“Our home is yer home. Stay as long as ye like,” Irene responded. “I hope ye won’t mind sleeping in the women’s solar, Maggie. All of the bed chambers in the castle have been spoken for.”
Dylan exchanged a questioning look with Jenna, who shrugged her shoulders in response. Obviously, she couldn’tfigure out this new and unusual Maggie either. “Irene, she can have my room. I’ll sleep in the soldier’s quarters,” Dylan announced.
“Well, if yer sure ye dinnae mind, would ye show Maggie to her chambers?” Irene smiled sweetly at Dylan. She had become like a big sister to him, since his arrival at the castle. She was a lot like Jenna in many ways and Dylan had been comfortable with her right from the very beginning. She ran the castle like a well-oiled machine, which was saying a lot considering the size of the place and the number of people employed in feeding, clothing and protecting Breaghacraig. Irene had a hand in it all and she commanded the respect of everyone with whom she came in contact. Her partnership with her husband was based on love, mutual understanding and respect. Their children were very well behaved and even though they could be seen getting into mischief occasionally, Dylan knew that the mere sound of their mother’s voice set them back on the right track immediately.
“Irene, we should get going,” Jenna said. “Mary’s waiting for us in the kitchen.”
“Yer right, Jenna. Dylan, Maggie, we’ll see ye at the evening meal.” Irene hooked arms with Jenna and the two women departed, heads close in whispered conversation, leaving Dylan alone once again with Maggie.
“Well, I guess I should show you to your room, and then I’ll take you on a tour of the castle, if you’d like.” Dylan took Maggie’s hand and led her from the great hall and upstairs to the bedchambers, all the while waiting for her to do or say something which would remind him of the girl he’d left behind in Glendaloch.
Chapter 2
“Auntie Edna, is everything okay?” Maggie asked.
Edna seemed to be in one of her trances as she stared into the flames of the fireplace.
“She’s seeing something,” Angus offered, concern in his voice. “Edna?”
“Aye. I’m fine, but there’s trouble brewing at Breaghacraig. Maggie, my girl, you’ll be needed there.” She turned away from the fire and faced Maggie.
“Me? You wantmeto go to Breaghacraig?” Maggie asked incredulously. “You want me to time travel?” She wondered if she’d heard that correctly. Wasn’t Edna the one that was needed there?
“This is something that only you can fix, my dear.”
“Edna, you can’t really be thinking of sending Maggie back in time by herself,” Angus stated.
“Aye. That is exactly what I’m thinking. Let me explain my vision.” Edna slumped heavily into a nearby chair, as if she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. “It seems thatour friend, Sir Richard is up to his old tricks once again. Every time I think we’re rid of him for good, he reappears. He’s much like a bad penny that way. This time he’s in league with a very powerful witch back in his own time. They, of course, are plotting and planning to take down the MacKenzies and this time he plans to use magick, not men, to accomplish his goals. The problem, my dear Maggie, is that this particular witch has worked her magick and is pretending to be you.”
Maggie gasped. “Are you sure, Auntie? How does she know what I look like and what I sound like?”
“Aye, I’m sure. I’m not the only one with the sight. She’s been watching you and learning all about you.” Maggie shuddered at the thought. “She has her sights set on Dylan and is using your relationship with him to gain his trust and the trust of the MacKenzies.”
“Oh, my. What can I possibly do to stop her? There’s still so much that I don’t know. How can I be expected to go up against a powerful witch?” Maggie fidgeted nervously, alternately wringing her hands and twirling anxious fingers through her hair.
“We’ll do our best to prepare ye, but I have no doubt that ye can do this. I wouldnae send ye otherwise.” Edna took hold of Maggie’s hands. “You’re going to knot that hair up good, my dear. Ye’d best stop.”
Maggie couldn’t believe she was the only one who could stop this witch, but she certainly didn’t want anything bad to happen to Dylan. She had been hoping Edna would allow her to go back in time at some point soon, so she could see Dylan again. There had been a spark between them and she wanted to explore it. She had never imagined her visit would be anything more than for the fun of it. Now she was expected to hone her skills as a witch and save Breaghacraig, the MacKenziesandDylan? Her stomach was doing somersaults as she thought of all the thingsthat could go wrong if she failed. “I’m not so sure I’m the best person to send. What if I can’t do it? What if she’s too powerful for me?”
“She’s right, Edna. I think ye go too far this time. Ye cannae send Maggie.” Angus looked quite angry as he paced in front of the fire.
“I understand how ye feel, Angus. And ye as well, Maggie, but I know what I saw and I also know Maggie is the only one who can stop this.” Edna took hold of Maggie’s chin. “Maggie, yer a much more powerful witch than ye ken. Ye’re even more powerful than me. I have every faith in yer abilities. You can do this.”
Maggie found that hard to believe, and hesitating for just a moment she gathered what little confidence she felt and said, “I’ll go.”
“I’m going with her then,” Angus announced firmly.
Fear had rendered Maggie speechless. Her brain conjured images of the evil witches she recalled from fairy tales.This can’t be happening. But Dylan needs me. I can’t let any harm come to him, or to any of the others. If Auntie thinks I must go, then I don’t see that I have a choice.
“Maggie, would ye feel better about this if I sent Angus along with you?” Edna asked.
“I don’t know. I imagine it would help, but do ye really want to come with me Uncle?” Maggie asked, holding her breath as she waited for his answer.
“Aye, love, I most certainly do wish to accompany ye. ’Tis been a long time since I’ve seen me own century and I’m thinking now is as good a time as any to do so. It’s been ages since I’ve had to fight for anything. I believe I’ll enjoy meself. And I’ll get to see me little girl, Arlena, once again.” Angus glanced lovingly at Edna, who as always, appeared to be a little melancholy at the mention of her daughter’s name.
“Okay, then, I’ll do it.” Maggie said.I only hope I won’t regret this,she thought.
“That’s my girl,” Edna said, rubbing Maggie’s back soothingly. “We’ve a lot of work to do before ye can leave, but I think ye’re up to the challenge. I’ll teach ye some spells that will come in handy and we’ll disguise yer appearance, so ye’ll have that little trick up yer sleeve. Angus will work with ye on using weapons and before ye know it, ye’ll not only be a skilled warrior, but ye’ll be a powerful witch. A powerful good witch who can repel the dark magic of this evil harridan.”
