Last Wish (Highland Magic #4)(20)

‘That’s on a need-to-know basis.’

‘You can trust me.’

I snorted. ‘You know it’s been bugging me for a while about who you remind me of. I’ve finally got it. You think you’re like Q. From Star Trek.’

For possibly the first time since I’d met him, Fergus didn’t know what I was talking about. ‘Is that a television programme?’

I smirked. ‘Yeah. Sci-fi. Q is an omnipotent being who knows everything.’

From out of nowhere, Bob zapped into existence. ‘Hey!’ he complained. ‘I’m the only all-knowing being around here, Uh Integrity!’ He glared at Fergus as if the Bauchan were stealing his very soul.

I laughed. ‘In the end, Q has to keep going to the Enterprise crew for help. He’s not as all-knowing as he thinks he is.’

Bob frowned suspiciously. ‘Are you alluding to me or to him’ – he nodded at Fergus – ‘with this pathetic comparison?’

I shrugged. ‘You’re the clever ones. You tell me.’

There was a shout from behind us. Taylor and Brochan were near the mansion and waving at me. I checked my watch; yeah, it was time to go.

‘Look after May,’ I said to Fergus.

He put his arm round her. I couldn’t be sure but it looked as if she blushed. ‘I will,’ he said quietly.

I nibbled on a hangnail. ‘Could you ask her about what things are like beyond the Veil? The more information we have about life there…’ I shrugged.

Fergus’s eyes were sharp. ‘You’re planning an expedition?’

‘Not exactly but we can’t just pretend it’s not there. People are suffering. Sooner or later, I’m going to have to do something.’

May’s shoulders shrank as if she knew what we were talking about. Fergus edged even closer to her. ‘I can do that,’ he said finally. ‘If she’s willing to tell me. But,’ he added in a rush, ‘if you go, then I’m coming with you.’

‘Why?’ I asked suspiciously.

‘I deal in knowledge, Chieftain. Just think what I could do if that knowledge extended to the Lowlands.’

‘I couldn’t guarantee your safety,’ I said honestly.

He gave me a lopsided grin. ‘No one ever can.’ I nodded in agreement and turned to leave. ‘Integrity?’ he called out after me.

‘Yeah?’

‘The Cruaich has a series of dungeons underground. They can be reached from a closed-off staircase next to the library. That’s where I’d keep someone if I were the Steward.’

I grinned my gratitude. Excellent; I’d been aiming for the Cruaich all along.

‘I could have told you that, Uh Integrity,’ Bob complained. He folded his arms and pouted. ‘In fact, if you make a wish to free Candy, I can show you just how impotent I really am.’

‘I think you mean omnipotent,’ I said drily as I started walking away.

‘Candy?’ Fergus asked from behind. ‘The Wild Man who works for Byron Moncrieffe?’

‘Nice going,’ I muttered to Bob.

‘It’s not my fault Bauchans have big ears.’

‘A right ear, a left ear and a final front ear?’

‘Uh Integrity?’

‘Yes?’

Bob shoved the Foinse out of the way and scooted up to my neck, settling himself above my collarbone with a happy sigh. ‘I really hate you sometimes.’





Chapter Five


It wasn’t easy to persuade the others to stay behind, even though I knew it was the sensible thing for them to do. The Cruaich wasn’t like the Bull’s castle and, even if the Moncrieffes worked out that Tipsania was no longer here, the trolls were in increasing danger and might need help. Unfortunately, my surrogate family was all packed and ready to go and gazing at me with expectant faces.

‘I need people here,’ I explained. ‘We don’t know for sure what the Clans are going to try next.’

Brochan glowered. ‘There are hundreds of trolls.’

‘Yep,’ I nodded, ‘there are. But they’re no match against Sidhe Gifts. You can control the weather ? you could call up a storm and delay anyone who tries to get in.’

Brochan’s gills flapped in irritation. ‘I can’t control the weather. And I can’t create storms.’

‘You can make it rain.’

‘It’s not the same thing.’

I shrugged. ‘It’s going to be easier for one person to slip in and out of the Cruaich. Especially a Sidhe. You’re better placed here.’

Speck stepped up as if he were tag-teaming the merman. ‘We’ve done it before. And now I’ve got magic,’ he said. ‘Real magic. You saw how strong I’m getting. I just proved it by helping you get away from the Bull.’

‘Which is why I need you here too. That magic might be needed.’ I crossed my arms. ‘Anyway, if you stay close to the Foinse your magic will get stronger.’

‘The Adair border is strong, Tegs. It’ll hold against anyone who tries to breach it.’

There was a stubborn set to my jaw. ‘We don’t know what else Aifric might have up his sleeve. The Adair Lands need to remain unbreached.’

‘Well, I don’t have magic,’ Lexie interrupted. ‘I can come.’