“There are books that can explain how to?—”
“To become a witch?”
John grimaced. “How to practice such things.” He rubbed the back of his neck, as if the forge behind him had grown too hot. “I’ve not studied any of it myself, Cian. I cannae say what they do or dinnae do. I only know that it is, generally, not the evil practice it once was believed to be. They are respectful of the earth and the balance of nature. That sort of thing. For the most part, I reckon. Although…”
“Although?” Cian forced himself to sit again, but he was prepared for more surprises, just in case.
“These two…”
“The ones who have a message for me?”
“They knew yer name. At least yer given name. I’d never shared it with a soul, except for Effie. At the end?—”
“I believe ye. I’d never doubt ye?—”
“So, perhaps they have real power. There is no reason to believe they were sent by…by that time traveler.”
“And no reason not to believe it.” He begged his heart to stay put and keep a steady beat. “Where is this message?”
“An easy message to remember. They didnae write it down.”
“Ye reckon they’ve been watchin’?”
John shook his head. “I’d never seen them afore. If they were locals, I would know them.”
Cian braced his hands on his knees. “Right then. What did they say?”
“They insisted that ye hurry back home. Now. As soon as ye can. They said a terrible storm is coming. A storm mighty enough to change yer life. And that, if I failed to warn ye, I might cost ye yer happiness.”
“And they would know what would make me happy, would they?”
“Perhaps my friend. And more possible, is it not, if they knew yer name?”
Cian shook his head. “They couldnae have confused me with some other Cian?”
“Ye’re the only one I ken, and they knew ye would come here. And ye should know…”
Cian’s heart trembled, but he pressed on. “What is it I should ken, John?”
His friend grimaced. “They mentioned Balnacoorie.”
Cian felt the blood drain from his head and was grateful he was so close to the floor, in case he fainted away like a lass. These two women knew where he called home. Twowitcheskenned where he lived.
His slow instincts caught up with his brain, and he rose to his feet. “I’ve been found, then. I must go.” He patted the hilt on his belt and cast his eyes about for anything he might need to take with him when he fled out the door, never to return. But he was half blind with fright.
“Woah, son. Take a breath. Sit down.” John came to his side, took his arm, and led him back to the bench before sitting beside him. “They said they mean ye no harm, and I believed them.”
“Only one man kens that I am here in a century where I dinnae belong. Only he could have sent them.”
“But think, man. If yer traveler kenned where to find ye, and if he did intend to send ye back to Culloden, would he have wanted ye warned? After all these years, would he have wanted ye on yer guard? Or to take ye by surprise here and now, if he kenned ye would be comin’?”
Reasonable. Of course, John would see reason.
“So ye believed them.”
“I did. They claimed they go about fixin’ mistakes, and when they cannae be fixed, they make amends. Whatever they’re up to, they believe it will make things right for ye.”
“Make things right? Nothing can ever make things right. If I were taken back to where I started, I’d perish on the battlefield.Ye and I, we’ve read the history. I’d have less than an hour to live.” A thought struck. “Or perhaps sending me back would correct some balance I disrupted when I came forward.”
