“I don’t want to hear it. You’ve got your stone, you can go and put your life back together. I need to go home.”
“Let me help you.” He reached out toward her but she pushed him away. “Ah ken how ye can get in touch-”
She waved a finger at him. “This is all your fault. You took me away from her.”
“I’m sure she’s fine. It was only a dream.”
“You said yourself this place has a way of showing the truth in dreams.”
“Listen tae yourself. You dinnae ken what you’re saying.”
“I know exactly what I’m saying. You only wanted my help so you could get back into your clan and I was stupid enough to help when I should have been helping mom.
“Go, go on. Get out of here. You have what you wanted, you don’t need me anymore. Go and live up the good life. I’ll work out how to get home by myself.”
“Ye need me tae show you what tae dae.”
“I’m sure I’ll do just fine on my own. And you can take your rowing boat too, I won’t need that anymore. I’m going back home where I belong.”
“Lindsey-”
“Go!” She shoved him in the chest. “Leave me alone.”
Her eyes were cold. He turned without another word, dragging the rowing boat away from the shingle. When he’d climbed in, he looked up to see her standing with her back to him, staring at the well.
The mist grew thicker as he rowed out onto the loch. Soon the island was lost from view and he was alone. She had proved him right. It was stupid to get attached to people. You only ended up getting hurt.
He reached the far shore, his jaw set. As he grew closer to the mainland, he saw someone on the shoreline. Who was that?
He rowed the last few feet, dragging the boat up onto the shore before letting go, turning to see who the figure was.
“Tavish,” the stranger said, pulling down his hood. “It’s been a while. I thought I’d find you here.”
“Quinn? Is that you?”
The druid smiled. “You’re a hard man to find, you ken?”
“What are ye doing here? Have ye been looking for me?”
“Your father is awfa sick.”
“What?”
“I was looking for ye. Ah ken the laird willnae let you in but ah might be able to take him news of you.”
“Ah have the stone. I can get inside to see him.”
“Then you should go quick. Ah dinnae ken how much time he has.”
“Will ye dae something for me, Quinn? Will ye take the boat and show her what tae dae.”
“You found her then? The one from the future.”
“Aye, ah did. Now, she ’s brought me the stone like you knew she would. She wants to go home and I’m no going tae stop her. I understand why she’s doing it. I just wish there was another way.”
“And what are you going to do?”
“Forget her.”
