Page 46 of To Wed a Witch
The argument that followed was fierce.Lileas MacNeil was not a woman to be denied when she'd set her mind to something.
"Fine," Ewan finally conceded in exasperation."But ye stay back if there's fighting, and ye do as I say, or I'll never let ye out of our Keep again."
"We'll see about that," Lileas muttered, but she was already moving toward the stables.
Sìne watched from the battlements as they rode out—Bhaltair and Ewan with a dozen of their best men, and Lileas despite her husband's continued protests.The sight of them disappearing into the afternoon mist should have been reassuring, but something cold settled in her stomach as they vanished from view.
She spent the remainder of the afternoon tending to Keep duties, trying to distract herself from her growing unease.The tense atmosphere, the way even the servants spoke in hushed whispers, all of it put her on edge.
Eventually she decided to check on Aidyn.The little one had been fussy all day, as though she too sensed the tension in the air.
But when Sìne reached the nursery chamber, she found it empty.
Not just empty but abandoned.Aidyn's cradle sat barren, her favorite blanket gone along with the small wooden toys Bhaltair had carved for her.She immediately ran to Paisley's chamber to check there.
"Paisley?"Sìne called, her voice echoing strangely in the hollow room."Aidyn?"She noticed Paisley's belongings had vanished as well.Panic began to claw at her throat as she searched each chamber.There was no sign of struggle, no indication of where they might have gone.They had simply...vanished.
She was back down in the Great Hall, standing in the doorway, her heart hammering with dread, when a young boy appeared at her elbow.
"Mistress?"he said hesitantly."I've a message for ye."
With trembling hands, Sìne unfolded the parchment.The words seemed to blur and swim as their meaning crashed over her:
Sìne MacKay – I have yer bairn.If ye wish to see her alive, come alone to the stone circle in Agan's Glen within the hour.Tell no one, and I will trade her life for yers.If ye bring a guard, ye will never see her again...Yer Friendly Neighbor.
The letter fluttered from Sìne's numb fingers as a sound escaped her throat.It was half sob, half scream.Aidyn.Sutherland had her precious Aidyn.
"M'lady?What's wrong?"
Sìne spun to find Ada, the housekeeper, hurrying toward her with concern written across her weathered features.
"I...I can't..."Sìne's voice broke completely as she gestured helplessly at the fallen letter.
Ada snatched up the parchment, her face growing pale as she read."Holy saints preserve us," she breathed."But who is this neighbor?"
"Laird Sutherland."
"Av mercy," Ada replied and crossed herself.
"I have to go," Sìne said frantically, already moving toward her chamber to gather her cloak."I have to go now, or he'll..."
"Ye're not going alone," Ada said firmly, following close behind."I'll not let ye walk into that monster's trap without someone to watch yer back."
"But the letter says—"
"The letter says ye can't bring a guard.It says nothing about an old woman who might happen to be taking a walk in the glen with a dirk tucked away here and there."Ada's eyes were sharp."I've been caring for this family longer than ye've been alive, lass.I'll not stop now."
They made it as far as the stables before Greig, one of the watchmen, spotted them.
"Mistress?Where are ye going at this hour?Ye should not be out without a guard."
Sìne opened her mouth to lie, but Ada forestalled her with a sharp look.
"Greig!How dare ye question the mistress," she replied."Can she not take a simple ride to clear her mind without yer blatherin?"
"If it's an outing she needs, then I'll accompany her," Greig replied.
Ada glared at him, then decided honesty was the best path, seeing as they were hard pressed for time.She blurted out the contents of the letter to Greig despite Sìne's protests.
