“She can’t keep that mouth shut,” Aillig says, but I stop him from carrying on with a look. He snaps his mouth shut and drops his eyes.
“Well? What is it you want to say, witch?” Agnes asks.
The hush that has fallen over the crowd is so complete I hear the soft breeze that blows across the Highlands. Thin, wispy clouds chase one another across the rich blue sky. A distant raven’s caw lends me strength. Whether Dugald is here or not, I know the Fae are not far.
“You’re both right,” I say. “We don’t have the manpower to rescue the men, as Agnes says.” She smiles smugly and straightens her shoulders.
“Wise words from—”
“But, as Aillig is saying, we can’t let them stay either,” I cut her off. “We must mount a rescue.”
“I knew you were daft, but now you’ve laid it bare. You said we’re both right, but you can’t have both ways,” Agnes says, and Aillig nods in reluctant agreement with her.
“We’ll have to be smart,” I say. “It can’t be long before at least some more men who are out hunting return. We’ll need them before we can try to save them.”
“No,” Agnes says, shaking her head, and the group behind her adds their vocal support.
Anger hits so fast I don’t have time to stop the words coming out of my mouth before I say them.
“You’d leave them to die?”
“Aye, if that is what is meant to be. We’ll not change their fate as it’s given by the Lord.”
I can’t believe my ears and I’m left staring while my heart races. I walk towards her, and whatever she sees on my face makes her take a step back until she comes up against the crowd.
“Duncan is there,” I say. “You’ll let him die? You won’t even try?”
“If it is his fate, what we do won’t make a difference,” she says.
“You’re a fool.”
I’m choking on my words. Darkness seethes in my thoughts, whispering quiet urges to do terrible things to her. Make her shut up. Forever.
“If I am a fool, I’m still no witch.”
“If’n we’d given proper due to the Fair Folk none of this would have happened,” Aillig spouts off.
I know the Fae are as or more screwed than the MacGregors, but I can’t say that, and if I did what would it accomplish. I study Agnes’s eyes, every line of her face, and try to understand. She’s scared. Looking past her at the others that much is as clear as the sun in the sky. Fear lines all their faces, colors their actions, and weighs them down.
“Blasphemy.”
Someone behind Agnes yells and she smirks. I barely stop myself from slapping her face when that smirk appears. She’s something else. Damn, this woman pushes my buttons. I turn and walk away from Agnes. I’m not going to hurt her or engage further. It’s pointless and doesn’t move me any closer to what I want. The reason I came back here. Duncan. Who’s alive, as I knew he was.
“I know you’re scared,” I say, raising my voice so that I can be heard by all. “I am too. I’m terrified. Our entire world has been turned upside down.”
Rob hobbles over to my side and smiles. I return his smile, grateful for his presence.
“I’m not scared,” someone yells and there is a smattering of laughter in response.
“Good!” I say. “You mind coming out here and leading the rest of us? Cause I’m sure I’m not alone in being afraid. We’ve lost our belongings, our lands, and our loved ones. But you know what I know?”
I pause for effect. The crowd shouts answers, some of which aren’t as nice as others. I look at Rob and draw strength from his presence. Duncan is alive. None of this matters because I know he’s alive and I’m going to save him. Somehow.
“What do you know, lass?”
I turn in a dramatically slow circle, trying to meet the eyes of every person assembled to either side of me. When I pass over Alesoun she beams with pride and nods. I throw my fist in the air and yell.
“’S Rioghal Mo Dhream!”