Chapter 4 #3
“I thought that was the case. Evanore has used some magic to hide it, but that’s where I am.
” Edna paused for a moment, gazing at the hopeful faces staring back at her.
“Maggie ye’ve got to get the girls back across the bridge and once ye are there ladies, ye’ve got to go straight back to Breaghacraig. Do ye understand me?”
“Yes,” they all answered at once.
“Okay. I may no’ be able to contact ye again, Maggie. I’m being allowed to see what ye are all doing, but I cannae leave.”
“What can we do?” Maggie asked, sounding eager to do whatever she could to help.
“I doona ken. All I ken is that Evanore wants to undo all that I’ve done.” She did her best not to sound defeated. She needed Maggie to know that she was staying strong and could handle anything that came her way.
“An uncoupling?” Sara asked, appearing alarmed.
“I believe ’tis possible. She wants ye back in yer own time and if she succeeds ye will be separated from those ye love.
” Edna couldn’t bear to see the looks of despair on the faces of these women she cared so much about.
She believed in her heart that they belonged with those she had matched them to and that Evanore had no right to undo what Edna had done.
“Who is Evanore?” Maggie wondered.
“I doona ken. She’s a powerful witch. I ken that much and she has some vendetta against me. She wishes to bring me before the Council of Witches.”
Maggie sat up on hearing this. “Why? Ye’ve never done anything wrong.” She sounded indignant for Edna.
Edna brushed a stray hair back from her face. “I did no’ think I had, but she feels otherwise.”
“I’m sure they’ll find in yer favor,” Maggie assured her.
Edna checked the fireplace. The flames weren’t as bright and strong as they had been. “The fire is waning. I have to go. I love ye all. Be careful.”
The fire sputtered out. William turned and walked past her. He jumped on the bed and waited for Edna to join him. “It’s been exhausting William. I doona ken what time it is or even what day. How long have I been here?”
She hadn’t eaten anything, but she wasn’t hungry. She’d slept briefly, but until this moment she’d been running on adrenaline. Finally sapped of all that energy, she closed her eyes to the soothing sound of William’s purring.
***
“So ye have no’ seen her,” Angus repeated the words he’d just heard from his younger brother, Callum. They’d arrived at the castle where he’d spent his childhood and had been greeted almost immediately by his brother. Angus hadn’t seen him in a few years. The last time he was here it was with Edna.
“Nay, she’s no’ been this way. I’m sorry brother.” Callum, who had seemed delighted to see Angus only moments before, now spoke in a somber tone.
Angus knew that if he was to find Edna he must be on his way, but he also knew that the best thing to do would be to stay the night with the Campbells and head out first thing in the morning.
If he was on his own it would be different, but he couldn’t ask Robert and the others to forgo a good meal and a night’s sleep.
“Will ye be stayin’ then?” Callum asked, sounding hopeful.
“Aye. Just for the night. Me search is no’ over.”
“Come then,” he led Angus and the others from the courtyard into the great hall where it seemed the entire Campbell clan had assembled to enjoy the evening meal. His sister Eleanor jumped up from her seat and ran to hug him.
“Angus! ’Tis good to see ye. We had nae word ye would be visiting.” She held onto him tightly. “I’ve missed ye.”
“And I have missed ye,” Angus replied, feeling a warmth and love for his sister that never changed.
“’Tis been far too long.” He loved Edna and he loved his life in Glendaloch.
There wasn’t a chance he would leave it, but this place still tugged at his heartstrings every time he was lucky enough to visit.
She led Angus and the others to a long table set with benches on either side. They sat and she joined them, sitting by Angus and gazing at him with happiness in her eyes and a smile on her lips.
Eleanor was the youngest of the family and had been but a wee one when Angus left the clan to set out on his own.
He remembered how she always followed him wherever she could, peppering him with questions about everything.
If he could be in two places at one time, he would gladly do so.
That was how much he missed his family. When he found Edna he would speak to her about visiting more often.
Remembering why he was here, he didn’t allow himself to think about what would happen if he couldn’t find her.
Large platters of food were set on the table in front of them. His companions dug in, helping themselves to the wondrous fare before them.
“Are ye no’ hungry?” Cailin asked.
Angus sucked in a deep breath through his nose.
He glanced around the room at the once familiar great hall and the many faces he’d known since he was a lad.
His gaze moved to Robert, Cailin, Cormac and the rest. This was his world.
The world he’d been born into and now a world where he found comfort in his hour of need.
“I be fine,” Angus said. “Just remembering.”