Malcolm strode forward, halting right in front of it. He placed his palm flat against the air. That was when I saw what had really grabbed the attention of the others. There was a ripple in the air, almost like heat rising – but this was Scotland in October. It might be a sunny day but it was still damned cold.
As I watched, he pushed his hand further in. It was as if he was pressing against a vast, invisible force. He shivered and quickly withdrew.
‘We’re here,’ he announced. ‘I can feel it.’
My skin prickled and when I glanced down, I saw goosebumps on my arms.
‘We shall have to leave the horses here,’ Aifric said.
‘How far is it to the Foinse?’ I asked. If it was going to be a long hike, I wasn’t sure my aching muscles would make it without a hot bath and long massage first. I looked at Byron. Perhaps he could…
‘I don’t know,’ Aifric replied. ‘A few hours, I expect.’
‘We should eat first,’ Diana said. ‘Then we can leave the rest of our supplies here.’
He pursed his lips. ‘Good idea.’
Byron walked past me. He was whistling and carrying some wood which he must have collected from the campsite. He turned up and gave me an arch look. ‘You’re going to have to get off sometime,’ he said. His mouth curled up in a smile. ‘Barbie needs the rest. Would you like some help?’
I had a sudden vision of falling on top of him because I couldn’t hold my own weight any more. He’d definitely be carrying some wood then, I’d straddle his chest. It would be similar to our position in the penthouse – except the ground was hard and there was an audience.
‘It’s fine,’ I sniffed. ‘I can manage.’ I looked helplessly round and caught Lily’s eye.
She beamed at me and danced over. Byron’s smirk grew then he continued on his way.
‘How are you, Chieftain?’ she asked.
‘I’m okay, Lily but I might need a bit of help getting down. I’m rather stiff.’
‘I wouldn’t worry about it too much,’ Malcolm interrupted. ‘I’m sure after the Foinse is opened, you won’t feel any pain at all.’
Lily and I stared at him. I licked my lips. ‘And why is that?’
He gave me a long look filled with cold amusement. ‘It’ll be so reinvigorating that’ll you’ll forget all about your aches.’
Or I’ll be an unfeeling corpse, I thought. I’d received his message loud and clear. I glanced at Aifric who was murmuring to William, the Kincaid Chieftain. Would he step in? Would Byron?
‘Give me your hand, Chieftain,’ Lily said. ‘I’ll help you.’
I realised that her aura had changed again. It was a crisp green that reminded me of spring. ‘Are you sure? I don’t want to squash you.’
She flexed her muscles. ‘I feel very strong.’ She tapped her head. ‘And the cobwebs have gone. It’s good here.’
‘It’s the Foinse,’ Diana said. ‘It’s affecting her.’
I heard Byron grunt. ‘It’s affecting me too. I can’t light the fire.’
We turned to him, watching him flick his fingers. No matter what he did, nothing worked. He grinned ruefully. ‘Does anyone have a lighter or some matches?’
Aifric grimaced. ‘I was afraid of this.’
I watched them warily. ‘Afraid of what?’
‘We’re too close to the Foinse. Its hold here is too strong. Our Gifts won’t work.’
Diana’s brow furrowed. ‘How are we going to fix it then?’
‘There will be a way,’ Aifric said.
‘How do you know?’
‘Because there has to be,’ he replied simply.
Tension uncoiled deep within me. How could this have happened? How could they be so poorly prepared that they’d not thought about this eventuality? It was beyond ridiculous.
I made an effort to get off Barbie and swung one leg round. Sharp needles of pain shot through my legs and I thought better of it.
‘You should never walk into something without knowing what the possible outcomes are!’ I said, throwing my hands up in the air even though it made me wobble dangerously and almost fall off the saddle. ‘We might make the Foinse worse instead of better! I put my trust in you lot. I thought you knew what you were doing!’
‘Shut that bitch up,’ the Darroch Chieftain muttered.
In a flash, Byron was in front of her. ‘Don’t call her that. She didn’t have to come here and help us.’
Actually, I kind of did, Byron. You forced me into it.
‘Yeah,’ sneered Malcolm, ‘you don’t want to annoy her. She might go nuts just like her father and murder us all.’