by Jane Stain
For good measure, she threw in a cloth bag of handmade hard candies, too, wrapped in wax paper. That gave her the idea to pack several unused sheets of wax paper—both for her own use and to trade with other women. From her study of literature, she knew paper was very rare and expensive in this time, but that it did exist. She didn’t bother crumpling the wax paper up, knowing that just walking around with it in a pouch would do that for her.
Gathering up her costume and packing her pajamas and street clothes in an overnight bag for the weekend gave Emily the idea to include several sewing needles in her gear. She stuck them all through a small piece of leather that she doubled over so that the points didn’t stick out. She figured the women of the time would trade her almost anything for such fine sewing needles. She added some safety pins, since they were small and safe to carry.
Again from her literature studies, Emily knew that if she tried to trade in gold or jewels while dressed as a peasant, then she would be accused of thievery—and considered guilty till proven innocent. Likewise, she knew it was pointless to buy a fancy costume at the faire and try to pass herself off as nobility. For one thing, all the nobles of Europe knew each other well, being cousins and all. No matter how well she studied up on an obscure noble from faraway Spain, for example, a local noble was sure to spot her fakery and have her drawn and quartered.
And anyway, a noble lady would have attendants. Emily was sure she and Dall would be traveling alone.
She already had her first-aid textbook on her phone, along with the complete works of Shakespeare. She browsed through the free ebook section about Scotland and chose a history book, a survival guide, a recipe book, and an herbal. She had downloaded an elementary engineering book and another three dozen free reference books when her parents got home.
And then at dinner Thursday night came the hard part.
Thank God her parents hadn’t invited anyone over. She needed them to know she and Dall were getting serious, or they wouldn’t be ready for what she hoped might happen. She couldn’t tell them the whole truth. It was too … supernatural. They would freak. But she told them the gist of it.
“Mom, Dad, Dall’s going home to visit his family this weekend, and he just invited me to come meet them.”
For all they know, we talk on the phone constantly while they’re at work. I wish.
Emily could tell her mom meant to say she couldn’t go. She got ready to say that too bad, she was going anyway.
They won’t stop paying for school just because I take a trip to Scotland. They might threaten, but they won’t actually do it. I know them too well.
But her dad put a hand on his wife’s arm and spoke for them.
“I can see that you’re set on going, Emily, so we won’t forbid you to go.”
Emily blinked at him, not quite believing what she was hearing.
“I know you often think we’re out to spoil your fun and that we forbid things just to do that.”
“No I don’t.”
“Heh. You do though. It’s written all over your face. The fact is, you’re an adult, Emily.”
She raised her eyebrows at her dad.
“I never thought I’d hear you say so.”
“Well, you are. We have some sway over you because we’re paying for grad school and we paid for college, but very soon you’ll be done with that and out in the real world making adult decisions. So I think you should practice that a bit now. And, I think it shows maturity in your Dall, that he’s asked you to come meet his family. I hope we get to meet him next.”
The Scots clan meeting and Friday evening party were full-blown revelries this final weekend. They danced to modern music on Siobhan’s iPod—both outside her trailer and in, thanks to a networked set of speakers. The liquor flowed even more freely than usual.
Emily and Dall couldn’t get away alone, and they couldn’t hear each other whisper over all the noise. They held each other close and slow danced the whole time, even though all the songs were fast.
Siobhan surprised Emily Saturday morning. Handing Ian two covered plates and a Thermos, she said, “Please take Vange over to the picnic tables and eat your breakfast. I need to talk to Dall and Emily.”
Vange looked at Emily uncertainly, but Emily gave her a big grin, so she and Ian left.
“I saw that you found the app yesterday, Emily. I’m going to save you and Dall a lot of angst and just lay everything out on the table. Then, I’m going into the next room so you can give him your decision in private and say your goodbyes, if that’s what you decide.”
Dall smiled at Emily reassuringly. “Lass, whatever ye decide wull na change the strong feelings I hae for ye, and if nowt else, we can still see each other at the faire each year.”
Emily smiled back at him. “Of course I’m—”
But Siobhan gently put a hand over Emily’s mouth. “I’ve discussed this with Dall at length. He wants you with him, Emily, but he is concerned about your safety—”
Again Emily tried to speak. “I’ve seen you fight, and you’re more than capable of—”
But Siobhan talked over her. “It’s a valid concern. By now, you have surmised that Dall is returning to his own place and time—which is Glen Strae, Scotland in 1540. The MacGregor clan is tough, but there is danger, Emily.”
Emily spoke to Dall, not to Siobhan. “I’m coming with you. I want to meet your family. I want to get to know you better.”
And I want to see the highlands as they were in 1540, before the modern world came along and spoiled them. Would any Outlander fan turn down this opportunity? She’d be nuts to. I did the girl-scout thing. I’m prepared. Bring it on.
Dall brightened. “I want ye with me, lass. Ye make me verra happy, saying ye want the same.”
Siobhan was brisk now. “If you’re sure, then get everything you want to take along, take out your phone, and open the app.”
Over her tea-stained English peasant costume, Emily strapped on her belt with the pouches and wrapped her cloak around her. She made sure her dagger was sheathed in her boot and put on her muffin cap, hiding her hair. Finally, she got out her phone and opened Siobhan’s app.
“OK, but I have stuff in my pouches that I was hoping Simon and his friends could disguise first.”
Siobhan shoo’d Emily’s hands toward her pouches. “I took care of that while you slept. Have a look.”
Emily took her time and examined the faire crafters’ work. Her pills—including the oral antibiotics—had been crushed into powder and placed in several tiny earthenware jars, each one protected by a soft leather pouch that was branded with a symbol which identified the medicine’s use. Each pouch also contained a tiny metal dosage spoon. The ointments—antibiotic and antifungal, as well as moisturizer—had been squeezed into the intestine of some animal, perhaps a sheep, and tied off at both ends like sausages, the opening end with a bow. These too were branded with pictures that let her know which was which.
Her magnifying glass and Diva cup were wrapped in wax paper and put in with the similarly wrapped hard candies. Each sheet of wax paper had been crumpled over and over so that it looked to have been used a dozen times. Each sewing needle and safety pin had its own tiny leather sheath.
Emily took Dall’s hand with her left and in her right held her phone so that it looked like she was admiring her reflection in the back of her brooch.
Dall squeezed her hand. She squeezed back.
Siobhan put her hands behind her back and paced. “You and Dall are programmed to come back two months from now, on July 19. See the countdown in the top corner of the app?”
Emily nodded yes.
Siobhan turned and paced the other way. “In order to come back, you must return to the same spot where you arrived in his time and push the green button. If something happens to your phone, you can still come back by contacting the druids of that time and explaining the situation … but it would be better if you protected your phone. Understand?”
“Yes.”
&
nbsp; “See that red button, Emily?”
“Yeah.”
“When you’re ready, push it.”
Just before everything went all swirly and the world felt like it was closing in on her, Emily heard the trailer door open and felt several people bump into her. She also noticed that Siobhan had texted her:
“Your job is to make sure Dall comes back.”
3 Scotland
Emily blinked, but the darkness remained. The brightest light in the huge windowless room was coming from her phone, which she still held in front of her as if she were admiring her reflection in the back of her brooch. She quickly lowered her phone under her cloak, hiding the light coming from it. The screen had shown her current location and time, which were Loch Awe Scotland, May 20, 1540.
She heard the distant muffled voices of many people upstairs, and their footsteps caused the wooden floor above her to creak and whine. All around her, she heard a dozen men groaning and getting up, complaining about the cold stone floor. Hopefully, if anyone had seen the light from her phone shining on her face they would tell themselves it had been a reflection of the candle behind her.
Dall dropped her hand and made gestures that included her and the people she could hear behind her, who had now finished getting up. He was saying something incomprehensible but very Scottish-sounding to someone she hadn’t seen until now.
When her eyes were finally adjusted to the darkness, she took a good look. Dall was talking to a druid. She recognized the white linen robe and the crown of flowers.
“What are you saying?” Emily asked Dall.
“Hello, English people,” Dall said to her now in English with a formal smile, including in his glance the others around her. “Welcome tae Kilchurn Castle.”
“Very funny, Dall. And wow, I didn’t know we were coming to a castle. I thought we would arrive in your glen.” Her smiling delight slowly dissolved as she watched him. He smiled politely—and even a little interestedly, which gave her some relief from her growing horror—but there was no sign that he recognized her, let alone shared in her delight.
Startling Emily, the Druid spoke.
“Aye, welcome tae Kilchurn Castle, English people. I am Eamann. In the Gaelic language o’ the highlanders, Dall MacGregor was asking me why I brought him doon here tae meet ye. He asks if his business with ye is urgent, because he was on his way tae sit doon tae the morning meal with his clan. Dall, these people hae ainly just arrived, and ainly they can tell us their purpose here.”
Dall and the druid now looked at Emily for an answer. She turned around to see who the other people were, and why they were so quiet.
Dog and his crew of biker-archers stood there blinking at her, and sort of panting. They looked like they might go into shock. They were definitely in no shape to speak up.
At least they had their semi-period bows and arrows with them. They had each packed some sort of gear, too, though who knew if she should be glad about that. They probably had cigarettes, and lighters, and any number of other things they couldn’t be seen with here…
The druid cleared his throat.
In one last attempt to wake Dall up and make him remember her, Emily looked deep into his eyes.
The druid cleared his throat again.
“Yes, our purpose here is,” Emily said, turning again to look at Dog and his crew, “that we are an English troupe of actors.”
Dall and Eamann looked shocked. Emily was puzzled for a moment, but then she recovered.
“The men are actors, that is. Of course I am not an actor. I am their … director.” Emily smiled.
Dall and Eamann gave her blank stares.
“Yes. I am their … coach.”
Eamann looked at Dall, who shrugged.
“Teacher?” Emily tried, getting frustrated.
Dall and Eamann nodded and smiled at her and each other.
“Yes. I am their teacher. I will make them great in the art of drama if it’s the last thing I do, by golly.” By now, Emily’s smile was plastered on and kind of idiotic looking.
Smiling kindly at Emily and yet piercing her eyes with a very pointed stare, Eamann said, “We believe ye are their teacher. Most folk will na. Ye ken that a lass traveling with many lads looks loose, Mistress …?”
Emily felt her cheeks turn bright red. “Mistress Emily, and it isn’t that way at all.”
Eamann put his hand out in a halting motion. “I ken it is na. Perhaps ye can be my apprentice—“
“But I really do need to teach them, if they’re going to put on a play.”
Eamann exaggerated the piercing stare he was giving Emily.
Oh. That gave her a better excuse for being here. She finally relaxed.
Eamann turned to Dall. “After ye hae broken yer fast, wull ye see aboot having them perform a play here in say, two weeks’ time?” He looked to Emily with a question in his eyes.
“Yes, two weeks is enough time to get them ready,” she said, looking the biker-archers over and making plans in her head.
Eamann nodded at her and continued addressing Dall. “See tae lodgings for oor guests.”
Dall turned to them. “Wull met, Emily and company. Certies, oor clan chieftain wull be glad tae provide accommodation.”
Emily despaired until she saw Dall turn his eyes toward her a second before he disappeared up the stairs. She was sure he was interested in her—interested again rather than still, but interested, nonetheless.
Dall had only been gone a moment when there was a commotion upstairs and a man called down Eamann’s name along with something incomprehensible in a tone that could only mean someone needed help urgently.
Emily raced up the stairs after Eamann.
Laughing, all the children took turns imitating Alasdair spitting out the meat and Emily squeezing Alasdair from behind. They reveled in telling everyone who ran into the room to see what all the fuss was. The dining hall got more and more crowded.
Emily couldn’t understand the children’s Gaelic words, but they were easy to guess when coupled with the action.
“Pfftooh.” And it went all the way over there.”
“She grabbed him from behind like this, and squeezed him all at once, and pop. Out it went.”
Emily had stowed her phone/solar brooch combo in one of her pouches while she charged up the stairs. She was standing around with the other adults laughing at the children’s antics when Dall approached her. Alasdair was with him.
“Alasdair, allow me tae introduce ye tae Emily, the lovely lass who did save ye from yer choking fit. And Emily, please ken this is Alasdair, the chief o’ Clan MacGregor, constables of Kilchurn Castle.”
Feeling a bit of hope that Dall might remember her after all, or at least come around again to the level of affection they had shared in her own time, Emily smiled.
Alasdair looked about forty. “I thank ye, lass, for the wee bit o’ help. Would ye join us at table?”
Emily might have been imagining it, but she thought he was looking at Dall with a bit of speculation about her.
“Thank you, but I already breakfasted,” Emily said, thinking of the eggs and bacon she and Dall had eaten together in Siobhan’s trailer backstage less than an hour before. “The actors downstairs might like some food, though,” she added as an afterthought.
Before addressing Emily again, Alasdair said something in Gaelic to a young man, who ran toward the kitchen. Then he smiled back at Emily. “’Tis odd for a lass tae arrive with a troupe o’ actors, but ’tis glad I am ye did!”
They all laughed.
“Which one o’ them is yer husband?”
“Alas, I’m not married,” Emily said with a bit of a sigh while glancing at Dall, who didn’t seem to notice.
Alasdair did. “Sorry tae hear it. Ye are English. What brings ye sae far from home, then?”
Emily answered as truthfully as she dared. “I wanted to see the Highlands, to travel a bit before I settled down to grown-up life.” There. That was as much of the truth
as she could give him. She couldn’t very well tell him most of the reason she had come was to follow Dall and meet his family because she was falling in love with him in another time period.
“Ah, a bit o’ the wanderer in ye, aye?” Alasdair said with a smile that included Dall in a way that said non-verbally, ‘isn’t that adorable?’
Emily about fainted when Dall nodded yes. Her hope was growing. He didn’t seem to be able to take his eyes off her. Maybe everything would be OK.
“Well now,” Alasdair went on, “we wull accommodate ye and yer actors.” Here, he exchanged nods with the same young man who was now running plates of food down the stairs, and then he said to Emily, “Ye can stay in with the one other unmarried lass, Annis. I wull hae them set yer place at the table next tae Dall here. He tells me ye are the actors’ teacher?”
To his credit, Dall put a hand on Alasdair’s shoulder at this point, and to Emily, this appeared to indicate Dall would not change his story. Holding her breath, she let her smile shine at Dall.
He unaffectedly returned it. Things were going to be OK.
She needed to answer Alasdair’s question. She turned to the chief, and he looked amused. She was happy to let him think this was all new to her and Dall.
Forcing herself to keep looking at Alasdair, Emily said, “Yes, we will need to practice the play in your setting before they are ready to perform.”
Alasdair nodded once decisively. “Oot in the courtyard is the ainly place we hae that is large enough. I will hae the word spread far and wide. Annis.”
A slender girl about 15 years old came over.
