“Please,” Adaira cried, ragged. She removed her hand from Jack and knelt before the Earie Stone and Whin. “Please help me. Please guide me. Where can I find the lasses?”

“Oh mortal woman,” said Whin, sorrowful. Her flowers began to wilt as she faded. “I cannot tell you. My mouth is barred from speaking truth to you. You will have to find the answers elsewhere.”

“Where? In the wind?” Adaira asked, but she was never answered.

The folk of the earth transformed into trees, stones, grass, and wildflowers. A clump of heather was the only evidence the spirits had manifested, a lingering trace of Lady Whin.

Jack felt sore and bruised as he continued to sit and stare at the Earie Stone. All he could think of was Lady Whin’s statement. A statement that was nearly identical to what the water spirits had uttered . . .

It is her.

His gaze slid to Adaira, on her hands and knees, discouraged and breathing like she was about to weep.

“Adaira,” he rasped. “Adaira, it’ll be all right. The earth told us more than we could have hoped for. The lasses are alive and well. It’s only a matter of time before we find them.”

She gradually regained her composure. She pushed herself up and drew a deep breath.

“You’re right,” she said, gazing up at the tree branches. “I’m just so tired, Jack.”

“Then let me take you home,” he said, brushing grass from his tunic. He made a note of his hands; they felt fine, as did his head. Perhaps he wouldn’t suffer from the magic this time. He decided to leave the tonic bottle in his harp case.

Adaira looked at him. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said such a thing. We’re all tired these days.”

“Don’t apologize,” he said. “You can always speak your mind to me.”

She looked at him, unguarded. Her father was dying, her lasses were missing. He could see her weariness mingled with her waning hope. He could see how much she wanted to be strong for the clan, strong for Torin and Sidra. And yet she was just one woman, and Jack wondered how she held everything together on her own.

He eased himself up to his feet. He felt drained, and a bit peculiar, but then he had nearly turned into the earth itself.

Play with caution, Lorna had said.

He understood now, and he offered his hand to Adaira, drawing her upright.

“We should get back to Torin,” she said. “He’ll be eager to know what we learned.”

“Yes,” Jack said. “We should hurry.”

They approached their horses in silence, and as Jack mounted, he realized that he was marrying Adaira the following day and he had no idea what to expect.

“What’s the plan for tomorrow?” he asked, gathering the reins.