Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

H amish was filled with anger. How dare this goblin sorceress use his beloved Mary in such a way. He knew if he wasn't careful, this goblin would cause the staff and people of the castle to fear Mary and he didn't want that to happen.

He kept his fingers laced with Mary's keeping her close. He couldn't allow anyone to think that his Mary was the evil goblin who was wearing her face. He would do everything in his power to end this goblin sorceress.

As they made their way to the Laird while searching the castle, Mary knew that she had to be brave. She couldn't cower in fear. She had to have her courage and be able to face down the goblin bitch that had stolen her body if it came to it.

Hamish knocked on the Laird's door.

"Enter," he called.

"Hamish, Mary, what news do you bring?" he asked.

"We have an urgent matter, Laird Donal. It seems the goblin sorceress has infiltrated the castle. Lady Ivy came to us when we entered and said that she had seen Mary enter the castle on her own more than an hour ago, but that is impossible as Mary has been with me this entire past week."

"Nellie Sharpfingers is here? In the castle?" Donal exclaimed.

"Aye, I immediately informed Captain Brendan, he's set the guard to searching the castle and grounds and then we came directly here."

"Good work, keep her with you, we don't want her mistaken for the goblin sorceress. Did you manage to gain control of your powers?" he asked, looking at Mary.

"Yes, but I can't use them unless I'm in that form and it will be hours yet before that will happen."

"Nothing we can do about that. I'll join in the search. Keep her safe." Donal gripped the hilt of his sword and took off through the door of his office.

"What should we do?" Mary asked, worried.

"We will join the search. Stay at my side, don't let go of my hand."

"Won't you need it for your sword?" she asked.

"If I need it, I will let you know, for now, do not let go."

Mary nodded.

They began to check through rooms, opening doors, and peering inside. When they reached Mary's room, Hamish had her look through everything to make sure everything was as she remembered it. He lifted the whisky decanter and smelled it.

"Is it okay?"

"I believe so, smells normal at any rate. We should check the kitchens."

Mary's gaze flew to his. "You think she's poisoned the food?"

Hamish gave her a grim look. "She did use poison in the village. It's possible they were merely practice for what she has planned here."

"Oh my gosh, Hamish we have go check before anyone eats anything." She reached for his hand again and together they raced back downstairs toward the kitchen.

Before they reached the kitchen doors there was a scream. They burst through the door and Hamish drew his sword. "Where is she?" he shouted.

The young kitchen maid was shaking and pointing at the other side of the long table.

Confused, Hamish moved cautiously around the table to see one of the young cooks on the floor. He secured his weapon and then bent down to check the woman. He shook his head. "She's dead."

"What! How?" Mary exclaimed as she looked about the kitchen. On the table was a bowl of soup. "Hamish, the soup, what if the poison is in it?"

"Good thinking. You, where is the soup?"

"O-over th-there." She pointed at a large pot.

Hamish moved to it, lifting the heavy pot from the fire.

"You can't do that, what are you doing in my kitchen?" Blair asked as she bustled into the room.

"We think it's been poisoned, one of your cooks has died from eating it." Mary directed Blair to the girl's body.

Blair strode to the door and opened it. "Toss it! I'll not be takin' any chances with it. In fact we may need to pitch it all?—"

Hamish tossed the turnip soup out to the scrap pile where a murder of crows descended upon it. They ate from the chunks of stew and within minutes the flock began to caw and then fall to the ground as they began to try to fly away. Grimly, he turned to the young maid. "Go get the Laird."

She nodded and scurried away.

"We have to check all of the food and drink." Hamish looked angrier than Mary had ever seen him.

"Aye, how are we to go about doing so without killing off more of my staff?" Blair asked annoyed.

"What's happened," the Laird asked, joining them.

"A cook's been murdered. Poisoned by the turnip stew. We've pitched it out the back, the birds have died, we need to keep the dogs from it," Hamish explained

"Aye, we'll see that the guards keep the dogs from it. Blair, we need to check everything."

"I'm still waiting to know how, I don't want to lose any more staff."

"Aye, aye. If only we knew what we were dealing with!"

"Was there anyone in here to see how it got into the stew?" Mary asked.

"My staff was here, you came in for a snack?—"

"You saw me?" Mary asked.

"Aye, you asked me for something to eat, said you were peckish."

Mary shook her head. "It wasn't me, it was her, the goblin who stole my form."

Blair's eyes widened. "Ah, well in that case, we should be fine. She was at this counter near the stew. I made her a platter of meat and cheese, but I had my back to the stew pot. The others were occupied with their own tasks, and would I hope have noticed if this woman came near."

Mary sighed. At least not everything was lost. "That's good." She nodded. "What did she do with the platter of meat and cheese?"

"She took it with her and went through the door toward the dining hall." Blair pointed.

"Good job, Mary. If you hadn't thought to ask, we might have lost all of the food for this night. Still, Blair, check with the others and make sure none of the staff recall Mary's look-a-like coming near the food they were preparing."

"Aye, I will," Blair agreed.

"We still have a goblin to track down," Donal declared. "Hamish, you and Mary inform Brendan about the dogs. Then continue the search."

"Aye."