by Jane Stain
"Aye," Eoin said with a hint of a snarl. And every last one o’ those tales ends badly, with those who dae na hae access tae the portals dying horrible deaths. I dae na ken enough tae be helpful, but I ken someone who will be. When my brother returns, we must pay him a visit."
12
Meehall whistled on his way over to the single lasses's tent to get Sarah. He had slept like a baby last night, thanks to his relief at not having her next to him. Having her so close was anything but relaxing.
She must've been waiting for him, because she rushed out as soon as he arrived. "I'm all ready tae gae." She was bright eyed and bushy tailed, just like him.
Seeing her so eager raised his spirits. "Verra good," he told her sincerely as he led her over where the horses were tethered.
She gave him a curious look when he walked right by Smoke.
He returned it with one of cautious generosity when he stopped by a white mare with a quarterstaff strapped to her side. "Snow’s saddlebags are laden with provisions for ye. Maisie's son made certain o’ that last evening before we slept. Dae ye need help getting on?" He stirruped his fingers to give her a boost.
"I dinna, but I wull take it. Thanks!" She was up straddling Snow’s back in no time, giving him a knowing look and settling herself over the quarterstaff and the rug that softened it a bit. "Oh, she’s still tied up. Will ye dae the honors?"
"Aye." He untied Snow, but instead of giving Sarah the reins just yet, he led the mare over next to smoke and mounted first. "I dinna ken how long it has been syne ye rode alone. ’Tis glad I am ye took lessons, but we canna take tae much care, ye ken."
She must've slept exceptionally well, because she was all jiggly with excitement and pent-up energy. And that made her more attractive than anything. Even when she rolled her eyes at him for some reason. "Och, I dae well enough. Lead the way."
He chuckled, then leaned his head over where everyone was gathering for the journey. "Ye may be better at riding than afore, but yer sense o’ observation has na improved, I see."
She smacked him on the upper arm with the back of her hand and ran Snow over to join the others, stopping neatly when she arrived next to Malina, Rory, and Eoin. Immediately, she started chatting with Malina.
But Meehall saw the look on Eoin's face, and it was not approving. He had better get over there fast before sparks flew between his brother and their mutual friend. What had gotten into his youngest brother?
Yep, they had been bickering. Sarah was looking pointedly away from Eoin when Meehall arrived on Smoke.
"Come on, Sarah. I want tae hae a word with Ciaran and Baltair."
Relief took over her face as she followed him down the party a ways. It was a good-sized party, three dozen warriors, all riding single. They would make good time, once they figured out where the Camerons were.
Meehall’s cousins smiled at Sarah, and to give them credit, they didn't stare too much. Knowing there were male time travelers was one thing, but apparently female time travelers were fascinating. He’d heard them speak of nothing else since she arrived —except for her female time traveler friends.
The ride over the mountain was uneventful, but Eoin sneered at Sarah while discussing their plans to free Nadia and Ellie. Ciaran and Baltair were kind to Sarah, though, and Meehall was glad he could take her away from Eoin and enjoy their company sometimes.
His brother was leading the party to a sacred grove, and talk of it reminded Meehall —and everyone else— of Cairstine. His clan were sharing memories of his late wife whenever they thought he couldn’t hear. His own memories threatened to swamp him into grief anew, just when he thought he was doing better.
When they got to flat land again, Sarah took off on Snow. She passed by before Meehall was able to shake off his glum mood and catch up with her.
"Race me to that first tree of the woods!" she exulted.
This would be easy. He kicked Smoke into a run.
The race was on. They rushed through the heather, jumping over a few small streams and rocks on their way. It was amazing how good Sarah had gotten at horse riding. He beat her to the tree, but only barely.
And then he made the mistake of meeting her eyes.
The way her face was flushed with excitement did him in. He rode right up to her side and gazed into her eyes. Seeing in them everything he was looking for, he leaned in, eager to taste her lips on his. Anticipating the way she would respond wholeheartedly. Not thinking about the consequences, the family curse, or anything beyond this moment. This perfect moment.
He was close to her lips. He could feel her breath on his cheeks. And then there was a rustling of the grass behind him, and the horses stamped a bit apart. The perfect moment was ruined.
Meehall turned Smoke in anger to face whoever had done this and give that person a piece of his mind. Seeing it was his brother only steeled his resolve. He might have known. The bodybuilder was taking his role as leader to the sacred grove entirely too seriously. "What the hell, Eoin?"
His brother sat up tall on Fire and made two loose claw fists at him and Sarah. "Ye dinna need tae be racing! This is a serious expedition, and ye two are taking it lightly. I wull hae tae separate ye for the rest o’ the—"
Meehall’s reflexes kicked in, making Smoke rear up on his hind legs and tromp the air with his forelegs.
Eoin backed down, but his fists were still brandished.
From up on the rearing horse, Meehall pointed at his little brother. "Ye wull dae na such thing!”
Eoin stood his ground now.
Meehall didn’t want to hurt his brother, so he gave Smoke the signal to bring his front down. “Ye ken why. ’Tis safest if she remains with us, including Ciaran and Baltair. But she canna ride alone with them."
Eoin snickered. "Ye fear they wull steal her from ye."
Meehall wasn't going to give his brother the satisfaction of a rise. Instead, he forced himself to chuckle. He had learned long ago that the best way to avoid confrontation with his brother was to take his sayings as jokes. "Aye, indeed there is that. Canna hae them getting too serious aboot her." He met Sarah's eyes then, intending to let her know it was a jest.
But her reaction floored him. She was still staring at him adoringly, just as she had been when he was about to kiss her.
Eoin moved in between them, denying them the privacy to discuss it. "If ye insist on being together, then ride with me and help me lead. Ye can invite oor cousins up there with us if you like, but ye wull be staying with me where I can keep an eye on ye. Nay more frivolity. I mean it. We are almost tae the sacred grove where I can summon the auld druid one time. Once I dae, we had better get all the answers we need, because like I said, I can only summon him one time." He looked at Sarah directly. "I'm using this one chance on yer friends, ye ken."
They had ridden up to the front and joined Malina and Rory. Malina saw what was happening between Eoin and Sarah and rode out to meet them. Falling in next to Sarah, she addressed her husband. "Frivolity adds a bit o’ fun now and again, if I recall correctly."
Sarah smiled at Malina in thanks before she turned back to Eoin. "I agree. Nay more faffing aboot. I thank ye for using yer one chance at the druid tae help my friends." She held out her hand in the modern way, for a shake.
Eoin looked at it, then up into her eyes, and raised his brows. At least he was no longer yelling.
Catching herself in the anachronism, Sarah lowered her hand and nodded matter-of-factly at Eoin. And then she froze and whispered to Meehall, “If we canna trust Kelsey, what makes Eoin think we can trust this ancient druid he can summon?” Her whisper was soft enough that only their family could hear.
Meehall met his brother’s eye and raised his brows.
Eoin moved his hand in a smoothing motion in front of him.
Meehall turned back to Sarah. “I asked the verra same question myself last night. But Eoin says he trusts this Deoord. Besides, I dinna see any other options.”
Ciaran and Baltair did ride up and join th
em as they got underway once more with the whole company of warriors. Sarah rode next to Meehall and Malina rode beside her husband. Eoin spoke frequently to Meehall over his shoulder.
They had left the meadow and were riding through forest again when Sarah dropped the bomb.
"Tell me about Cairstine."
No one had spoken directly to him about his late wife since her death except his sons.
Instantly, a painful sob racked Meehall's throat.
He choked it down. Sarah needed to realize how in love he had been with Cairstine. How much she had meant to him. "She was popular among the Murray clan. She knew all the old stories and would tell them around the fire. She taught them tae the boys as best she could. Alan remembers a few, and betimes, I can coax him tae sit still long enough tae tell one. She tried tae teach me, but I dinna hae the memory for it."
He choked up again, frustrated that he couldn't even pass on this part of his wife's legacy.
Sarah gave him a sympathetic pat on the forearm and then drifted away from him again to ride around the other side of a tree, quietly muttering “Bread and butter” while waiting for him to resume his tale.
He did. "She was sae good with the children, always talking tae them and singing. ’Twas na only oor children, either. All the wee ones o’ the clan loved her. There hae been schools in Scotland for ten years nae, but we canna stay in one place lang enough tae hae continuity o’ lessons. Cairstine taught them, Sarah. The children o’ his clan can read!"
"Wow!" Sarah said in English before she caught herself and switched back to Gaelic. "Sounds like she was an amazing woman."
Meehall took a deep breath against the grief that threatened to crush his chest "Even that isna all. She was devoted tae me as well, defending me. Anyone who had a word tae say against me was in one o’ her stories the next day. She didna kill them off, but she did cast them as the villains. There was much debate among the clan whether she was doing this on purpose, but elders who knew the real names in the stories assured me that aye, my wife was defending me."
Sarah started to give him another sympathy pat, but at the last moment she pulled back, instead just riding next to him quietly as their horses minced the spaces between the tree roots of the forest.
"Cairstine rode tae battle with me. She didna fancy the fighting, didna hae any talent for it, but she made me teach her sword sae she could help, blessed lass. She did learn passing well. Nay sae well as ye did learn the quarterstaff, mind, but well enough. She was as devoted a wife as a man could want, and I miss her dearly, sae verra dearly."
She left him alone so far as talk went, but she stayed by his side and kept him company, giving Eoin a stern look when he started to approach them and actually turning him away.
"I thank ye for that, but we dae need tae hear what my brother has tae say. Nay maire questions aboot Cairstine. I dinna want tae speak o’ her ever again, ye ken?"
“Aye," was all she said as the two of them rode back up to the front with Meehall’s kin.
"About time," Eoin said as he turned to look down the half mountain into the forest that rested below. “Dae ye see in the center where the tallest oak and rowan trees grow?”
"Aye," everyone said.
"'Tis a sacred grove. There, one time ainly, I can speak with that ancient druid I ken."
13
Sarah tied Snow up with the other horses and followed Meehall, Eoin, Ciaran, and Baltair into the thicker part of the oak and rowan forest. “Is na Malina tae come with us?” she asked Eoin’s back.
He didn’t answer, just kept climbing over twisted branches.
Meehall leaned down to whisper near her ear, “Eoin forbade her tae come tae the sacred grove. Says ’tis tae fraught with danger. She wanted tae accompany him anyhow, and he had tae appeal tae her that Rory might na be left with ainly one parent.” His breath tickled, and yet she didn’t flinch away.
Wanting to feel more of his breath but knowing that wouldn’t be wise, Sarah sighed, instead beginning to tread over the gnarled roots of huge old oaks and rowan trees. “It has na improved his mood at all.”
“Nay, it has na.”
“Dae ye believe this grove is a danger tae us?”
The Murrays had surrounded the sacred grove to guard them lest intruders appear.
Eoin was leading, as usual. "The rest o’ ye are along tae guard me. I wull speak with Deoord."
It wasn't really a question, so no one answered him.
Sarah hid the tiniest smile at Eoin’s expense. He probably took their silence for agreement, when it was far from that. She looked over to see if Meehall shared her amusement.
He didn't. His face showed only hope and reassurance. "Have na fear, Sarah. Soon, yer friends wull be free."
Sobered, she forced a smile. "I thank ye again for coming with me on this quest. I feel sae foolish for jumping at the chance tae time travel."
He pulled some bushes back to help her go through the forest. "Dinna be sae hard on yerself."
She went through and then moved aside again, so that they were walking close, but not touching. "What sort o’ friend am I, tae lead them intae captivity?"
Surprising her, Ciaran spoke up. "Ye are the kind o’ friend who goes after them and seeks their release. Who does na give up. Ye are the type o’ friend good tae hae."
Surprised and taken off guard, Sarah mumbled, "I thank ye. I dinna feel that way at all."
Ciaran rushed toward the next bush, reaching out his hand toward some branches which blocked the trail. "Well that is the kind o’ friend ye are, and ye need tae ken."
Meehall rushed ahead and pulled aside the branches, beating Ciaran there by a millisecond. "Aye, Nadia and Ellie are fortunate tae hae ye as a friend."
From up ahead, Eoin's voice came booming out. "Cut that silly banter oot, all o’ ye, and come ower here intae the sacred grove and guard me, already. While ye hae been caterwauling, I hae made all the preparations. Ye are holding up this expedition."
Sarah made her way through the remaining smaller trees into the small grove of large oaks and rowans. Maybe it was her imagination, but it seemed like the trees were dancing ever so slowly in a circle around a flat boulder that loomed in their midst.
Eoin was seated atop the flat boulder. In his hand was a tiny vial with a silver stopper. "Years ago, Deoord promised tae heed my summons if I poured out this vial inside a sacred grove." Flexing all his muscles, he looked up and addressed the trees, a solemn and self-important look on his face. "I dae this for the Murrays and MacGregors at the expense o’ the Camerons. I summon ye, Deoord, tae tell us how tae defeat the Camerons. Tell us how ’tis they travel such distances withoot dozens o’ druids in their midst. Give us aid tae find them and defeat them." He poured a thick black liquid out of the tiny vial onto the stone.
The liquid ate at the stone, making acrid smoke rise up.
Sarah didn't want to feed Eoin’s self importance by watching, but she couldn't help it. And then she had other things to think about.
The smoke over the hole being eaten in the stone shimmered. Colors swirled around. It was a meaningless swirl at first, but soon it all came together into the likeness of a very old man with wrinkled skin and gnarled hands. He was wearing a white linen robe that had seen much wear, judging by the stains on it. Oddly, the stains didn't make the robe look used but rather, seasoned. The man's hair was long and silver. And on his head was a crown of mistletoe. His pale eyes were open, but they plainly did not see, being unfocused and devoid of recognition.
The druid spoke in a voice that belonged to a much younger man, sturdy and sure. "Yer need must be great, Eoin. As ’twas agreed, this wull be the one and ainly time I come tae ye."
Eoin didn't waste any time with pleasantries. "Where has the Cameron clan gone with the lasses, Deoord? Which is our fastest route tae them? How can we get the lasses away with the least amount o’ bloodshed on oor side? Tell me!"
Deoord didn't cower at Eoin’s angry words, but he wasn't quick to answer, e
ither.
Spittle flew out of Eoin’s mouth. His face became red and his hands once more clawed into fists, which he shook at Deoord. "Tell me! That acid will eat through the stone before your slow voice responds!" Meehall’s brother lunged forward as if to shake the old Druid, but his hands went right through the apparition, which was gone for a moment with a break in the smoke before re-congealing into the likeness of Deoord.
Sarah couldn't stand it. She'd heard of this happening before, with overeager students at Celtic University. Druids didn't like being dictated to, and they would do everything in their power not to satisfy demands.
She addressed the Druid in the way of the university’s hired secretarial staff. "Please. Please tell me where my friends are and how I can save them."
The slightest smile took to the face of the old druid even as Eoin kept ranting and raving at him.
Deoord addressed his answer to Sarah, with his unseeing eyes. "The Cameron clan does hae a druid child.” He left it at that, pausing as if waiting for her to exclaim. When she didn’t, he went on. “Sculpted from dirt and created from magic, druid children hae nay parents. The earth is their mother. They see openings in space, openings that exist naturally and have since the beginning of time. Druid children are rare, and verra powerful. The Cameron clan’s druid child has na found portals for time travel yet, only portals that travel distance in the blink of an eye. But once she discovers how tae find portals that gae agin time, the Murray clan is doomed." He started to fade away.
Desperate at the idea that he would be gone and she wouldn't know how to save her friends, Sarah sobbed with grief, letting out her heart's desire in a whisper, begging the old Druid to help her. "How dae I find my friends? The Camerons have captured them!"
Just before he faded away, Deoord looked right at her. "Find them soon, verra soon. The Cameron clan has some aught planned for them. An abomination agin this waurld. Gae west. ’Tis na far. And dinna lose heart. The druid child can ainly travel through portals. There are na portals near the sacred groves."
