August, 1521
Fir-wood, Scottish Highlands
A snagged thread in the fabric of time sent a ripple through the earth realm felt only by those sensitive to such things. Munn stopped in his tracks and perked a pointed ear. Did he hear the murmuring of a new changeling in the wood?
He desperately wished to ignore the woeful sound, but something unbeknownst to him drew him to thebairn. He whirled onto theSithichean Sluaigh, the knoll of the Fae, spinning in circles, sucking last year’s fallen leaves into the whirlwind propelling him until he slowed to a stop.
This wee male was different than the otherbairnsof the wood. Dressed different. Cleaner. Munn scratched awhiskered chin. He should flee. Not get involved.
The blond lad stood. Stared with narrowed eyes. “Munn?”
“How do you ken my name?” He’d never seen this lad afore.
Thebairnsniffled and wiped his nose on the sleeve of his tunic. “My cousin Allison tells stories about you. You’re the Clan MacLachlan brownie. Your duty is to watch over the clan.”
Munn puffed out his chest.I am legendary.
“You look just like Allison said.” The lad canted his head to the side. “You’ve pointy green boots, pointed ears, and a pointed green cap. You even have a scrunched brown face with whiskers.”
“Humph.” Munn frowned. “What be your name, lad? Who be your father?”
“Tevin.” Thebairnraised his chin. His gaze direct for one so wee. “My name is Tevin. My father is Stephen. Stephen MacEwen. He wouldn’t want you to hurt me.”
“Stephen’s son?”For Danu’s sake.
The wee time traveler nodded.
“Nary a one will harm you be you in my care,” Munn said. “Where is your father?”
“I’m alone.” Tevin squatted and picked up a wooden practice sword perhaps dropped upon arrival. He sliced the blade through the air. “Is this ancient Scotland? I’m on a quest to slay a dragon.”
“Ach. A dragon you say?” Munn dithered. Should he impart thebairn’swhereabouts? Might frighten the lad to ken he’d traveled through time. What should Munn do with the lad? Stephen would want him to protect his son. ’Twas obvious theSithicheanwere involved in this mischief. But why would the Fae guide abairnfrom the future to the past? “You are in Scotland, but not ancient Scotland. There are nae dragons here. By the bye, how did you get here?”
“My brother, Malcolm, pushed me onto the faerie hill and I traveled back through time.” Thebairnpursed his lips. “I guess not far enough.”
Maclay? Damn that villain and his spawn. Even in death, Maclay was a boil upon Clan MacLachlan. Munn kenned the man’sbairnwould come to nae good. Stephen should never have championed the lad after his father’s death and raised him as his own. Still…one of the Fae must be involved for the magic of the faerie hill to thrust a being through time. Especially such a wee being.
“Are you sure there aren’t any dragons? He’s orange,” Tevin persisted.
Munn jerked his gaze to thebairn, annoyed by the interruption to his deliberation. He hated the need to think, but he must figure out what to do about the lad. “Who’s orange?”
“The dragon. It is my destiny to slay the orange dragon.”
“I told you. There are nae dragons here.”
“But Allison and Malcolm said—”
Munn held up a hand. “You best forget about dragons and come with me to Castle Lachlan. The chief will ken what to do with you. And I dinnae want to hear any more about the winged beasts.”
Tevin rolled his eyes to the side and curved tight lips into a disgruntled frown, but when Munn started off, the lad fell into step behind him. “What about the little faeries that brought me here? They have wings.”
Munn stopped short, and thebairnslammed into his back. He spun around and righted the lad. “What faeries?”
“I thought they were dragonflies at first, but they’re really cool. They’re girls with wings. They brought me here. There was one with green wings and another with purple and—”
“Whist! Needs be I think.”
Pixies?Why were pixies sifting time? What mischief did the ebony-haired Marcail and her pesky clan ponder?”
