"That did not go as planned," Melcorka said. Wriggling closer to Bradan, she turned her back so she could use her tied hands to wrestle the gag free from his mouth.
"Not quite," Bradan agreed.
"How did they capture you?" Melcorka asked.
"With far too much ease." Bradan sounded bitter. "That Eileen creature began to scream that the Caterans had her, so I ran to help her and walked right into an ambush. They threw my staff into the loch and brought me into the broch."
"We were both victims of the same type of trap," Melcorka said. "Eileen was planted to lure us in right from the beginning."
"Evil little bastard," Bradan said. "I always said I distrusted the People of Peace. No wonder she avoided my staff. It"s made of rowan wood, remember?"
"I remember," Melcorka said. She did not say
