“I do, too. But she came to me again a sennight ago and said that one of our grandbairns needed help and I needed to assist.”
He turned his head to stare at his beloved grandsire, unable to believe what he had just told him, and then the scent of mint leaves floated to him again, as if his father were attempting to tell him something.
Listen.
Don’t be afraid to love.
“She told me I needed to be here for you. I didn’t understand why, but now I do.” He grasped Alasdair’s shoulder and said, “Follow your heart, son.”
The two leaned over the parapets, staring out over Grant land in silence, except for a few sniffles left over from Alasdair’s bout of tears. “I think I’d like to ask Emmalin to marry me,” he said at last.
“Then you need to do it soon, and I’m here to help you do it right. I doubt Edward will bother her again—from what I’ve heard, he has other issues to settle—but that could certainly change. She’s a beautiful, talented Scottish lass. She belongs with a strong Highlander, in my opinion.”
He stood up, helped his grandsire do the same, and then hugged the old man, wrapping his arms around him as tightly ashe dared. “I love you, Grandpapa. I’m glad you’re still here with me. Don’t ever leave me.”
Alex Grant looked at him and said, “I will someday, but not until you’re ready.”
Epilogue
The beginning of the Highland Swords…
The dream had come to him a sennight ago, but he remembered it as if he’d lived it yester eve. Maddie had come to him first and said, “You remember how I told you there are things you must do before you may leave? Here is the primary reason you must stay. This man will explain everything to you.”
A strange man in long robes had stepped out from behind his dear wife and said, “You were the finest swordsman of the Highlands. Your country is in a state of turmoil. We sent you your grandsons on the same night, at the same time. You will guide them on how to help the Scots, and we grant them spectral swords. Help them learn how to use them.”
“But I cannot travel with them, so how can I guide them?” Alex had asked.
“Through your granddaughter. You will have the ability to communicate with her directly, no matter where she goes. Do not doubt her power. There will be others to assist your quest, one who can use daggers, one expert with horses, an expert at spying, another archer. Your granddaughter’s skills you shall learn eventually, if she can develop them properly. And her mate is completely secret. You’ll know them by their strengths. Each strength will be necessary and obvious. The group, together, will be indestructible, if they choose to handle their strengths properly together.”
He’d thought about the strange man’s claims many times, along with what he’d seen his grandbairns do in the past, and while his mind doubted, the only way to be certain was to test it.
“Alick, Elshander, Alasdair, arrange yourselves in a triangle facing each other, your swords in front of you, pointed toward the ground.”
They did as he asked and stood in the formation he’d suggested. “Step back three steps each.”
Again the three followed his instructions. “Now hold your swords over your heads, pointed toward the sky,” he directed. “Make sure you have a solid grip on your weapons.”
The lads exchanged looks, but they did as he suggested. As soon as their swords were lifted over their heads, a bright streak of lightning shot across the sky, followed by the rumble of thunder. The longer they held them up, the more the lightning fired across the night sky, beginning to fire with a fury so powerful the three had trouble hanging on to their swords.
“Grandsire, I cannot hold it any longer,” Els said, gasping. He dropped the sword tip to the ground, his two cousins following him.
“What does this mean?” Alasdair asked with awe, glancing over his shoulder at Emmalin.
He held his hand up to all and said, “Patience.” He gave them a few moment’s rest and then said, “Do it again please, one more step back.”
They did as he asked and the same lightning show dominated the dark sky, illuminating the entire area.
“Dyna, step in the middle, and bring your bow with you, please.”
She stared up at her grandfather, wide-eyed, moving closer but clearly hesitant to do as he asked. Sela clutched Connor’s arm, waiting to see what would happen.
When Dyna stepped inside, the lightning moved a bit closer, focused more above the four of them instead of into the distance, but still not harnessed. For some reason, he knew this wasn’t right.
“Emmalin. Do you have your dagger?”
“Aye,” she said, pulling it out of her pocket to show him.
“Stand next to Alasdair with your weapon in your hand, please.”
