A River Enchanted

Adaira bathes and thinks about Jack and their visit to the spirits. She feels upset that she hasn’t been able to solve the mystery of the missing girls yet. She considers Jack and her conflicted feelings about him: As a child she hated him, but now she wants to make him laugh. She feels lonely due to her elevated position and one past romantic relationship that didn’t work out, and she hopes Jack will stay as bard. She reads the letter she received from Moray Breccan, the heir of the Breccan laird, proposing a meeting at the clan line and telling her to come alone. She wants to go but thinks her father and Torin will be upset, as they were upset that she reached out to the Breccans in the first place. She decides to speak to Sidra before deciding.

Sidra waits for Torin in Graeme’s croft. She attempts to change out of her bloody chemise, but Torin arrives and sees her covered in blood. He panics and asks her what happened and where Maisie is. She tells him about the kidnapping, and Torin goes out to search for his daughter, leaving Sidra with Graeme. In a fit of grief and rage, Sidra tears apart the garden that she planted to honor the spirits.