He had enough talk of the curse and moved the conversation on. “You need to know what happened at Clan Loudon.” He explained the incident with Tavish.
Fergus rubbed his hands over his face in frustration. “In a way, I can’t blame our neighbors for fearing the curse has spread with the unfortunate luck of several clans of late. I would probably think the same myself if I were on the receiving end. You need to be careful. Losing your brother was difficult enough, I’ll not bury you too and your mother as well. Damn the curse!”
“Elysia’s sister Annis has gone off in search of the witch in the hills to see what needs to be done to break the curse.”
Fergus dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand. “That’s been tried. There is no witch in the hills.”
“Maybe I want to believe we didn’t search hard enough,” Odran admitted.
His da’s brow shot up. “And you think a woman will accomplish what three men couldn’t?”
Odran smiled and shook his head. “I’ve met many women through the years, some strong some weak, but never have I met one with such a strong, determined nature and with a willful power that would rival any noble as Annis possesses.”
“Heard she almost wed Brogan.”
Odran nodded. “Aye, Bliss, Elysia and Annis’s sister, saved Annis from that.”
“She may have saved Brogan as well if Annis is as willful as you say. Such a wife can make for a difficult marriage.”
“Have you heard anything about Bliss, Rannick’s bride?” Odran asked, hoping to learn some news for Elysia about her sister.
“I don’t want to know,” Fergus said with a shudder. “The curse rings true, Lochlann has suffered far worse than Balloch and me. I hear Rannick is a savage. I feel for the poor woman who wed him. She’ll not last long. He’ll bury another wife and it may be his hands that snuffs the life from her.”
“Bliss is a skilled healer. She will heal Rannick,” Elysia said, having entered the Great Hall quietly and upon hearing her sister’s name had stopped to listen.
“You can’t heal a savage,” Fergus said sadly. “I truly am sorry, Elysia.”
Elysia fought her tears and worry for Bliss and raised her chin. “Lady Margaret sleeps peacefully. I do not believe she is dying. I believe she can grow well again. With your permission, Lord Fergus, I would like to tend her with the help of Lendra.”
“I will try anything to save my beloved, Margaret,” Fergus said. “Glenis is a fine healer. She knows well the old ways. She will be glad for the help.”
Elysia thought to remain quiet and work with the clan healer, but something had her speaking up. “I am sure Glenis is a fine healer, but some of the old ways have proven more harmful than beneficial, like leeches. Bliss learned that from an old, exceptionally skilled healer. I would prefer to tend Lady Margaret with only Lendra’s help.”
Odran spoke up. “You will have what you want. I will speak to Glenis.” Odran continued, cutting off his da before he could object. “It is time for change.”
Fergus deferred to his son with a nod.
Odran rested his hand on his da’s shoulder. “It has been a difficult few months.”
“It has been a difficult twenty years,” his da corrected. “I go sit with my wife. I will see you both on the morn.”
Odran walked over to his wife and took her hand. “Come, we will eat and rest in our bedchamber.”
They took the stairs up to the second floor, his parents’ bedchamber on the first floor. Elysia was glad for the privacy, a place where they could talk, and the bedchamber impressed. It was so large she thought she might get lost in it, and the bed size so big that she wondered if she would find her husband when in it. There were numerous chests stacked against walls and various weapons hung on pegs. A good-sized stone fireplace took up nearly one of the walls, keeping the room toasty warm. A table laden heavily with food and drink was positioned to the left of the fireplace with two chairs tucked beneath it.
Her small bundle containing her meager possessions sat on top of one of the chests, appearing out of place in its surroundings.
She did not know what had her speaking up, since she rarely did, but her tongue was far too quick to speak her thoughts. “I know nothing about being a lord’s wife.”
He leaned down and kissed her gently. “You are a good, thoughtful wife, Elysia, and you reason wisely. Do as you please. I trust you.”
His words stunned her and it was on her tongue to tell him she trusted him as well but she said nothing, trust still an issue with her. And how to fix that even more of an issue.