Chapter 7
“Ican no’ believe it,” Maggie said. “Dylan, they never made it back to Breaghacraig. They’re in San Francisco!”
“What went wrong?” Dylan asked.
“I doona ken. I did everything the way Auntie Edna taught me. Maybe she wasn’t there on the other side of the bridge. If that was the case then they might have ended up in San Francisco by default.”
“So how are you going to fix this?” Dylan asked.
“Good question. I’m open to suggestions.” Maggie scrubbed her hands through her hair in frustration.
Dylan took hold of her hands, stopping her from knotting up her beautiful red locks. When he had her attention he released her hands and with gentle fingers fixed her hair. “It seems like Zeke, Hamish and Donal want to help find Edna.”
“The more the better, I guess.” Maggie wandered to the windows and looked out on the sidewalk in front of the inn.
“I have nae idea where Uncle Angus is. It might be helpful to have them searching, too, or at the verra least finding Uncle Angus and letting him ken that a witch is holding her against her will in a house that nae one can seem to see. I wish I knew where ‘twas.”
“I thought it was on the other side of the bridge.” Dylan took Maggie’s hand and turned her to face him.
“So did I. But if ‘twas there when Ashley and the others tried to cross, they probably would have ended up back in the correct time.”
“Do you think it could be movable and the witch is playing some crazy game with us?” he asked.
“That’s what it looks like. How will we ever find her if the house keeps moving?” Maggie was sounding less and less confident.
“We’ll have to hope Edna contacts you again with more information.” Dylan pulled her into his arms and held her close.
Edna watched with dismay as Maggie and Dylan spoke.
It was a wonderful thing that everyone wanted to help, but doing so could put each of them in danger.
She wanted to tell them not to let Hamish and Donal help.
She was sure that was exactly what Evanore wanted and, perhaps, had somehow orchestrated.
There was nothing she could do locked away in this house.
William had been of no further assistance with the fireplace.
She had to find a way out and maybe that began with her ability to break Evanore’s spells.
She’d start with Barnes. If she could break the spell that had been used to entrance him she might stand a chance of finding a way out.
Edna felt better. She had a plan of sorts. Now to get to work.
***
“Are ye sure there’s nothing I can do to help,” Nick Mackall said. He stood at the gates to his castle as Angus and the others prepared to depart. He seemed eager to join them on their quest.
“Nay. I thank ye for yer hospitality,” Angus said, feeling truly blessed to have such a friend in Nick Mackall. “Please bid yer wife farewell and thank her for us.”
“Where will ye go next?” Nick faced Angus, placing a hand on the horse’s neck and softly stroking it.
“We’ll head to Castle Treun, to Dougall’s family.” Angus was in a hurry to be on his way. Any other time he would have lingered here with the Mackalls, but not today.
“Good luck to ye. I hope ye find her there. If ye need me help, ye’ve but to ask.” Nick walked with them to the gates of the castle and waved as they went on their way.
Dougall joined Robert and Angus to lead the way. It would be a longer journey, but they were prepared with supplies from the Mackall clan and with Dougall’s guidance they’d make it to Castle Treun as quickly as possible.
As they rode, Robert and Dougall kept up a steady conversation as did the brothers and Logan. Angus separated himself enough that their voices were a mere hum to his ears. He was thankful that they seemed to understand he needed some time alone to think.
Edna, where are ye? he wondered. It was a strange feeling not being able to speak with her.
She’d always been there, even when they were apart.
She could contact him either by phone in Glendaloch or by the light of a good fire if either of them were anywhere else.
He pictured her in his head and tried his best to send her a message.
Unfortunately, he had no skills as a witch.
That was Edna’s skill. He’d seen her do it enough times and thought it couldn’t hurt to try.
He pictured Edna in his head, at first the way he’d last seen her and eventually as the young lass he’d met at the bridge.
He remembered the first time he’d held her hand and the first time he’d kissed her.
It felt as if it were always meant to be that way.
They’d gone off on a walk together to the local stable.
Edna was gazing up at him with her beautiful green eyes.
He looked down at their hands as she reached for his and placed her much smaller hand in his large, calloused one.
A smile curled his lips. Her touch sent his heart racing with happiness.
He stopped and drew her into his arms. “May I kiss ye, lass?”
“Aye.” Edna closed her eyes as he dipped his head and gently touched his lips to hers.
A spark was ignited with that kiss. An undeniable electricity surrounded them charging the air and creating a blue aura that remained long after their kiss was done.
Angus remembered thinking it odd at the time, but Edna explained it must be proof that they were meant to be.
He had no doubt they were and the sooner he could marry the lass and make her his wife, the better.
“We’ll stop here for the night,” Dougall said, breaking Angus from his thoughts.
The day had passed by far more quickly than Angus thought possible and now they were in a small clearing in the woods.
Just large enough for them to build a fire and bed down for the night.
Logan and Cailin walked the horses to a nearby stream for water while Dougall and Cormac gathered wood for a fire.
“It’s been some time since I’ve been on an adventure,” Angus said, feeling the soreness of days in the saddle catching up to him. He stretched his arms over his head before bending at the waist to relieve some of the aches he was experiencing.
“Aye. For me as well,” Robert said, joining him as he stretched. “I love me wife and children, but there are times when riding with the lads, nae matter the reason, is a welcome respite.”
“I haven’t been away from Edna since I came to Breaghacraig with Maggie to rid ye of Brielle.” He straightened up and did his best to loosen the kinks in his neck. “I miss me wife.”
“I ken ye do and I feel yer worry for her. We’re prepared to take on anyone who stands in the way of her return to ye.”
“Thank ye. Yer a good man, Robert.” Angus was lucky to have such good friends, no matter the time or place he found himself.
Logan and Cailin returned with the horses, gave them all some oats to munch on and then left them to graze on the lush green grass of the clearing.
The fire was blazing and as the men rummaged through their saddle bags, Angus couldn’t help but hope that Edna might speak to him through the flames and end this torment of not knowing where she was or whether she was safe.
Silently he sat and waited unaware of the goings on around him.
He was so focused on the fire that he jumped when Dougall sat down next to him.
“I did no’ mean to frighten ye,” Dougall said.
“I was lost in thought,” Angus replied.
Dougall placed a skillet on the fire and began to prepare oat cakes. As he worked Angus noticed he would sneak a glance in his direction. “I’m fine lad. Nae need to worry.”
A deep chuckle erupted from Dougall. “I’m sorry. I’m just remembering how I felt when Helene disappeared. I believe I understand some of what yer feeling.”
“Edna could no’ be happier that Helene came back to ye. She knew ye were meant to be together.”
Dougall flipped the oatcakes as the others joined them around the fire. Once again, Angus thought about how lucky he was to count these men as friends. They wouldn’t let him down. He would trust any of them with his life. He hoped they knew they could do the same with him.
Dougall carved some tart apples into the skillet.
“What will ye do with those?” Logan asked.
“Something Helene learned on her trip to the future.” He poured a small amount of honey into the pan along with a pinch of cinnamon. He topped the oatcakes with the cooked apples. The men helped themselves and marveled at Dougall’s cooking skills.
Angus was impressed. “’Tis delicious,” he said.
“Do ye cook, Angus?” Cormac asked.
“Nay. Dylan is the chef at our inn and when he’s no’ cooking I can be sure Edna will be in the kitchen making something tasty for all to enjoy. She was no’ always a good cook, though.”
He thought about the first meal Edna had prepared for him. It had been anything but good. Burnt and unrecognizable, Angus had eaten it and convinced Edna he had enjoyed every bit of it.
“Angus, ye can tell me the truth. I can see ’twas no’ good.” Edna kissed him on the forehead as she took his plate away. “I will no’ be angry with ye,” she called back from the kitchen.
He smiled. Edna was everything he could have ever wanted in a wife. She was kind, caring, smart and fearless. And she loved him even when he felt unlovable. She was a good woman. All he had to do was look around the fire at these men who now had loving wives and beautiful children because of her.
“We should get a good night’s sleep,” Angus said. “’Twould be good to get an early start in the morning.”
They made themselves comfortable, using their plaids for blankets and saddlebags for pillows.
They’d done it often enough that they knew exactly how to get comfortable on the hard ground.
Angus thought about his nice soft bed and the down pillows he’d left behind at the inn, but he’d happily suffer the discomfort of the trail if it brought him any closer to finding Edna.
All the soft mattresses and down pillows meant nothing to him if she wasn’t there to share them with him.
Before they drifted off to sleep the sound of horses coming their way had them all hopping to their feet, swords drawn and ready for whoever would arrive in their midst. They waited, but in no time at all, two beautiful white steeds appeared and riding atop one of them was Biera, the faerie Queen of Winter.
Her beauty could not be described in words.
She wore a silky, flowing gown that was an iridescent white topped by a matching robe with fur on the hood, cuffs and hem.
The men all bowed to her as she was lifted to the ground by her companion.
He, too, was from the faerie kingdom and was also dressed in royal finery.
He bowed to queen once her feet touched the ground, taking the reins of both horses as he waited.
“Biera, to what do we owe this honor?” Robert asked.
“Edna is in need of help. ’Tis no’ yet winter, but I was awakened early by a persistent feeling that all was no’ well.”
“How did ye ken it to be Edna who needed help?” Angus asked.
“Edna and I have been friends a verra long time. I could feel her reaching out for help.”
At last. Biera would have answers, she would tell him where to find Edna.
“Do ye ken where she is?” Cailin asked.
Biera turned to Angus, her eyes full of sadness. “She is no’ anywhere ye can find her,” Biera said.
Angus felt his skin go cold. “What do ye mean?” Angus whispered, feeling his despair grow around his lungs and squeezing the air from his body.
“She is safe, sir. Have nae fear, but she is no’ visible in this world.” She extended her hand through the air.
Angus frowned on hearing this. It made no sense to him. “Are ye saying she’s no’ in this world?”
“No’ at all. I’m saying she is no’ visible.”
“Nae one can see her?” Angus asked.
“Only the one who holds her prisoner.” Biera gazed at Angus. Her soft features glowed, entrancing all those who saw her.
Dougall cleared his throat to speak. “So she’s no’ at Castle Treun, or with the Sinclairs?”
“Ye would no’ find her there,” she replied in a beautifully melodic voice. “Go back to the bridge. Yer answer awaits ye there.”
Angus scratched his head. He had a destination, but somehow that was not going to solve the problem. Had Edna been at the bridge all along? How is it that he’d missed her? “Ye say she’s a prisoner. How so?”
“The witch who holds her has created an illusion that only Edna can see. ’Tis no’ real.”
“I passed right by her then.” Angus couldn’t believe that he hadn’t felt something as he passed.
“Who is this witch?” Robert asked.
“Her name is Evanore.” Biera’s melodic tone changed, taking on a more serious note as she spoke of the witch. “I believe ye all are familiar with her sister.”
“Brielle!” Angus said. He couldn’t believe his ears. He thought they were done with her and now to hear that her sister had Edna sent fear for his wife rushing through him.
“She is the verra one. Evanore believes she can avenge her sister’s death.”
“Does she plan to kill Edna?” Angus had to know what he was up against.
“No. She is no’ like her sister. She is no’ violent by nature. She has other plans in mind that involve all of ye.”
“Us?” Cailin said, not quite understanding. “How do ye ken all of this?”
“I have me ways. Edna is me friend. I can feel what she is feeling and see what she sees.”
“And ye ken Evanore?” Angus asked. Worry for his friends and what this witch had in store for all of them was at the forefront of his thoughts.
“I do. We are no’ friends.”
This was news that Angus wasn’t expecting. He was happy to know Edna was safe and that she would not be harmed, but he wondered just what Evanore’s plans were for the rest of them. Obviously it would be something that would hurt Edna as well, but what?