“Don’t hesitate. Change and get out of here.” I stayed where I was. My heart was pounding. Yes, it could still pound, but slowly. “Now!”
“I can’t leave you.” Flo backed up until she could grip my hand. “I can shift into a huge bird and pull you up with me.”
“And make the local villagers go mad when they see us flying over their heads? Forget it, Flo. I’m staying here. Go!” I pushed her away. The next roar made my hair stand on end. “This bear won’t hurt me. I swear it. I know who this is.”
She looked at me then nodded. “If you’re sure.” She changed into a blue bird and flew away, toward the castle.
“All right, you’ve had your fun. Now show yourself.” I put my hands on my hips. Really, wasn’t I allowed any freedom?
“You have been expressly forbidden from roaming outside without a guard, yet here you are.” Fergus shook himself. Valdez had done the same thing after a shift.
“I see Jeremiah has been talking to you.” I turned and continued toward the beach. Let him chase me. I was furious. I hated being treated like a naughty child. I had been scared witless at my first sight of that huge monster. Then I’d caught his scent. I’d spent many hours travelling with Fergus in a small wagon when we’d left London for Edinburgh. That had made me too familiar with him not to recognize his smell immediately.
“Valdez spoke to me as well.” Fergus stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. “When I saw your bodyguard enjoying the evening meal and you nowhere in sight, I had a suspicion that you were up to something.” He looked tired, as if his new duties as Jeremiah’s trusted man in charge of the castle were wearing on him. “Gloriana, why are you determined to put yourself in harm’s way?”
“I am not.” What was the point in even talking about this? I laid my hand over his. “Have I thanked you for coming when we called? It means so much to me to have Maggie here.”
“She is happier away from Dollar.” He squeezed my hand then stepped back. “I am always glad to work for Jeremiah. Don’t ever doubt it.” He kept pace with me when I continued walking. “I regret that my family made so many demands on my wife that she felt unwelcome in my home. Marrying a mortal wasn’t something I planned on, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I love Maggie. And our daughter…” His smile changed his face from plain to handsome. “She has stolen my heart.”
“Mine as well.” I stopped at the edge of the forest. I could see smoke coming from the witch’s chimney. “I’m glad you’re with me. I admit witchcraft scares me. Helen scares me.” I pulled out the piece of arrow still wrapped in my shawl. Flo had slipped it to me before she left.
“I’m glad to hear it. You’d be foolish to trust one of her kind.”
“But I must see the witch. To ask her about this. Jeremiah is afraid she’ll hurt me, but I need some answers and I think she can help me find them.” I turned to Fergus for understanding. “I have no reason to think she is against us.”
“Maggie told me about this.” He took the arrow and studied it, handling it carefully as he sniffed it. “Dark magic indeed. I’ve not come across the like before. I want to know who did this too, Gloriana. Let’s face her together. Know your enemy. Jeremiah should have remembered that. She could be one of them or may know who is trying to harm you.”
“Thank you, Fergus. I have trusted you with my life before, I’ll gladly do it again.” I scanned the beach. As usual, there were men on guard but Jeremiah must have joined his father on their ship. He was determined to get the repairs completed quickly in case we were attacked again. With spring advancing, the nights were growing shorter. It made his time on the ship precious.
“Let’s go then.” I took the arrow and tucked it away. “Let me do the talking. I sense Helen is not drawn to black magic and that is what she claims. But we will see.” I started toward her door. It opened before I could get there. A black cat ran out and toward the forest. Was it a shape-shifter, one of Helen’s cohorts, escaping before we got there?
“I knew you would be back. Come in.” Helen held the door open. “Who is this?”
“Fergus Turnbull, at your service, madame.” Fergus made a slight bow and removed his hat. “I am on guard duty today. I’m sure you’ve noticed that Mistress Gloriana goes nowhere without someone to watch her back, especially since she was attacked and almost killed.”
“But you survived, mistress.” Helen smiled. “I saw it all in my bowl. Poison on an arrow. Someone was very clever.” She waved her hand and her power washed over me, chilling me. “But your attacker was not clever enough to survive, I think.”
“It’s true, the man who shot the arrow is dead. But we need to know more about the poison. That’s why we’re here.” I passed it to her.
She carefully unwrapped the shawl, drawing back slightly when the arrow’s point was revealed.
“We haven’t washed it so you can see my blood and the poison on the tip. I want to know who made this poison. Who helped the Irish pirate?” I watched her sniff the arrow and frown. “Could the maker be nearby? Do I have to worry there will be another attack on my life?” My voice rose along with my fear.
Gods, but I had to remember that I had people around me to protect me and skills of my own. I was immortal! So why did this one attack make me tremble? I’d survived, hadn’t I?
“Sit.” Helen looked me over. “You are right to be afraid, mistress. Trouble follows you. I have seen it.” She gestured and I took my seat. Fergus hovered close behind me.
“Tell me. What have you seen?” I knew I sounded impatient and her brows rose at my tone. “Please. I almost died from that poison.”
“I understand.” She nodded. “This will take time. I must study the poison.” She gathered her herbs, moving much too slowly for my liking.
As usual, it was gloomy in the small room. There were candles lit but not enough and a fire blazed in the fireplace, making it almost uncomfortably warm. The bowl sat in the middle of the table, empty now. As soon as I had the thought, Helen walked over to the hearth and picked up her kettle. She splashed water into the bowl before sitting across from me. She threw in a handful of her herbs then started her ritual of hand waving and humming until the water began to whirl, gradually gaining speed.
“What’s this? Are we going to get a show?” Fergus shuffled his feet restlessly.
“Hush. Let her do what she thinks necessary to find our answers.” I waited while Helen stared into the bowl. Suddenly she dropped the arrow into it. It made the water boil and foam over the sides. Yellow smoke and a horrible sulphury smell filled the room.
“By God! That was a trick.” Fergus wouldn’t stay quiet. I reached back and pinched his arm.
“Evil stalks you, Gloriana St. Clair. I smell revenge.” Helen’s voice was low, almost a growl.
“I smell rotten eggs. Can I open a door?” Fergus started toward it.
“Stop!” Helen stood. “I am trying to get an answer, you clod. Be still.”
Well, that told him. Fergus stayed put.
Helen went back to gazing into her bowl. She began to gesture, her hands moving in a circular motion. How she could stand to be so close to that horrible odor, I didn’t know. I scooted back as far as I could and remembered to stop breathing. Handy trick for vampires, not breathing.
I desperately wanted answers. Revenge. That was always on the menu here but how did that help me now? I had to know who was after me. I’d thought the danger might be past in Scotland since McFee had killed the pirate queen’s lover.
“What you think you know, you don’t know.” Helen kept swaying and waving her hands above the bowl to stir the water, careful not to touch the boiling surface.
“That’s a riddle. Revenge. I knew that. So what? Will they give up soon? They can always pick a new leader and move on.” I made myself lean forward. “I want to know who to look for if I am still in danger.”
“They have not given up. Beware.” Helen’s eyes were red. “It’s a man. Someone you have already met.” She shook out her glossy hair, which was black today. If anything, it made her more beautiful.
“Not very helpful, Helen.” I knew I was pushing her, but honestly, I had met many men here. Time for her to get serious. I dug out a gold coin and laid it on the table. “I need a name.”
“It will not help you. He is very clever. He hides behind a false one.” She stayed fixed on that boiling water. “And behind a false smile. Trust no one.”
I slapped the table. “Give me a clue. A real one that will uncover this false friend.”
Fergus’s hand landed on my shoulder. “Lass, you are playing with fire.”
“Listen to your shifter, Gloriana. I have told you what I know.” She made the coin disappear into her robe. Tonight’s was red, the color of blood.
“I think you can do better.” Yes, I was challenging her but she’d told me nothing. I could have guessed as much. A man who pretended to be a friend? Hah! We had a spy at the castle. No surprise there. I pulled out another coin. “Who made the poison on that arrow? Where did the dark magic come from?”
“Some things are best left alone.” She reached for the coin but I covered it with my hand.
“Others are best revealed. Names, Helen.” I heard Fergus move behind me. Yes, I was taking a chance, defying her, but I’d risked much when I’d walked through her door.
She gave me a baleful look then muttered an incantation and threw another handful of her herbs into the water. Sparks flew, making me duck in spite of myself. The smoke turned black this time and filled the room. Fergus coughed and sputtered.
“Lass, we’d best be going.” He gripped my shoulder.
“No, she’s looking for a name.” I still wasn’t breathing and leaned closer. “Who used dark magic to get the poison, Helen? Did you give it to him?”
“No! I will not trade in the dark arts.” She suddenly slumped then began to shake.
“The time for playing is over.” Helen’s head had come up and the voice was not her own. It seemed to come from the depths of Hell. “Soon you will rue the day you made Zarah lose her will to live. Her spirit must be coming.” A vague form, the outline of a man, rose from the bowl and flew above our heads, racing around the room and screaming vile curses. “Where is she?”
Cold air rushed by inches from my head. Fergus cursed and flailed at it with his knife but couldn’t seem to touch it. Helen sat drooped in her chair once again, her eyes closed and helpless, as if she’d become a tool of Satan.
When the spirit stopped close to me and screamed, calling me names, I saw its face and recognized it. Zarah’s lover. Had he sold his soul for that poison?
“You should have died.” He raised his hands and lunged at me.
I threw myself on the floor, shivering as it hit me with its malevolent essence. All I could do was pray to my gods to protect me.
Please, save me.
The thing, whatever it was, pounded me, hitting me again and again with its icy fists. I’d never felt such hatred, such malice. I kept praying, putting all my hopes into what I wanted to believe were loving gods.
Finally, a wave of heat came over me, starting at my head then moving down my body until I was warmed from head to toes. The entity shrieked in disappointment and agony. Then it suddenly vanished.
“What the devil was that?” Fergus put his knife away. The smoke cleared and Helen began to stir. “It felt like Hell came calling. Are you all right, Gloriana?” He knelt next to me.
I lay face down on the dirt floor, under Helen’s table. I knew the table was not what had saved me from the evil that had tried to kill me. No, it had been whatever gods I’d prayed to. I whispered a word of thanks to those deities then crawled out to grasp Fergus’s strong arms. For a moment I let him hold me.
Safety, security. I knew why Maggie loved him. He was a big man and made me feel like he’d protect me from whatever came next, perhaps at the cost of his own life. Too bad he’d been powerless when faced with that creature from Hell.
“I, I am all right.” I took his help to get to my feet. “Helen?” She moved again, groaning and rubbing her eyes. “What was that?”
She stared into her bowl, which was now covered in a black sludge, and shivered. “It was the essence of a damned soul. One who has but recently arrived in Hell. That is who bought your poison. I have no name of the poison maker for you.” She muttered a spell and waved her hands wide. “It is a witch from far away. I would guess Ireland.”
“I could have guessed that.” Fergus scoffed. “We are wasting our time here, lass. I’ve seen enough of this witch’s tricks.”
“I recognized the spirit who attacked me, Fergus.” I tried to run my hands through my hair. Mercy had put it in braids and made a pretty crown of it this evening. Now it was loose and tangled. “That was Zarah’s lover. The man who shot me with the arrow. He never gave us his name.”
“He is in Hell now.” Helen got up from the table and stared down at the contents of her bowl. “I have one answer for you. To help you find the one who wants you dead now. Your spy in the castle.” She pointed to the mess in the bowl. “Look you.”
Fergus and I gawked at the sludge. Could it be? Not a word, but there was a letter in the mess that still bubbled and reeked.
“’M.’” I wanted to heave the bowl out the door. “Is there any more common letter in the names of the men in the castle?” I wanted to cry. All this trouble and pain for that. Fergus might call it a trick but the thing had hit me hard. I ached from the top of my head where it had pulled my hair almost from the roots, to my toes, where it had stomped my feet.
“You are right, Gloriana.” Fergus glared at Helen then at the bowl. “Useless. MacDonald, McFee, MacTavish, McGovern, McKnight, McCall, I could go on and on.” He reached for the bowl as if to smash it against the wall.
“Don’t touch it.” Helen stood in front of it. “I have given you all that I can.” She snatched up my coin and pointed at the door. “It’s time for you to leave.” She was clearly feeling the effects of that visit from the underworld. Her face was pale and she held onto her stomach as if she was about to lose its contents.
“Thank you, Helen.” I pressed yet another coin into her hand. “I know this wasn’t easy for you. Now give back the arrow. Jeremiah will expect to see it again.”
She sighed and poured more water into her bowl. The sludge cleared but the arrow wasn’t there. “Where is it? It should still be here.” She began to look around the table, searching under it and around while Fergus and I watched. At first, she seemed merely irritated that she couldn’t find it, then she waved her hands and muttered incantations. A finding spell, she explained. When her cat ran in through the open door, she picked it up and seemed to communicate with it.
“Gone! The arrow is gone.” She put the cat on the floor and collapsed into her chair. “Evil has entered my home and taken it. This is all your fault, Gloriana St. Clair. Leave here. I have a protective spell to make. My last one clearly wasn’t strong enough.” Her gaze was haunted. “Be careful. This enemy won’t rest until it has you. That much I do see.”
Fergus dragged me outside. “Don’t listen to her, Gloriana. Witches love to make you worry. It’s all a show put on so you’ll give them more coin. Worked, didn’t it?”
“Where is the arrow then?” I wasn’t moving willingly. “Do you want to go back and look for it?”
“For all I know she’s hidden it in her robes. The woman could have half the armory in there and we wouldn’t be able to tell.” Fergus glanced back at the hut when the door slammed. “You know I’m not about to search the body of a witch. Or any woman. Definitely not the body of a beautiful one. Maggie would not like it and I might like it too much.” He glanced back at the hut. “Witch’s wiles. I don’t trust them.”
“You are right to be wary.” Did all men have a weakness for beautiful women? Even steadfast Fergus? I noticed a boat setting out from Jeremiah’s ship. Was that him with his father being rowed ashore? Just my luck to be caught outside the witch’s hut. “Hurry. I don’t want to be here when that boat hits the beach.”
“Surely you are going to tell Jeremiah what just happened.” Fergus gave me a searching look. “If you don’t, I will. He needs to know. Yes, he will fuss, but, even useless, the witch’s clue is something to consider.”
“Really? By my count, Helen’s just eliminated perhaps three men in the castle with her letter ‘M’.” I was in a foul mood and didn’t feel like apologizing for it. When Flo appeared on the path, I wasn’t even surprised.
“You know I waited to see who the bear was that threatened us.” Flo glared at Fergus. “If it had been someone who meant you harm, I would have stayed and helped you fight.”
“Thank you, Flo.” I found a smile for her. “As you saw, the bear was my old friend Fergus. He noticed Valdez at last meal and drew his own conclusions. Gods forbid I should be allowed to take a walk outside without an armed guard.”
“Just doing my duty, lass. You should be grateful, not complain about it.” Fergus kept his hand on his knife. He hadn’t worn a sword but then guarding me had been a last-minute decision. “Step lively. I have things to do at the castle and have spent enough time with you this night.”
“So sorry to have kept you from more important work.” I linked my arm through Flo’s. “You should have seen what happened at the witch’s house, Flo. Look at me. I was attacked by an evil spirit.” I could feel my hair was down from its pretty braids and in a tangle.
“That she was.” Fergus nodded. “It was a sight I’ll not soon forget. Made me feel right helpless against it, truth be told. If I was Jeremiah, I’d see if locking you in your bedchamber would keep you safe, Gloriana. You’re a menace, girl, make no mistake about it.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Neither could Flo. She lit into Fergus, calling him something in Italian that I was glad the man obviously didn’t understand.
“All I did was witness Zarah taking her own life.” I tried to defend myself.
“To be fair, Glory. You shot her first and ruined her arm.” Flo sounded like she was going to let me take the blame for this.
“The pirates were attacking us. They started it!” Now I sounded childish. But it was the truth. I had been defending the castle.
“Very true.” Fergus took my elbow to hurry us along. “You are a fine shot. It is the talk of the castle. Every man whose name starts with the letter ‘M’ knows it. Putting you down makes a point for the pirates. They need a win, badly, to keep fear in the hearts of those who live along the coast. I see that.” Fergus delivered us to the gate where Valdez stood waiting. He did not look happy. No, he was fuming.
“Relax, lad. I handled things. But you know the woman will not be tame. You cannot trust a word she says.” He quickly filled Valdez in on what had happened in Helen’s hut. Flo listened wide-eyed.
“You were touched, beaten by an evil spirit?” She crossed herself. Then she sniffed my hair. “Pah, you even have the stench of that sinful soul on you. Go and wash your hair, take a long soak. Get it off of you, every bit of it!” She stepped back and crossed herself again.
Valdez looked almost amused. Except he was still angry. “You deceived me. You knew you were forbidden to see that witch and yet off you went. Thank God for Fergus.” He waved the man away. “He has duties here he neglected in order to take care of you. You are my responsibility.” He looked through the gate. “Here comes Jeremiah and Laird Campbell. Once again, your lover should fire me.”
“I can’t meet him smelling like this. I’m going inside to the bathing tower. I promise to tell him what happened. Later.” I ran into the castle, waving good-bye to Flo. I knew Valdez would follow me and that would delay his confession to Jeremiah. I gave quick instructions to Mercy for a bath in the tower then stopped in my bedchamber for a robe.
“You had better confess all. I will give you until tomorrow night. Meanwhile, Fergus and I will be checking men with ‘M’ in their names.” Valdez followed me up the stairs to the tower. “The list is endless. The witch was not helpful when all was said and done, was she?”
“Don’t start complaining now, Valdez. I had to try. Surely you see that.” I moved out of the way as a parade of maids and lads brought up buckets of water to fill the large tub in the tower room. The fire was stoked and Mercy brought a kettle to put on the hob.
“It’s already warm, mistress.” She exclaimed over my hair. “Let me brush out the tangles.” She pushed me down on the stool and began working with the brush.
“Did I hear Valdez say you have been to see the witch in the village?” She shuddered and touched her stomach. “This is not the first time you’ve had dealings with such as that. I want to serve you but I can’t risk any harm coming to my babe.”
“I’m done with the witch, Mercy. I came very close to evil this night and it scared me.” I took the brush from her. “Go. I still reek of what seemed to come out of Hell itself, according to Flo. That’s why I’m bathing. I don’t want you or your babe near it.” I realized she was already halfway to the door. “Your time would be best served by helping Lady Anne prepare for her wedding tomorrow.”
Mercy nodded. “Thank you, mistress. I know it may be foolish superstition to some, but I don’t want to expose my child to such evil.” She flushed. “Colin and I, well, we are coming to an understanding. He says he will raise the child as his own, if you can believe it. He claims to love me and I certainly love him.” She gripped the door handle. “He is so wonderful!”
“Oh, Mercy, I am glad for you. I think a lot of Colin. I believe he will be a fine husband for you and a good father for the babe.” I realized tears had come to my eyes. I was thrilled this decent girl was finding a happy solution to her problem.
“I think so too, mistress. I have known him all my life. His family and my family live near each other. If we do decide to return to Dollar, it will be a wonderful life for my little one.” She stroked her bulging stomach. “I am so happy.”
“If you wish to marry, Mercy, the priest will be here tomorrow.” I glanced at Valdez. “If you are afraid to ask Colin if he is willing to say his vows, perhaps Valdez can see what he thinks about it.”
“Mistress Gloriana! You have no idea what that would mean to me.” Mercy’s smile was radiant. “If I come home married someday, my ma would be able to hold her head high, not be shamed by what I’ve done.”
“I’ll talk to the man. I know he thinks highly of you, Mistress Mercy.” Valdez walked to the door. “I’ll be outside now. Wedding talk must wait for daylight, you understand that.” The two were talking as the door closed on them.
I carefully worked the tangles from my hair then poured the steaming water into the tub. I swirled it around with the long-handled paddle left there for the purpose then tested it with my finger. Would I ever feel clean again? I scrubbed myself with my favorite rose soap everywhere the evil had touched me then dipped my head under the water to rinse.
Finally, I felt clean. It was heavenly. Hmm. Heaven. Did I believe in it? I must if I could withstand the evil that had pounded me. I studied the bruises on my arms and legs. I knew they would heal with a night’s sleep, but they were evidence that I hadn’t imagined that malignant spirit that had punished me and tried to kill me.
The door creaked open and I slumped down in the water, covering myself with my hands. Could it come here? Surely, I was safe with Valdez at the door. The man who frowned at me when he walked inside made me wonder if I’d finally gone too far. He wasn’t evil but dangerous none the less when he noticed the marks on my arms.