A smile curled Nannie’s lips. “I don’t want to be responsible for either of you getting into trouble,” she said, pointing at each of them. “But where did you learn about truth potions? That’s what I’d like to know.”
“My aunt once told me of the truth inducing properties of firrinwort,” said Kaetha. “Cailean found me looking for it in the woods near your cottage. He found black clover too which I hadn’t even heard of.”
“I thought caraway seeds might help as well,” said Cailean, “that the three would work together well.”
“You’ve taught him well,” said Kaetha as she ground the ingredients.
“I don’t remember teaching him all that,” said Nannie. Colour rose to Cailean’s cheeks, making him look uneasy. “Cailean,” said Nannie, “go out to the stream in the woods and fill the buckets by the door for me, would you?”
He looked around the room. “You don’t have enough water already?”
“I wouldn’t have asked if I had.”
Cailean looked puzzled as he left, a bucket in each hand.
“Out with it then,” said Nannie.
“Hm?”
“There’s something you’re not telling me. That story about the woman from Kaernock . . .” she sighed, shaking her head. “Do I need to use a truth potion on you, lass?” Nannie waited for her to talk, silently stirring her pottage.
“I’m going back to Roinmor,” Kaetha said eventually. She could trust Nannie not to tell anyone. “With any luck, it’ll be safer there for me now.”
“But what if you’re recognised? What if they think you might know about Princess Rhona’s escape?”
“I could disguise myself. Make a dye to darken my hair. I have to find out if my mother survived. My father might have been mistaken. If there’s a chance that she’s . . .” A lump rose in Kaetha’s throat. “Also, I want to find out who tried to kill Rhona – who attacked my mother – how many were involved – who was behind it. So I’m going to Ciadrath, to the citadel. And this potion will help me find out the truth.”
“When I try to look ahead,” said Nannie, turning her face towards a bucket of water, “I sense there is a path set for you. You can choose to follow it and be led into danger and darkness or you can refuse and keep darkness at bay.”
Kaetha shrugged, trying to shake off the effect of Nannie’s ominous words. “But how is this following some set path? This is my own choice. I intend to make my own fate and it starts with finding out the truth about my mother. I must go and soon. If I were to delay another month or two, winter would be setting in and the journey would be too risky.”
“Well, you must do what you feel is right. But I advise you to talk to your father first. Imagine how he’d feel if you left.”
“He’s with Mairi whenever he’s not working. I don’t think he’d miss me.”
Nannie frowned. “You don’t really think that. And I’ve heard how he talks of you. I can tell how proud he is of you.”
Kaetha was surprised at the tugging sadness she felt at the idea of leaving her father after three months living with him. She knew she’d miss Donnan too and Nannie and the Morays.
“Cailean will be back soon,” she said. “Speaking of Cailean, I think he may have more than the normal skills of a healer. I think he might be gifted.”
A half smile suggested that Nannie knew she was purposely changing the subject. “What makes you think so?”
“In the woods, I noticed how he would brush his hand over several specimens of a plant before selecting which sprigs or leaves to gather, as if he could feel the properties they carried and their potency.”
“Earth magic,” said Nannie, nodding. “That explains why a Moray of all people might prefer the woods to the sea. Someone I knew long ago had that same gift. It’s certainly a useful one for a healer, though, as with all branches of magic, it has various manifestations. But perhaps you know all this . . .” Nannie squinted at her, unnerving Kaetha as it seemed that she could see her. She still had not told Nannie of her personal experiences with magic though she’d been close to doing so several times.
She suspected that hearing snatches of the Annisith’s thoughts, of her father’s and Donnan’s, was her channelling Air magic. Her mother must have had it too, or how else could she have befriended Gaoth in the first place?
Her gaze drifted to the flames which writhed beneath the cooking pot and, in that moment, she was back in the field the night she and Aedan had escaped the guards, shielded by a great wall of fire. This magic was different. It was fierce, raw, and destructive. She shuddered at the idea of Nannie finding out what she had been capable of and was glad that she and Aedan had agreed never to speak of it to anyone.
The door squeaked then and Finola MacFarland swept into the room. She was a young woman who lived nearby and sold weather charms to sailors. The wind had tossed her wispy white-blonde hair and worry tightened the features of her usually serene face.
“What’s the matter, Finola?” Kaetha asked. Cailean came in as well then, placing the full buckets beside Nannie.
“It’s Queenie,” Finola’s watery eyes were rimmed with pink. “Nannie please help me.” She knelt on the floor, clutching Nannie’s cloak.
“Shh – calm yourself.” Nannie patted Finola’s hand. Then she nodded at Kaetha. “Close the shutter, lass.” Kaetha did so. “Very well then.” Nannie closed her eyes and Finola sniffed loudly, pressing her fists against her mouth. “A little quiet, my dear,” said Nannie. Kaetha put a hand on Finola’s shoulder and they all watched
