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Gavin… What is going on?

“Where did they go?”

The man shook his head. “I daenae ken, me Laird. No one thought to question him, nor keep a close watch on them. We had bigger worries.”

Alisdair strode out of the Great Hall, Duncan close behind. They crossed the yard, the ground still bearing marks of the battle earlier, and out through the gates. There were hoofprints everywhere.

“Here.” Duncan crouched down.

Alisdair walked up to him and looked over his shoulder to find two sets of hoofprints. Only, one of them was fainter and narrower.

“A smaller rider,” Duncan noted. “Isla.”

Alisdair saw red, his breath quickening. Isla was gone, taken from him. How could he have lost her when he had just found her?

“North,” Duncan added. “These two sets go north. He must have led her through the northeast pass.”

Alisdair ran back to the hall.

“Ewan, gather yer men,” he instructed. “Leave a watch here and fan out north to look for Isla.”

“North?” his aunt echoed.

“The northeast pass,” Alisdair clarified, then turned to his guards. “Send word to the villages. Everyone, drop what ye are doing and look for the Lady.”

“Oh, nay!” his aunt gasped.

Alisdair frowned at her. “Auntie.”

“I never wanted to believe it was true. I thought…” Dread contorted her face. She stood up, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“What is wrong, Auntie?”

“I should have said something.” She shook her head. “He was always protective of her.”

“Gavin?”

“How was I supposed to ken?” she cried in despair. “She never gave him any reason.”

“Are ye talking about Isla?”

She shook her head again. “Catherine.”

Alisdair staggered backward. Gavin had always been by his side, more than an advisor, more than a subject. He had been like family. He had even ridden with him to Catherine’s territory to negotiate the wedding contract.

“Nay,” Alisdair muttered.

“She never allowed any liberties, but I have seen him… Oh, Alisdair,” his aunt lamented.

“What did ye see?” Duncan asked.

“He used to watch her window and spend nights outside her door. He always followed her around.”

Alisdair had a hard time believing what he was hearing.

“Catherine never allowed any liberties. She was polite with him but kept her distance. But I could see his… attention.”

Alisdair felt his heart sink. His own advisor had been obsessed with his first wife, and he⁠—