“The bairn has been born,” Rannick said, anxious for the truth. “Tells us it all now.”
The witch stepped out of the shadows in the bedchamber. “In a moment, she has arrived and will be here…”
A knock sounded at the door and Brogan opened it.
“Gunna!” Annis said in surprise when the woman limped into the room.
Gunna smiled. “I have so looked forward to this day.” She went and stood not far from the witch. “Hurry and tell them, for they have waited too long as have we.”
The witch began to reveal the secrets kept these many years. “I am Verbena, Gunna and Aila’s older sister… and Bliss’s mother.”
Bliss felt the relief in her husband as he held her close, though he whispered, “Lord help me.” His relief had come from knowing she was not the MacWilliam bairn and she was glad of it herself.
“That makes you Brogan’s half-sister,” Annis announced with a playful poke to his side.
“I am honored,” Brogan said with a charming smile to Bliss. “A warning, dear sister, our father is not as charming as I am.”
“Maybe he will be now that the woman he truly loves has returned,” Annis suggested with a look to Verbena.
She ignored Annis’s remark and continued. “I left years ago when Balloch’s father discovered I carried his son’s child. His terrifying threats to see me and the bairn dead enough for me to flee in fear. Gunna and Aila urged me to go being as fearful as I was for my safety.” She paused a moment before continuing. “We come from a long line of wise women and there is always one in the line born stronger than the others, capable of seeing the future, of casting powerful spells, and so much more.”
“And you are the one with those powers?” Annis asked.
Verbena shook her head. “Nay. It was Aila who had such powers. She cast the powerful curse that could never be broken, only made right. She relied on Gunna and me to see her daughter protected so that when the time came the curse could be fulfilled, her daughter finally safe and the MacWilliam bloodline carried on. To see that done, Gunna and I gave our daughters along with Aila’s daughter to the couple who would raise them. We feared if we were found, our daughters would be in grave danger. Gunna went into hiding while I went to increase my skills and power, but I am nowhere near as powerful as Aila had been. If I were, I would have been able to see that it was Lady Faline who was behind it all.
“When Gunna returned to check on all of you, she discovered the couple she had given our daughters to had died and the three of you had been given to another couple we knew nothing about.”
“That’s why you made yourself known to me to help you with your plight,” Annis said.
“I saw you in a dream headed to me, which is why I gave that drunken man a message to deliver to you. You are as tenacious as your father was and as talented in building as he had been,” Verbena said.
Tears began to gather in Annis’s eyes as she looked to Gunna. “You’re my mother.”
Tears filled Gunna’s eyes as well. “Aye, I am, and I am so proud of the woman you have become.”
Annis went to hug Gunna and stopped, turning to look at Elysia, realizing what her revelation had revealed.
Odran wrapped his arms tighter around his wife. “That leaves Elysia the MacWilliam bairn.”
Verbena and Gunna both nodded their heads.
Tears clouded Verbena’s eyes as she spoke. “Your mother was an extraordinary woman and fearless in her protection of you even before you were born,” Verbena said. “She and your father planned how they would save you once your mother told him that she had seen what the future held for his clan and for them and there was no changing it. Their only thought was to keep you safe, knowing they would not live to do so. It was why Gunna came to live with her so the plan could be carried out successfully and the curse would see fruition and be corrected with the birth of another MacWilliam. It was your future your mother feared most for you and the reason for the powerful curse.”
Elysia remained silent listening, glad for her husband’s strong arms around her, the news causing a shiver of fear to run through, and her heart felt heavy with a great sadness for her mother and father and that she never got to know them.
Odran felt her shiver and hugged her closer as he whispered near her ear, “You have nothing to fear. I will keep you and our daughter safe.”
“Why doesn’t Elysia have powers like her mum?” Annis asked. “Can’t she cast a protection spell or something to keep herself safe?”