A River Enchanted

Adaira summons Sidra to the castle to examine Eliza Elliot and make sure she is physically unharmed. Eliza is physically fine but cannot talk about what she experienced while she was missing. Adaira thinks the Breccans have found the way to cross the border unknown using the Oreanna flower, since Torin only sensed five intruders and Jack saw 10. This suggests five raided the farm and five dropped off Eliza. Adaira knows she must prepare for war, but she needs to wait for irrefutable confirmation that the Breccans are behind the girls’ disappearance. She wants vengeance like Torin, but she must temper her impulses as the future laird. She drafts a letter to Moray with an ultimatum. Then Adaira tells Sidra that Torin is wounded and missing. Jack continues work on his ballad for the wind.

Torin wakes in a moon thistle patch with a festering wound on his arm, the poison still making him want to hide and cower. He tries to cry out, but his voice is gone. He sees Sidra returning from the castle and manages to crawl to her. When he reaches her, she takes him into her arms, and he begins to sob.