"Merida?"

Merida turned but her face was downcast. "Oh, Pixus... I kenned ye were Edgar for a moment."

"That's what I came to talk with you about. Edgar is infiltrating Lady Hinkley's home."

"What?" she said, angry and shocked.

"It was his decision."

"He's not old enough to make those types of decisions on his own! Why in blazes did ye go along with him?"

"One, he dragged me, and two, to be honest his plan seemed to have the best outcome. No one seems to be trying to do anything so he decided to do it himself."

"And what is this 'brilliant' plan of his?" she said with an irritated expression.

"He made a wish to be able to control his size so that he could get into her home undetected as well as stay hidden to get a better assessment of the situation. During the night, he would make himself be normal, find Higgs, and then somehow convince him that he was there to save him and bring him home. Then he'd get him out and do just that."

"Idjit boy! An Higgs is as broken as ye say he is then no amount of coaxing is going to make him just get up and walk out of the that house!" she growled, whacking him in the arm.

"Ow!"

"Ye numpty! The both of ye! What a foolish plan!"

"I thought it was smart..."

"Ye're barely older than Edgar; of course ye did! Err! Now I have two people trapped in that hell hole."

"Edgar's not as dumb as you make him out to be."

"I ken that, but sometimes he's too much even for himself. An it wasnae Elizabeth Hinkley, then I ken the plan isnae a bad one."

The door to Merida's room opened and Jami stuck his head in. "Merida?"

"What?"

"There is a Mr. Castel out here. He wants to speak to you."

"Me?"

"Yes. Phabyl is keeping him at bay from walking in and Kans said that you're pretty good at shoving him off."

"I'll be there in a moment." She said with a sigh.

Jami nodded as Pixus looked at her.

"Castel?"

"He owns a circus and keeps wanting one of the Northumberlys to be in it, but he's never really met one in order to recruit anyone. Come on but keep yerself hidden. Dinnae want ye to be the first one he meets."

************************

"If I could just-"

"You're about to be forcefully withdrawn from the premises, sir." Phabyl growled, standing her ground against the older man.

"I only want to meet one of them, please!"

"I kenned I sent ye to the hills?" Merida said, walking up behind Phabyl with her arms crossed.

"Ah, hello, Ms. Dunbrough." He said, giving her a bow.

"What are ye doing here?"

"I have a message to give to you if you have the time."

"Doesnae seem like ye're here for a message. Ye look like ye're trying to do something shifty again."

"How could I pass up an opportunity to try and see one of the Northumberly men?" Merida made a face. "In all seriousness, I really do have a message."

"What sort of message would I ever want to take from ye?"

"It's about Higgs Northumberly."

"What about him?"

"I have information you may find helpful."

"He sounds suspicious." Phabyl said, folding her arms as well.

"Unfortunately, I always sound suspicious." He said with a small laugh.

"Aye, he does. I guess if he's come all this way..."

Phabyl walked off slowly but glared at Castel from over Merida's shoulder until Merida pushed him from the door.

"What is it ye want? I'm nay in the mood for yer silly hopes and dreams."

"I was given this letter by a Ms. Wibbles. She said I must deliver it with utmost haste. I asked her 'why me' when I knew you would most likely turn me away and she said, 'They wouldn't believe me due to circumstances, but an unlikely person who understands may deem it forgivable.' I'm not exactly sure what that means but..."

He handed her a letter and although Merida was very suspicious of it, she took it and looked over it.

+++++++++++++++

Merida,

First and foremost, I want to apologize for what I will tell you and for my lack of help. Elizabeth dismissed the staff (save me) and has been putting some kind of ingredient into my food to cause me to be highly susceptible to her cruel dealings. She stopped doing it for some reason (most likely knowing I'll tell you about Higgs) but because I allowed -and even helped- her do what she's done, I didn't think you could ever trust me, but you may trust Mr. Castel. He has some important information to help your case. Unfortunately, he will require some sort of payment.

I know this is farfetched and very unconventional, but going so far as to recruit Mr. Castel should show you my desperation.

I ran into your boy and he's going to try to help from the inside. We need a very powerful sleeping draught to give to Elizabeth to put her into a deep sleep and make it so that she is completely off-guard. Other details that I'd rather not write makes this option our only one.

I'm sorry.

Gretchen

+++++++++++++++++++

"What's yer information and what's yer cost for it?" she asked, looking up at Castel as he just watched her without much expression.

"The information I have... to be honest... I don't want payment to reveal. It's been weighing on my soul ever since it happened. Releasing me from this secret is payment enough."

Merida started to shake. "Oh dear laird... what could..."

"That Lady Hinkley is one scary woman. She came to my tent to ask about a hypnotist. We have two, so she paid me in advance and took me to Lord Clarvins' home. There, she laid out an evil plan to the lord. He was completely disgusted and tried to have her dismissed, but the hypnotist stopped him and made him forget. I overheard everything, but she paid me handsomely not to share what I'd heard."

"And... and what did she say?"

Castel shook his head. "I can't tell you." Merida made a face. "Not because of hush money or because I'm trying to get something from you, it's because it was so vile that I had the hypnotist hypnotize me so I could forget the details. I only remember enough to know that that young man is going through hell. The details are his to reveal, not me."

Merida held the letter to her chest, trying to get herself from crying.

"Is she... is she going to kill him?"

"Not physically." Merida looked at him. "But I think that might be a worser fate."

Merida nodded. "Thank ye... Ye didnae have to do this."

"I know I said I want no payment but I take it back." Merida glared at him as he held up his hands. "Hold on, let me finish. I only mean that when you've rescued the young man, I'd like to see him. I will not bother your family ever again if you show me that he is alive and well. I think one torture is enough."

"Aye... that I can do."

"Whatever you have planned, I'll help you cover it up."

Merida smiled. "I will keep that heavily in mind."

He nodded and left as Merida went back into the house. Jamison met her at the kitchen doorway.

"Well? What did he want?"

"We need to get a powerful sleeping draught and somehow get it to Edgar so he can put it in Elizabeth's food or drink. Gretchen says that it's our only option and I have to agree with her. Waiting isnae helping and deliberating isnae helping. Edgar is in that house with the best access to Higgs that we can ever have. As dumb as it was, he is the only one who proactively tried to get things done. So, let's help him bring Higgs home." She turned to Boston. "Boston, I need ye and yer father to try and make the most potent non-lethal sleeping draught that ye can muster."

Boston stood up. "I will see what I have already ready to work with and then I will inform my father of this task, Sir!" he said, saluting as if he were a soldier.

Merida nodded as he left and she looked at Margaret and Jamison.

"We're going to bring yer son home, I promise. I'm verra tired so, do with this what ye will." She said, handing them the letter.

Jamison was about to start reading it but Margaret snatched it from him and crumbled it up, tossing it into the fire heating up dinner.

"Why did you do that?"

"Isn't it obvious? Whatever was in that letter was disturbing enough to have Castel deliver it on his own and Merida not even give us that much detail about it. Merida would have described the contents, but she didn't. She only told us what was needed. Let's just do what we can to get this done and get our son home."

Jami nodded, understanding. Maybe it was better not to know...