The woman weaved her way through the crowded store to greet her with a smile. Long, silver hair was in a thick braid hanging over her shoulder. Her sparkling bright blue eyes glinted with friendly warmth and yet there was something otherworldly, something ancient, lining her ageless features that indicated to Brianna she was someone worthing knowing.
“How can I help you today?” Her voice was warm, flowing, hinting at a faint Scottish brogue.
“Oh, I—” she started, then pressed her lips together.
It would sound odd even to her own ears if she told the woman she was drawn here by some strange force.
The woman gave her a quick once-over. “You look a bit out of sorts.”
Brianna flushed hot to the roots of her hair wishing she’d taken time to change into her new Scotland friendly clothes. “I landed today.”
She didn’t know why she said it. It was a lame excuse but it was the only thing that came to mind.
“Good thing, too. I’ve been expecting you.” She smiled, showing off the one dimple in her cheek.
Sharp, unexpected surprise jolted through her as she stared at the woman grinning at her with eager anticipation. Words tangled in her throat, her muddled thoughts scrambling to make sense, to form a reply.
“I’m sorry?” she finally said.
“I’ll let you have a look around while I tend to some business in the back.”
The woman hurried away, leaving her alonesurrounded by musty old furniture and the strangest feeling creeping through her. She didn’t understand what was happening. Maybe too many hours in the sun had addled her brain.
Brianna shoved aside the strangeness of the interaction. Juggling her packages, she moved deeper into the shop, her gaze alighting on all the vintage and antique objects.
Then a strange power thrummed through her, vibrating her senses. She halted to look around, trying to pinpoint where it was coming from. Her gaze landed on a glass case on the other side of the shop, the one that appeared to hold jewelry and other trinkets.
She made her way over to it, that thrumming igniting her senses and making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. When she reached the glass case, she paused to look over all the objects resting on glass shelves.
A dagger with a gilded hilt. A sapphire and ruby brooch imbedded in Celtic knotwork glittering under the garish light. A silver kilt pin in the shape of a clan crest. Several old coins that appeared to bear the visage of a woman. Perhaps Mary, Queen of Scots? A small ornamental knife with a carved handle of a stag horn.
A jagged piece of stone with strange markings on it.
As soon as her gaze landed on the stone, the thrumming deep inside her intensified. She stared at it, wondering if that was the thing she was drawn to.
“Och, I see you found it.”
Brianna jumped. The woman appeared at her side as though she’d materialized out of thin air. She noticed the nametag on her crisp white shirt readMoira. She had a pleasant look on her face as she if she were delighted Brianna stood there in front of that case.
“Found what?”
“The stone. Would you like to see it?” Moira asked.
Her mind screamednobut her mouth said, “Yes.”
Pleased, Moira opened the glass case and retrieved the piece ofstone. Brianna dropped several of her packages at her feet and held out her hand. Moira placed the stone into her palm. The moment she did, there was a warming sensation that flickered through her from the center of her palm all the way up her arm to her shoulder.
A flash of something strange and vivid ripped through her mind—a woman standing tall on a craggy hill, her fist raised to the stormy sky. Light spilled through her clenched fingers, fierce and otherworldly. Beside her stood two more women, their stances unyielding. Before them stretched an army so vast it sent an icy bolt of fear straight through Brianna’s chest.
Her breath hitched, sharp and shallow, as the vision dissolved. Her gaze snapped back to Moira. The warm, pleasant expression was gone, replaced by something heavier, more serious. The weight of it pressed against her, making her pulse stutter.
The air around them shifted and suddenly the woman standing next to her was different. More ethereal. More otherworldly. There was an ancient glint to the depths of her eyes.
“Wh-what was that?”
“Thatis your future. And your past,” Moira said, her tone even and clear.
Brianna’s brows drew together. “I don’t understand.”
