Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24

A fter Hamish and Mary warned Brendan about the poisoned stew in the back garden, so the dogs wouldn't get into it, they headed back inside to see Blair and a few of the kitchen staff shifting a barrel out the back door.

"What's going on?" Mary asked.

"We think the mead has been poisoned as well as a few things in the pantry. Ava saw the woman who looks like you back there, so we're tossing anything that's been opened."

Mary's face fell. "I'm sorry, Blair." Mary felt as though all of this was her fault. This goblin was able to get away with things because she looked like her.

"Now don't you go apologizin', it isn't your fault this goblin is wearing your face," Blair admonished her.

Mary sighed. "Where should we search next?" she asked Hamish.

"Let's go down to the lower levels. We'll keep up the search there."

Mary followed him through the kitchen to a hallway that led to a set of stairs she hadn't known about. She'd never been lower than the main floor. "Is your room down here?"

"Aye. There are a number of large rooms down here as well. And then there is the dungeons."

"Dungeons? There's dungeons?" Mary asked in surprise.

"Aye. Of course there is. Where do you think we lock up the criminals?" He looked at her in confusion.

"I don't know. I guess I assumed there was a jail house somewhere. I didn't imagine it was part of the castle, though I know many castles have dungeons, I just didn't think of them being used," Mary explained.

Hamish asked, "So where do they put criminals in your time?"

"It depends. We have a county lock up that's meant for minor offenses, I guess. And then there are federal prisons for more dangerous crimes. It's a whole thing and I don't really know a lot about it. We've got a court system that deals with them once the police arrest them."

"You'll have to explain all that to me one day."

"I'll do my best," Mary said with a smile as they reached the next floor.

"Let's search in here. It looks like there are guards already searching in the bedchambers."

Mary followed him into a large square room that was near the size of the dining hall. "What's that?" she said, her eyes narrowing on something in the corner. She let go of Hamish's hand and approached it.

"What is it?" he asked, trailing after her.

Mary narrowed her eyes and realized the sun must be setting because suddenly her eyesight changed and she could see plain as day what it was. A large rat sat on it's hind legs staring at her, but something shifted and the rat suddenly didn't look like a rat. It looked like… a goblin!

Before she could say a word, she transformed, and as she did, the rat took off. Without even thinking about it, she took off after the rat, chasing it out into the hallway.

"There she is!" someone yelled.

"Halt!" another voice called.

Mary paid them no mind as she raced after the rat. She thought they were talking about the rat as well. However, she was wrong. She found herself facing the pointy end of a sword a moment later. "Ahhhh!" she screamed and stopped running. Her dress was pooled around her feet and it was all she could do to keep it in place.

Hamish pulled her back and stepped in front of her. "Stop. This is Mary, not the goblin sorceress. The goblin cursed her."

"Does the Laird know about this?" the guard asked.

"Don't be daft, of course the Laird knows! Do you think there is anything going on in this castle that he doesn't know about?" Hamish glared at him.

Mary tugged on Hamish's arm. "The rat! It's getting away!" She pointed down the hall.

"It's just a rat, why should we care?" another guard asked.

"It's not a rat, it's a goblin!" she said. "I could see it."

"How is that possible if you aren't really a goblin?"

"Because, you moron, when the sorceress cursed me, she stole my body and gave me hers, including her powers. Now don't be an idiot, go catch that rat!" Mary demanded, her hands on her hips as she glared at the three guards who were staring at her.

"I think we need to check with the Laird—" one of the started.

"And I think you had better listen to the lady before I report you to the Laird for disregarding an order!" Hamish growled.

"But you didn't?—"

"I'm doing so now! Get the rat!" Hamish yelled.

Mary watched the three guards take off after the rat and sighed. She slipped the dress from her shoulders, leaving herself in the shift. The dress was too cumbersome to wear as they chased after them. Hamish grabbed her dress and tossed it into a room.

"What are you doing? Won't someone be upset to find my dress in their room?"

"It's my room, love. Come, let's get after them."