“Lora has had a premonition.”
“Mother, that’s wonderful,” Amber said.
Lora’s soft eyes tried to hold hope as she gazed at her youngest child, but they failed.
Oh, man. What the heck was going on?
Lora glanced around the room before speaking. “I thought after the fall of Grainna that we’d all live out our days here, together. Never once did I think Scotland wouldn’t be called home to all of us until the day of our passing.”
Everyone in the room tensed, breathlessly waiting for Lora to continue.
“I was wrong. My vision was as clear as they were during our battle with Grainna. And no less disturbing.”
Why did she sound so ominous?
Lora’s eyes leveled with you daughter. “Amber, my child, my joy. This cloak you wear will be the only thing keeping your mind from insanity.”
Amber gasped, as did most of the people in the room.
Lora quickly continued. “But there is hope. Only your hope will not be found here.”
“What do you mean?” Amber sat on the edge of her seat.
“A Druid awaits you in the future. This man, this warrior not unlike those here, will be the balm that saves you.”
Helen felt her shoulders relax. So Amber’s main squeeze wasn’t living in sixteenth-century Scotland. So what? Seemed to Helen that half the people in the room found their spouse on a different continent. A different time.
“What are you saying?”
“You’ll need to return with Simon and Helen when they leave...and stay.”
And the shoe drops.
“For how long?” Amber asked.
“I see no end to your time in the future. I do see a void in your father’s and my life when you leave.”
“Forever?”
“’Tis hard to say, lass. Your mother’s vision didn’t go further.”
Silence filled every corner of the room. Eyes started to brim with unshed tears. Except for maybe Cian, but then again, he bordered on creepy. Hot but creepy.
Lizzy, ever perceptive, broke the silence. “But this little newsflash wasn’t what brought us all together tonight. What else is happening?”
Lora watched Amber as the news of her impending departure sunk in.
Ian continued.
“Amber isn’t the only one who needs to travel to the future.”
“What?” Tara asked, staring at her husband.
Everyone mumbled their surprise. Helen said nothing, all the while watching Simon.
Ian held out a hand to silence them. “Calm yourselves. Simon, why don’t you explain what you heard.”
“A band of warriors was stationed exactly where we thought. These are formidable warriors worthy of concern. Since they are the closest, my guess is they are the ones most likely to obtain whatever it is they want in the event we fail from keeping them at bay.”
“They’ll not win,” Fin declared.
“Maybe not. Maybe so. We’ve no evidence and only faith in our abilities to guarantee the outcome of this conflict. The question isn’t if we will win, ’tis why they are fighting to begin with.”
“They’re warriors, ’tis what they do,” Myra said. “As a child you told us stories of battles such as these.”
Ian tilted his head to the side. “Aye, I did, lass. This is different.”
“This isn’t another magical battle, though, is it?” Lizzy asked.
“Not exactly.”
“I don’t like the sound of that,” said Tara.
Helen watched the tension mounting in the faces of the women. Simon raised his hands and motioned for the others to stop talking. “We think the man behind this siege is Druid.”
Simon continued. “We believe he’s Druid, and he came from the future.”
Someone sucked in an audible breath. The kids sat taller in their seats. No one asked or said a thing.
“This band of warriors has one goal and one goal only.” Simon locked gazes with Helen. “They’re after our women. Namely, you.” He slowly made eye contact with Tara, Lizzy, Myra, Amber, and Selma.
If Amber wasn’t the only one returning to the future, and the enemy was after the women, then that meant—
“You’re sending all the women and children ahead in time for their safety,” Lizzy shoved out of her chair and shook her head, “and leaving the men behind to fight without us?”
“This fight never would have included you, love,” Fin told his wife.
“Oh, don’t you give me that bull. I’ll fight alongside any man out there and kick some serious a…butt.”
“Elizabeth, please.”
Helen watched husband and wife fight. If the situation wasn’t so dire, she’d like some popcorn to go along with the show. Lizzy riled was a sight. Fin got right in her face and didn’t look like he was backing down.
With her eyes glued to Duncan, Tara said. “We’re bonded. I’d not make the trip without you.”
“True. Which is why only you and Lora will stay behind. Everyone else must go. We will evacuate you along the south-east channel the enemy isn’t occupying. Everyone here will see you go. Tara and Lora will be hidden here.” Ian rocked back on his heels as he spoke. The bold tone of his voice didn’t leave much room for argument. Though Lizzy appeared ready to challenge him.
“Helen?” Ian addressed her.
“Yeah?”
“This home Simon spoke of in the future, will the mistress accept our intrusion?”
“Mrs. Dawson has the heart of a saint. She’d never forgive me if I said anything but ‘yes’.”
Ian nodded to Simon. “’Tis settled then. Simon and Cian will accompany the women and children and protect them there.”
Lizzy started talking at the same time Myra began to argue. The children huddled together in excited anticipation of their adventure. Amber moved to sit next to her mother and grasped her hand.
Helen stood and lifted her hand like a third grade student. “Ah, excuse me?”
The kids looked at her but still murmured among themselves. Lizzy hurled a few feminist zingers at her husband, and Myra held a hand over her swollen belly.
“Excuse me?” Helen shouted.
The room fell silent.
“I’m sorry, but there’s just one thing wrong with your plan.”
“What’s that, lass?” Ian asked.
“We don’t have a way to get us back to the future.”
Lora raised her voice. “In my premonition, I saw Amber and you both wearing necklaces matching the one that brought you here. The sooner you make the jewelry, the faster you’ll arrive to your time safely.”
“But what if the things disappear when we show back up in LA?”
“The necklace vanished when you arrived here the second time because it hadn’t been created yet. The first time you arrived the larger stones hadn’t produced the smaller ones. ’Tis safe to say that once the necklace is on your neck the second time, it will stay there.”
In some twisted way Lora’s explanation made sense.
“If Amber is staying in my time, how will everyone get back?”
Simon moved to Helen’s side. “You and I will bring them.”
Great. The amusement park time travel ride goes another round. Helen had fewer miles tracked on airplanes than she did time travel.
“I’ll bring them.” The stoic Cian spoke from behind his father. “While Helen and Amber make their necklaces, they should make a dagger as well.”
“Two. They should make two daggers. One for Cian, the other for us here. We’ll need to summon our family home if they don’t return on their own,” Duncan said.
“Do you think the other stones, the bigger ones, will have stopped working?” Lizzy asked.
“We won’t know unless we try to use them. We know for fact Helen’s necklace worked.”
Helen’s head spun on her shoulders for the next hour while the family battled out the necessity of getting the women and children out of harm’s way.
&nb
sp; Tara questioned the need, but didn’t want her children in the Keep during a battle no matter what the enemy was after.
Liz countered everything. She was pissed. A couple of times Helen noticed her body levitate off the ground. Now that was something one didn’t see every day. Popcorn and a box of Jujus were called for.
Amber, obviously resolved in the need to leave, sat with glossy eyes, and watched the family fight.
Myra huddled with Todd as they spoke in soft tones.
While Helen witnessed the drama unfold, Simon moved to the back of the room and spoke with Cian.
The roar of bickering continued while Helen’s mind began to wander. Whoever was waging war on the MacCoinnichs was believed to be a Druid. Okay, considering their past, this didn’t sound too farfetched.
Helen’s skin started to tingle.
A Druid from the future who only wanted the women. Why?
Helen raised her hand again, her brows pitched together.
When no one noticed, she placed her fingers into her mouth and blew out a stadium size whistle.
Everyone froze.
“Simon, you said these thugs wanted the women and that somehow connected this man to the future. Why?”
“Tara, me, and my Mom all disappeared without a trace. Myra, too—even Grainna, if we’re being technical. A Druid from the future who had knowledge of our disappearance is most likely our enemy. We know the men are just as powerful as you women in ways of our heritage, but this man believes the power belongs to the women.”
“And he wants the power why?”
This time Todd had the answer. “Tell me Helen, if Simon hadn’t found you in the forest when he did and you were stuck in this time, wouldn’t you try like hell to find your way home?”
She nodded. “Good point.”
Ian raised his voice and put an end to the family meeting. “Amber and Helen have much to do in a short amount of time.”
“Why the hurry?”
“A battle looms, lass. When it begins, all of you need to be miles and years away. We hope to spread word to the enemy that you’ve traveled south and hope they will follow. Then we can take the offensive approach and flush out the man behind this siege. The sooner you’re out of harm’s way, the faster we can implement our plan.”
“We’ll have to prepare the children.”
“There’s no time to make them clothing. Simon said the home they’ll be in is secluded.”
“It is. But Mrs. Dawson’s clothing isn’t going to fit anyone here.”
Lora waved a hand in the air. “Don’t fret. We know your time still uses gold.”
Helen laughed. “Yeah, it was up to over a thousand dollars an ounce last month.”
Todd whistled. “Wow.”
“I know, the economy is in the toilet and gold is through the roof.”
“You and your friend will have funds to support everyone,” Ian said. “We need to act fast. No more arguments. If anyone has a legitimate concern we’ll discuss it, but the decision is made.”
“Father?” Myra asked.
“Aye, lass?”
She ran her hand over her stomach. “We don’t know if time travel is safe for an unborn babe.”
Ian’s shoulders fell, he walked around the desk, and gathered Myra’s hands in his. “This child is part of you.”
“But, ’tis never been done.”
“We’ll ask for guidance from the Ancients. However, would you risk staying and having this child while hiding above stairs? Todd will worry to distraction. We both know how costly that can be.”
Todd placed an arm around his wife. “You’re going to be fine. Besides, if you go into labor in my time they have amazing medication to take all the pain away.”
“I can attest to that,” Lizzy said.
“I know you’re scared. Hell, we all are, but this is the right thing to do.” Todd kissed the end of Myra’s nose and gathered her in his arms.
This family was being torn apart and all because they loved one another too much to see anything bad happen to each other.
Helen’s heart swelled deep in her chest. Her parents didn’t care enough to stick around at all, good times or bad. Unlike many of the orphans she’d grown up with, Helen didn’t harbor any fantasies about perfect parents who died unexpectedly. The people responsible for her birth discarded her. Simple as that.
Helen learned to live without a loving family, or responsibilities for another person. On some level that made her the lucky one. Only Helen didn’t feel so lucky.
Chapter Nineteen
Helen was a photographer, not a jewelry maker. But since she was in possession of the piece for over a year, she knew exactly what it looked like. Unfortunately, she had no knowledge of how to create the piece from scratch. She didn’t even know what the thing was made of. Only that there weren’t any precious stones or metal on it at all.
Amber studied the sketch and asked questions. “Is this a Celtic knot?”
“Not in the truest sense. The weave was looser.”
“Less perfect.”
“Right.”
Helen picked up the small sacred stone and turned it over in her hand. “It’s hard to believe what this thing is capable of.”
“’Tis hard to believe I’ll be leaving here forever.”
Helen put the stone down and gave Amber all her attention. “You have a great family. I can’t imagine what you’re going through.”
In the days since the declaration of Amber’s departure they hadn’t spoken of leaving. Because the daggers they decided to make didn’t have a predetermined image, they went to work on them first. They’d used a standard metal for the time to create the knife and were working on a sturdy handle for both. There was one small sacred stone left over with no clear purpose. They had no idea what to do with it. Not that it mattered. Amber and Helen hadn’t finished the necklaces or even truly started work on them outside of their concept.
“When I was young, a child, I expected to one day marry. I knew the possibility of my husband taking me away from my family. Yet once Tara arrived, then Simon and the others, I knew leaving my family wasn’t an option.”
“What happened that made you think that?”
“I couldn’t stand the touch of anyone, let alone a man not of my kin.”
“Wow. No one?”
“Aye.”
“Not one kiss?”
“Nay.”
“That means you’re a virgin.”
Amber nodded. “Aye.”
“I guess I should have realized that before now. Wow. That sucks.”
Amber let a coy smile cross her lips. “You don’t miss what you don’t know.”
“Yeah, but…damn. I’m sorry.”
“So was I for a while. Everyone around me found love. Part of me yearns for that life.”
“According to your mom, you’re going to find it.”
Amber shook her head. “My mother said a man will find me in the future, and that he will be the balm that saves me. Nowhere did she say I’d find love. Or even passion.”
Helen watched a rosy blush creep onto Amber’s cheeks with the last part of her comment. “When I think of a balm, I think of someone who makes me feel safe, warm, and taken care of.” Loved. “I think the man behind this balm will be more to you than a blanket.”
A knock on the door pulled them out of their conversation. “’Tis Simon.”
Amber crossed the room and unlocked the door to let him in. He wore leggings and a white shirt that hung past his hips. For the first time in days, he appeared rested. “You look well,” he told Amber.
“I feel much better.”
“But you worry about the future.”
“Aye.”
Helen felt like a stalker watching the two of them talk. They were as close as brother and sister, and obviously loved each other deeply.
“You’ll not be alone. We’ll help. Won’t we, Helen?”
“Of course.”
Amber laid a hand to
the side of Simon’s cheek. “Thank you.”
Simon patted Amber’s hand and moved to stand beside Helen at the worktable. He stood close enough that she felt the heat of his body, the smell of his skin. Every part of her sparked into awareness and leaned closer. Simon didn’t back away when her side rested next to his. He ran one finger on the back of Helen’s hand and she knew he was just as happy to see her. “How far have you gotten?”
“Not far enough. You’d think this would be easy. I wore the darn thing all the time. The chunky details I remember. The chain was thick. This stone is supposed to be surrounded by a loose Celtic knot. But there’s more to it, and this picture doesn’t quite show the details.” Helen waved at the book that managed to travel to Scotland with her. In frustration, Helen tossed the book on top of her backpack. “I know all the materials used to make the thing are virtually useless. No gold, copper, platinum. Just steel compounds.”
“Like that of the knife?”
Helen nodded. “Right. Maybe that’s what we need to use. The steel of the knife is less likely to rust.”
“I seem to remember a backing to the stones, and six prongs holding it in place.”
“I forgot about that.”
Helen sketched the prongs in place on her drawing.
“It’s still missing something,” Simon said.
“If only I had a photograph.” My camera. Helen scrambled to her backpack and grabbed her camera. “I had someone take a picture of me with an old guy wearing a kilt at a pub the first night I was in Scotland. I wore the necklace.”
Amber moved to stand behind them while Helen turned her camera on. Thankfully, it fired up without incident. She scanned the images she’d taken. Landscape shots, people milling about the hotel. Old abandoned castles from a distance.
“What are those?” Amber asked.
“Cars.”
“Moving carriages?”
Helen stopped scanning images and turned to Amber. It was then Helen realized just how awkward it would be to go forward in time. At least Helen knew enough about history to expect a lack of cars, computers, and technology. Sure, Amber had been told about the future, but she hadn’t seen anything until now. “Motorized carriages. We call them cars.”
Highland Shifter Page 17