Last Wish (Highland Magic #4)

Bob was awestruck. ‘Uh Integrity,’ he breathed. ‘This is amazing.’ He stretched out his arms, spreading his fingers wide. ‘I can feel the power. I can even hear it.’

So could I. Already a chorus of indecipherable whispers was rising in my ears. I swallowed. It was probably alright for me to be here. Unlike the individual Clan groves, this one at the Cruaich was open to all Sidhe. In essence, it was the central point for all of us.

I put my hands on my hips, trying to slow down my breathing. Regardless of right or wrong, it would be wise to stay away from the clearing. I didn’t need to be haunted by angry Sidhe spirits of yore.

I turned round, planning to leave the path and plunge into the trees in case a search party did come through here. Before I could take a step, a word rang out and made me freeze. ‘Layoch.’

My true name. I thought I was nervous before, trapped on that staircase between Aifric and his guards, but it was nothing compared to this. I slowly turned around.

‘Layoch.’

My mouth was dry. I swung my head from left to right but, unlike the last time I was here, there was nothing to see. There was the only the voice, accented with a gentle Scottish lilt which I couldn’t distinguish as male or female.

‘Uh Integrity,’ Bob quavered. ‘This is scary.’

‘I know. Don’t worry. We’ll be fine.’ I wished I could be sure of that.

‘Join them,’ the voice whispered.

My spine went rigid. Join who?

‘Join them,’ the disembodied voice repeated.

I folded my arms. Now hang on a bloody minute. ‘If you’re telling me to join the damn Moncrieffes, you’ve got another thing coming,’ I said aloud. ‘I don’t care who you are. I’m not doing that.’

Something icy cold brushed against my cheek and I leapt about three feet in the air.

‘Join them, Layoch. Join them and Alba will be saved.’

The whispers rose in a tide, encircling me, getting louder and louder. I cupped my hands over my ears. ‘Stop it!’ I yelled. ‘Stop it!’ I twirled round and sprinted out of the clearing until I was surrounded again by nothing more than trees. Then my knees buckled underneath me and I collapsed.





Chapter Seven


Dusk was falling when I finally felt safe enough to pick myself up and leave the grove. Bob and I skulked towards the edge and peered out. The search for me had been abandoned for now; I could hear no dogs and see no people. Aifric had had a good four hours to search the Cruaich and its grounds and with Stephen McGillivray, or whoever the Farsenser was, it would have taken much less time than that. All the same I remained cautious in case we were walking into a trap down by the border.

I slipped across the main thoroughfare to the line of trees beside the long, snaking driveway. All the while Bob crowed in my ear, ‘Ha ha! We showed them, didn’t we, Uh Integrity! We are the masters. All those Sidhe against us and every single one of them was clueless while we are free and in the wind.’

Much as I appreciated that I wasn’t now facing an executioner’s axe, I felt that Bob was viewing our expedition as more of a success than it actually was. ‘We came to rescue Candy,’ I pointed out, ‘and he didn’t want to be rescued. I wouldn’t get over excited. In effect, we’ve accomplished nothing.’

‘But just look at what we’ve learned, Uh Integrity. Now you’re getting a glimpse of what it’s like to be as all-knowing as me.’

I wasn’t sure we’d learned anything useful. ‘Candy has made some mysterious promise to Byron which makes no sense.’ I sighed. ‘And the Sidhe ancestors think I should join up with my enemies.’

‘Technically that’s not what they said.’

I shrugged. ‘So what do you think they meant?’

Bob stroked his chin. ‘I could tell you,’ he said slowly, ‘because of course I know.’

‘Of course.’

‘But you need to come up with the answer yourself to achieve true enlightenment.’

‘Right. So what you’re actually saying is that you don’t have a scooby what they were on about.’

He sniffed. ‘I’m not even going to deign to answer that.’

I gave up on debating further as we approached the border. There were more guards in place than before but I reckoned I had just enough of Tipsania’s Gift left inside me to slip across without being noticed. I brought it up, vanished from sight and darted towards the car.

‘The good thing,’ Bob said, once the last of the danger had passed, ‘is that we get to go home and sleep in our own beds.’

I pointed at the letter opener, still hanging from the belt around my waist. ‘You can go to your own bed whenever you want.’

‘I don’t tend to sleep in there any more.’

I was surprised. ‘Really?’

‘Yeah. It’s much more comfortable snuggling up to Brochan. Do you know he talks in his sleep?’

I wondered if the merman was aware that he had a sleeping companion. Deciding it was probably better not to know, I kept my mouth shut and jogged to the car, got into the front seat and started the engine. The sense of failure still hung over me like a cloud.

I checked my watch; it had just gone half past six. The night was still very young. ‘You know, Bob,’ I said, as casually as I could, ‘it’s been quite a stressful day. And you really were fabulous ? you were a great lookout. We might not have rescued Candy but I did pick up lots of shiny new Gifts which I can use in all sorts of situations.’

‘I was magnificent, wasn’t I?’ Bob beamed, bouncing up and down on the dashboard.

‘We should have a drink to celebrate,’ I said. ‘You know, wind down and prepare for the journey home.’

Bob considered. ‘I’m not sure that drink-driving is a good idea, Uh Integrity.’

‘I’ll have a Coke but you don’t need to abstain.’

‘Hmm. There’s a great place in Dundee that does the most amazing mango daiquiris.’

‘Yum,’ I said unconvincingly. ‘I was thinking Perth would be a better idea. It’s closer to home.’

‘Last time we went to Perth you streaked naked down the high street. I’m not sure the good people of that fair city want to see you again.’

‘I didn’t streak. I just happened to be in my underwear when a Fomori demon showed up.’

‘One and the same. Byron Moncrieffe might find your jiggly bits attractive but you need a good personal trainer to…’ He paused. ‘Hang on a minute,’ he said suspiciously. ‘Where exactly in Perth were you thinking of going?’

I smiled innocently. ‘I’ve heard some nice things about the Haven.’

He put his hands on hips. ‘And I have it on good authority that the Haven is closed for a private party tonight. Byron Moncrieffe’s stag party.’

The corners of my mouth lifted. ‘Well, now that he’s taken, I need to find a new bachelor, don’t I?’

Bob shook his head dismally. ‘This is going to end in tears.’

***