Maggie tried to hide the disappointment she suffered at this pronouncement, but it seemed from Dylan’s expression that he was equally unhappy about the situation. They kissed each other good night and before Maggie or Dylan was ready to be finished, Angus clapped Dylan on the back. “Come along, son. She’ll still be here in the morn.”
Maggie watched as a very dejected Dylan followed Angus out the door. Maggie didn’t move until they were both out of sight, and then she slowly trudged up the stairs to bed.
As she climbed under the fur covers, she heard Edna’s voice. It was so clear, Maggie could have believed Edna was in the room, although Maggie knew that was not the case.
“Maggie, ’tis me. I wanted to tell ye how verra proud I am of yer efforts. Ye were brave and strong and I can tell ye now—ye saved many a life by taking Brielle’s.”
“What do ye mean? I dinnae understand.” Maggie was confused. She thought the only thing at stake had been the bridge.
“Maggie ‘tis time ye knew the truth of it. Brielle made a bargain with me. One I didnae wish to honor, but she left me nae choice. She wanted the bridge, there’s no doubt about it, but she also threatened to destroy the MacKenzies if I didnae send ye in me place. She thought that ye’d be much easier to defeat. What she didnae ken, but found out when it was too late, was that ye are a much more powerful witch than I am.”
“Auntie, you’ve said that before, but I just don’t believe that’s possible. I’ve only just started to use my magick,” Maggie protested.
“Ye may have just started, but that doesnae mean that the power hasnae been there all along, my dear. Believe me when I tell ye, that ye are the most powerful witch in the MacKinnon line,” Edna stated proudly.
Maggie took a moment to digest that bit of information. “But I still dinnae see how I saved anyone’s life.”
“If ye hadnae stopped her, she would have been responsible for much death and destruction, as a result of what she intended to do with the bridge. She didnae care about what might happen in the future, she was only interested in gaining untold amounts of power from selling travel across the bridge to the highest bidders. There would be those who would have crossed with evil intention, to gain wealth and destroy their enemies. It could have changed the very course of history!
“Why didnae ye tell me, Auntie? I was so confused by yer secrecy.” Maggie thought back to the anger she had suffered, being put in the position of dealing with Brielle so that Edna could have the bridge. She was relieved that it wasnae true, but she was having a hard time reconciling the fact that Edna hadn’t told her the truth.
“I didnae tell ye, because I didnae wish ye to be carrying such a heavy burden into yer battle with Brielle. I knew ye would be under a great deal of pressure, and if ye knew that the world as we know it was on the line… well, I didnae want ye to be worried about failing.”
“Does Uncle Angus know?” Maggie was concerned that Angus had only heard Brielle’s side of the story.
“Yer Uncle doesnae ken all the details, but he kens that I love him and ye. I wouldnae have put ye both in harm’s way for selfish reasons. I knew ye could defeat her, Maggie, but I didnae ken that Angus would end up in her clutches and that terrified me. I have thought many times that the bridge is a burden I wish was someone else’s responsibility, but in reality, I’m happy to bethe keeper of the bridge and I will never allow anyone to use it with evil intent. The bridge itself is not what’s important here, it’s what could have been done with it.”
Maggie was finally beginning to understand how crucial it had been for her to destroy Brielle. “What about the MacKenzies? Do you think Brielle would have hurt them if she’d won?”
“First of all, she didnae win, but, yes, I was worried for the MacKenzies. I am fond of them all and wouldnae wish to see any harm come to them. Brielle knew that and she used it against me and I believe she would have been intent on destroying them simply because of their relationship with me.”
“And what of Richard, Auntie? I’m so worried about him.” Maggie had thought of Richard often since the day he disappeared. She hoped that wherever he was, he was well and happy.
“As I’ve told ye, Richard is safe. I saw to it that he didnae come to any harm from Brielle. I could see that ye had yer hands full with her and I wanted to take that worry away from ye.”
“But where is he?” Maggie asked.
“He is where he needs to be in order to find his happiness. We may see him again yet, dinnae worry.”
“Auntie, I have some good news,” Maggie said, relieved to know Richard was okay. “Dylan and I are to be married!”
“Oh, my dear girl, I am so verra happy. I knew he was the one for ye. I wish I was there to give ye both a big hug and to welcome Dylan to the family.”
“Ye’ll be able to soon enough. We’ll be coming home soon.” At least Maggie thought they’d be going back to Glendaloch together. She hadn’t even thought to have that conversation with Dylan, just assuming that he’d want to leave Breaghacraig when she did.
“I’m happy to hear it and I cannae wait to congratulate ye both when ye get here. If ye need me, just call to me Maggie. I’m always here for ye.”
“Good night, Auntie,” Maggie said, as Edna’s voice faded away. She was anxious to get back to Glendaloch as soon as possible. She didn’t want her parents to worry unnecessarily about her absence and she felt she had a duty and a responsibility to return to The Thistle & Hive so that Edna could get away every once in a while. Edna had been tied to the inn for years and it was only recently—in fact, it was only when Maggie met Dylan for the first time—Edna had taken some time away from the inn with Angus.
Maggie was a bit chilly, so from her cocoon of furs on the bed, she stoked the fire with her magick and enjoyed the immediate increase in warmth that filled the room. She snuggled down, missing Dylan terribly. She had become accustomed to sleeping with him and it took her quite a long time to relax enough to fall asleep.
Chapter 20
Angus had been pacing nervously back and forth for hours each day, as he awaited the arrival of Lena, Ewan and the boys, Rowan and Ranald.
“Uncle, they’ll be here soon enough,” Maggie assured him. “It’s been a few days since Robert sent word, so if they left right away, they should be arriving today.”
“I ken that, Maggie, but I havnae seen my daughter in a verra long time.”
