She sat up and leaned against the headboard as her heart continued to pound. A moment later, a bright halo of bluish-white light edged inward around her peripheral vision. Goose bumps prickled the skin at the back of her neck and along her forearms. Dammit, she’d thought her visions were gone for good, but no. Trembling, she fell into whatever tableau was in store, unable to escape or prevent what it was she needed to see.
Grayce watched a young boy run toward Brian and Sloan who were cutting hay. The boy called out Brian’s name and came to a halt in front of him.
“I’ve been sent to fetch ye. There’s a tear between our valleys and the outer world,
and—”
“Who sent ye, lad?” Brian asked.
“Kenrick, from the upper village. I was after some of our sheep who were too close to the cliff, when—”
Grayce was tugged away from the conversation and found herself standing in a patch of grass beside a trail. The path wended its way around a tumble of boulders and sharp outcroppings of sandstone, perilously close to a cliff. Two men hidden from view were talking. As she approached, Grayce studied the area, the plants around her and the position of the sun in the sky. Details mattered. She peered around the mass of rocks, and her heart stuttered. Aiden.
The sound of someone’s approach drew her attention away from the two conspirators. Brian strode up the hill. No! He was walking into an ambush. Her hands fisted and she shouted, knowing he wouldn’t hear her. “You came alone? Did you learn nothing from your father’s experience?”
Helpless to do anything, she stared in horror as Kenrick lured Brian to the cliff. Once there, Aiden leaped out from his hiding place and shoved Brian over the edge. Grayce collapsed to the ground, and everything went black.
“Grayce! Come back to me.”
She heard the voice from a world away, so far away she couldn’t reach whoever called to her. Still in the grip of the aftereffects of the horror she’d witnessed, she could do nothing but wait as her trance-like state slowly receded. She knew the drill. Visions always left her shaky and weak, unable to respond to the world around her for half an hour at least.
“Grayce, what ails ye, love?”
Brian. The voice belonged to Brian who now shook her gently. She longed to tell him shaking her wouldn’t help but doing so was beyond her. He too would just have to wait while she drifted back to reality in a cloud of mental and physical lassitude.
Future events could be altered. Her visions had proved that over and over, which was why she didn’t believe so much in fate. If an outcome could be altered, could it truly be called fate? She and Brian would make a plan. Between the two of them, they’d defeat Aiden once and for all.
Brian shook her again. “Gods, I wish I knew whether or not you can hear me.”
It took supreme effort, but she nodded slightly and inched her hand across the bed until she found him. He gripped her cold hand in his, offering warmth and support.
“Should I go for a healer?” he asked, his voice hoarse with fear.
She drew in a long breath and shook her head. Slowly she was returning herself. “Wait,” she managed to eke out. Pulses of anger alternating with relief flooded her system. Relief because there was time to change what was to come.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, she cleared her throat and slowly swung her legs over the edge of the bed, pausing there until the dizziness cleared. “What time is it?” Grayce surveyed the cottage. Brian had lit a few candles, and a kettle of water hung over a peat fire in the hearth. Outside the windows, it still looked midnight-dark to her.
“’Tis almost dawn. Gods, ye scared me, staring at nothing as ye were, your entire body shaking and your expression one of fear. Were ye in the grip of a nightmare, lassie? Whatever and wherever ye were, it terrified me.”
“Me too. I had a vision.” She stood on shaky legs and searched for her discarded clothing. She’d left them in a heap on the floor last night, but they weren’t there anymore. “We need to get going.”
“I hung your things on the pegs, love.” Brian rose from the bed and pointed. He’d already dressed. “Will ye tell me about your vision?”
“Of course, but I’d like to wait until we’re with your parents and Ceann Carraig.” She snatched her clothing from the pegs. “I need to … uhm …”
“The privy is through the back door and to the left, and I have warm water ready for washing.”
“You’re a very thoughtful man, Brian. It’s one of the many things I love about you.” Her clothing bunched against her chest, she marched across the room and went up on tiptoe to kiss him. Slipping her gown on over her head as she went, she headed for the outhouse.
It took an hour to get ready, gather Brian’s parents and make their way to the druid’s grove. Grayce sat at Ceann Carraig’s old table, surrounded by Brian, his parents and Anna, the head healer who’d be training her. Grayce gripped a steaming mug of honey-sweetened herbal tea between her hands.
“Now that we are all seated, tell us what ye foresaw, Grayce.” Ceann Carraig peered at her from beneath his bushy eyebrows, his eyes reflecting grave concern.
She nodded and began. “A young boy is going to come to Brian, claiming he was sent by a man named Kenrick. The boy will inform Brian that Kenrick has found a rift between the outer world and the hidden valleys. Kenrick wants Brian to come take a look.”
She glared at Brian. “I can’t believe you’d go anywhere alone after what happened to your father, but in my vision that’s what you did.”
“I don’t know Kenrick.” Brian folded his arms across his chest and glanced at Ceann Carraig. “He’s from the upper village, aye?”
“Aye, and he’s known to be a friend to Aiden MacBlaine.”
“That I did not know,” Brian said, his gaze fixed on her.
“Exactly why you must promise me never to go to any summons without someone with you. You can’t trust anyone you don’t know well.”
“I promise.” Brian covered her hand with his. “Go on, Grayce. Tell us the rest.”
“Do you know where the trail on the northern border follows the edge of a cliff? It’s narrow, and there are a lot of rocky outcrops and brush alongside the trail opposite the cliff.”
“Aye, I know the spot you speak of, but tell me of the boy. How is it Kenrick recruits the lad to bring this message to me?”
“He’s innocent. I don’t know how Kenrick recruited him. That wasn’t part of my vision, but I sensed the boy knew nothing of the plot, only that he had an important message to deliver to our chieftain. He was proud to be the one to come to you, and his admiration for you came through clearly.”
Sloan shifted in his chair. “Continue.”
“Right.” Grayce drew in a long breath and told them the rest. “After Aiden shoves you to your death, he and Kenrick walk away as if they hadn’t just committed murder. Stupid, stupid move, Brian. Never ever let anyone lure you to the edge of a cliff.” Her voice quavered.
“I won’t.” He gave her hand a squeeze.
The circle of people around her all wore stunned looks, and nobody said anything for several minutes.
“Could it have been just a bad dream?” Anna asked.
“Visions and dreams are completely different, and yes, I’m certain.” Grayce leaned into Brian, needing the physical contact to bolster her. “Before I fall into a vision, a halo of light edges inward until I’m blind to the present. I get the chills and start trembling uncontrollably. I drop into a scene as it plays out, like I’m onstage but the other actors can’t see me. None of that happens when I’m in REM sleep. Oddly enough, I rarely remember dreams, but I can’t forget a single detail from a vision even if I wish I could.”
“I tell ye, she was awake—shaking but unseeing,” Brian said. “I could tell whatever had her in its grip had taken her someplace else.”
Ceann Carraig leaned forward. “Can you tell us when this is to occur, Grayce?”
She shook her head. “I can’t. However, I
can tell by the weather, the position of the sun in the sky, and the way the plant life looked that it will happen soon, but an exact day or time is impossible to determine.”
“I shall refuse the summons.”
“Nay, laddie,” Sloan said. “That will only lead to more attempts, and ye’ll have no peace. Besides, what if Grayce doesn’t have a vision about the next attempt? Nay. Aiden needs to be stopped once and for all.”
Anna’s gaze went around the table. “I agree with Sloan. We druids have long suspected Aiden and his mother were feeding a slow-acting poison to Blaine. When I examined him, I could find no disease causing his decline, only a slow degeneration of his vital organs. We couldn’t prove it, and so we didn’t outright accuse them, just as we cannot do so with this situation. We must allow Aiden to fall into his own trap. Only then can he be brought to justice.”
“Aye. His days of plaguing my family must end.” Sloan’s fist came down on the table hard enough to make their mugs rattle. “Here’s what we do. First, we’ll inform a few men we trust what is to come. When the lad gives you the summons, we’ll gather those men. They’ll precede ye up trail, cutting off midway to come up from behind Aiden’s hiding place. There, they will conceal themselves with bows at the ready.”
Sloan pointed at Brian. “Ye shall arrive as expected, but do not approach the edge of the cliff. Force Aiden to reveal himself and his intent. Taunt him. Let Aiden know ye’ve been warned. Ye know how to manipulate his rage in order to get him to act rashly, and Kenrick will likely join him in the attack. Once Aiden leaps out, we can arrest the two and hold them for trial.”
“What happens if someone is found guilty of attempted murder?” Grayce asked, holding her breath.
“’Tis a hanging offense.” Sloan’s brow lowered for a moment. “Choose two lads who are good hunters, Brian. They’ll know how to move through the terrain without making a sound.”
“Aye, and best have one of our druids join them,” Ceann Carraig added. “It’ll be your words against Aiden and Kenrick’s, and having a druid as witness will put an end to their falsehoods.”
“Do ye know of a druid who is skilled at keeping his or her movements quiet?” Brian asked.
“I do,” Ceann Carraig affirmed. “We have a few excellent hunters among our ranks.”
“Best have the druid come stay with us, even if it takes a month before our son is summoned.” Brianna looked to Sloan, who nodded his agreement before she continued. “The grove is in the opposite direction where they’ll need to go, and gathering everyone together before heading up the trail will take too bloody long. We don’t want Kenrick and Aiden suspecting something has gone wrong with their plan.”
“Aye, ’tis settled then.” Sloan pushed up from the table and held out his hand to Brianna. “Your mother and I shall leave ye two to your training,” he said. “We’ll see ye at suppertime.”
“I will never be able to put into words how grateful we are to have you as part of our family, Grayce. If not for you …” Brianna’s voice broke.
Grayce shot up from her chair and threw her arms around Brianna. “If not for me, none of this would be happening.”
“Not true, lass.” Sloan’s voice came out strained with emotion. “No true at all. Things between Aiden and Brian were bound to come a head in this manner, only we’d not have the warning ye gave us. Ye’ve saved our son’s life, and that’s a fact.”
“Maybe.” She let go of Brianna and watched as her future in-laws headed for the door. “Wait,” she called, spurred by impulse. “Let’s get married, Brian. Today. I don’t want a big fuss, I just want things between us to be official.”
Brianna and Sloan’s smiles lit the room, and the wave of happiness emanating from them brought on an answering smile.
Brian’s brow shot up, and he turned to Ceann Carraig. “Is it possible?”
The druid’s eyes sparkled. “Indeed it is. We can gather the druids and see the deed done beside the sacred spring this morn.”
“Are ye certain, Grayce? I’m willing to wait.”
Was she? Yes. Deep down, beneath all her insecurities and worries, she stood on a bedrock of certainty when it came to Brian. They’d only known each other for a short while, but what they felt for each other grew deeper every day. He was perfect for her, and she couldn’t imagine not having him as her partner through life, even if it meant giving up all the modern-day amenities she’d had in the outer world. “I’m certain.”
Ceann Carraig went to his door and called for Nevan. “Gather as many druids as ye can, laddie. We’re to have a wedding here in the grove.”
Nevan peered around his great-grandfather. He grinned when he caught sight of her. “Aye, Grandda.”
“Be quick about it, laddie,” Ceann Carraig called after him. “Anna, might ye gather flowers and see to their garlands?”
“I will.” The healer patted Grayce’s shoulder as she passed by on her way out.
“Surreal?” Brian came to stand beside her.
“Absolutely, but in a good way.” Her cheeks ached from the smile she couldn’t contain. She wished like hell her family were here, but the bedrock of certainty she stood on included knowing they’d love Brian, and they’d be happy for her.
In no time at all, she and her groom were standing beside the sacred spring, both of them wearing a garland of wildflowers on their heads. Brian’s parents stood beside them, and druid priests and priestesses filled the circular courtyard. Birds chirped and sang, and the sun peeked over the horizon. Perfect.
“Grayce,” Ceann Carraig said. “With your right hand, clasp Brian’s right wrist, and his left with your left.”
With some fumbling and a great deal of nervousness, she and Brian did as the druid instructed, their wrists creating an X between them.
“The crossing you see between ye represents the point at which your lives and souls have joined. Once ye each journeyed through life alone. From this day forward, you’ll walk the same path. Before witnesses, Grayce MacCarthy, do ye willingly join your life’s path to Brian MacSloan’s? Will ye love and cherish him and only him through good times and bad, through sickness and in health, through times of plenty and in times of want for as long as ye both shall live?”
She swallowed and gazed deeply into her groom’s eyes. “I do.”
“Brian MacSloan, do ye willingly join your life’s path to Grayce MacCarthy’s? Will ye love and cherish her and only her through good times and bad, through sickness and in health, through times of plenty and in times of want for as long as ye both shall live?”
“I do.” His eyes shone with love.
The resolute strength of his emotional commitment flooded through Grayce, causing an answering promise of the same to rise within her. Ceann Carraig began chanting in Irish. He took an ancient-looking corded rope and formed it into a Celtic eternity knot around their crossed wrists. The druid placed a hand upon each of their heads and continued chanting. He paused, and the assembled druids responded in unison to whatever he’d said.
Ceann Carraig removed his hands from their heads and stepped back. The elder beamed at them. “Before the goddess, those assembled, and na Baiscne, ye are now bound in matrimony. May the goddess bless and keep ye both. Brian, Grayce, ye must now seal the pledges ye’ve made to one another with a kiss.”
“I do so gladly,” Brian said as he tugged her closer by their bound wrists.
His lips found hers. She’d never known such happiness as she experienced in that moment. The kiss ended, and she stared deeply into her husband’s eyes.
Ceann Carraig removed the ceremonial cord from their wrists. “Though ye wished to avoid a fuss, Grayce, ye shall not escape our clan’s wish to celebrate your nuptials with a feast,” he said.
“We’ll spread the word.” Sloan rubbed his hands together, his eyes misty. “Ye are our daughter in truth now, lassie. Come give us a hug.”
Grayce walked into her in-laws’ open arms. “Thank you for accepting me for who and what I am,”
she whispered.
Things could have gone so differently. She might not have taken that hike at all, or if she’d fallen through a rift in time, she might have landed among a people who were suspicious of her gifts and of her sudden appearance among them. Instead, she’d found herself in a place where she was valued, not feared. She’d fallen in love with a man who treasured and supported who she was, as she was. If only there were a way to contact her family, then her happiness would be complete.
Chapter Ten
* * *
It had been a week since Grayce had told him of her vision. For seven days Brian had been carrying the weight of impending doom upon his shoulders, and today that weight seemed heavier. He didn’t need the sight to sense things were about to change.
Ah, but for the past seven nights, he’d also held his wife in his arms, sometimes making love with her more than once. “Da,” he called. Leaning his scythe handle against his shoulder he wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve. “It’s about time for the midday meal, aye?”
“Aye, that it is, though I’m hesitant to stop. We need to get this hay in before the weather turns.”
“It’ll hold.” Brian gazed at the nearly cloudless sky. “I’m hungry, and today Grayce has prepared our lunch without Ma’s help. I’m eager to see what she’s made for us.”
“As am I, laddie.” His father leaned his scythe upright against the low stone wall surrounding their hayfield. “Brianna says Grayce is a fast learner when it comes to cooking in a wood-burning oven or over an open fire. Will we have stew for lunch, do ye think, or something completely new to us?”
“If I know my wife, I’m guessing we’ll be having something new.” He set out across the field, his mouth watering at the prospect of the meal to come. He and his father stepped over the fieldstone wall and had just set foot onto the well-trod path, when he heard his name being called. A lad around nine or ten ran toward them. Brian recognized him. He was the son of the farmer and his wife who lived on the other side of the river—the north side. The dread he’d been carrying for a week solidified in his gut.
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