp with sweat. Wild thoughts swirled around her mind, not the least that Grizel was right! But she had to know more before she took any further action. There was still much to be discussed, but she had to talk with Grizel before anyone else. She was the one person in this clan who might know how to stop this thing before it went any further.

Grizel was awake rearranging some of the flowers in the guest chamber. She turned and smiled as Moira entered.

“Ah, child, a good morning tae ye. Ye look troubled,” Grizel said, her beady eyes twinkling as she cocked her head in much the same manner as a bird.

“Aye, but there’s no time tae tell ye about all my troubles,” Moira said in one breath. Grizel clucked her tongue and shook her head. She pulled Moira down and told her to calm down because she was going to be no good to anyone when she was in such a state.

“I learned a long time ago that there’s no harm in moving at a slow pace,” Grizel said as she leaned forward. “Now, tell me what is on yer mind.”

“I fear ye were right all along,” Moira said. She was relieved her aching legs had some respite. She wiped her brow and gathered herself, although her heart still raced with worry. “I went tae see Jamie this morning and he told me that he saw a huge horse by the loch, and then when I looked at yer notes, I saw a—”

“Kelpie,” Grizel said softly, finishing Moira’s thought. “Aye, terrible beasts they are. I cannae say how many souls hae been lost because they hae been intrigued, either by the majesty of a stallion or the beauty of a woman. Awful, awful things they are, and they hae been in this area for years. Aye, slippery creatures as well. It’s hard tae capture one. They’re like water: ye try tae grab one and it slips out of yer fingers.” She shook her head and clenched her tiny, withered fist as if to demonstrate.”

Moira groaned. “What are we gaeing tae dae? How can we possibly stop a Kelpie?”

Grizel furrowed her brow. “What makes ye think a Kelpie haes done this, lass? Haes anyone been drowned?”

“Well, no, at least, I dinnae think sae, but it all fits, dinnae ye see! Jamie haes seen one and then he got ill, followed soon after by all the others! The Kelpie must be responsible. It’s the only thing that makes sense!” Moira cried, her voice filled with a variety of emotions.

Grizel remained unconvinced.

“I hae never known a Kelpie tae influence things like this, though. Usually, men die because they drown, nae because of a sickness. If this is the work of a Kelpie, then they’ve learned some new tricks.”

“It cannae be a coincidence,” Moira said.

“Aye, on that we can agree, lass. But there is something strange afoot. I would be careful if I were ye. Perhaps the Kelpie is working with another spirit, but I wouldnae get tae close. The Kelpie will take a wee thing like ye just as well as it would any man. Yes, I must think on this.”

Moira nodded and rose to leave. Before she did so, Grizel got up and waddled to the far side of the room, using her cane to support her weight. She picked up a few flowers of differing shades and tied them together in a bracelet, which she then placed on Moira’s wrist. The soft petals tickled her skin.

“It’s nae much, but this will help protect ye. If I were ye, I’d take someone with ye. I cannae think of anything worse than facing a Kelpie alone,” she said as her last words of warning. Moira nodded, but knew that she could take nobody. Grizel was the only ally she had in this place, and given Niall’s reaction when she had suggested that spirits could be the cause, Moira knew that he certainly wouldn’t agree to go with her. The way his mood was now, he would probably think that she was luring him into a trap. She exhaled deeply as she left the room and made her way to the stables, where she took a horse and rode to the loch.