by Jennae Vale
“But Auntie Edna hasnae told us it’s alright to do so,” Maggie said, worry furrowing her brow.
“Maggie, I think it’s time for ye to be in charge of yer own destiny. Edna isnae here, but I believe she’d agree with whatever decision you come to,” Angus offered.
“Okay. Let’s say we do that. What’s the outcome? Does she just leave? Or, does she stay here and become angry and try to destroy everyone and everything?” Maggie was frightened by that prospect.
“We won’t know unless we try. And you’ve done a good job of thwarting her at every turn so far. I have faith that you can do this, Maggie.” Dylan stood and walked over to her. He held out his hand for Maggie to take and when she did, he knelt in front of her. “I will protect you, I promise.”
Angus cleared his throat and came to Maggie’s side. He laid a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll do the same, lass. Ye’ve no need to fear.”
“And I’ll protect ye both. Whenever we need to be anywhere near Brielle, I will cover us all with a spell of protection. Her witchcraft willnae be able to penetrate it. Aunt Edna taught me well.” Dylan could see the confidence rising in Maggie. It showed in the way she stood a little taller, head held high and a sparkle in her eyes. They would do this together. The three of them.
CHAPTER 10
A s they headed down the stairs, Maggie, having discarded her cap and hood, caught the curious gazes of the soldiers in the barracks. She walked past proudly, holding hands with Dylan and Angus. Further curious looks came their way as they headed for the great hall, where they intended to meet up with the others, who should be finishing their breakfast.
As they approached, it was apparent that something was not right. Loud noises and yelling spilled from the hall as Cailin burst through the doors. He stormed past them with a brusque, “Get out of me way.”
“I’ve never seen him so angry,” Dylan observed.
“’Tis not like him at all, from what I ken,” Angus answered.
“We need to get in there. Something’s wrong.” Maggie tore her gaze from Cailin’s fleeing figure and back toward the castle entry. She didn’t like what she was hearing from inside. She pulled Angus and Dylan along with her and passed swiftly through the doors, to discover a chaotic scene. Ashley was in tears. Cormac and Robert were on the verge of fisticuffs and Jenna and Irene were at their men’s sides, glaring at each other. Others in the hall were also indulging in spats of their own. “Oh, no! This is Brielle’s doing,” Maggie said. She let go of the two men’s hands and focused on the room. “Calmness reign at the castle this day. Make their anger go away. Peace and quiet once again. Settle upon these women and men. So mote it be.”
Abruptly everything came to a standstill. Robert seemed surprised to discover himself holding onto the front of Cormac’s shirt. He let go and glanced around at the others. Irene and Jenna looked embarrassed and Ashley stopped crying, wiping at her eyes. As if on cue, all eyes turned to Maggie and the men behind her. Expressions morphed from curiosity to astonishment.
“Maggie, why are ye dressed in Alec’s clothing?” Irene asked.
“I have some news to share with ye all,” Maggie said. “Dylan, can ye bring Cailin back here, please?”
“Sure.” Dylan turned to leave, just as Cailin re-entered the hall.
“I dinnae ken what came over me, but I found myself out on the practice field, beating the life out of a bale of straw.” Cailin appeared frazzled, and ran a hand through his hair.
“I believe ye were all under a spell,” Maggie explained. “And ’tis nae the first time.”
“A spell that you cast!” Brielle, still disguised as Maggie, had followed Cailin inside.
If they were astonished before, the castle residents now seemed unable to comprehend what they were seeing. Their heads turned from Maggie to Brielle and back again.
“What goes on here?” Robert demanded.
“She’s pretending to be me, to confuse you all,” Brielle stated, calmly eyeing the others.
“Yer the one who’s in disguise, Brielle.” Maggie’s eyes were alight with anger. “Ye came here to hurt these good people. I was sent by my Aunt Edna to send ye on yer way, isnae that right Uncle Angus?”
“Aye, Maggie, ’tis true.” Angus cast his gaze slowly over the others in the group, making eye contact with each in turn.
“’Tis a lie,” Brielle announced. “Ye’ve obviously bewitched my good uncle. She’s been at the heart of all of these problems! The bread in the kitchen, the horses escaping, the apple orchard and this morning’s events. If ye think on it, ye’ll surely see I’m telling the truth!”
The room came alive with multiple voices, questioning what they were hearing.
Maggie spoke up. “Dinnae believe her! It was I who broke the spells that she cast in the first place!”
“I know my own niece,” Angus affirmed, “and she came with me to Breaghacraig, disguised as Alec. Ye can be assured I am telling the truth.”
“He’s right,” Dylan added. “Even I was fooled by Brielle. From the moment she arrived, I’ve always thought something was off and if you think about it Jenna, you remember she didn’t even recognize you when you saw her. When I went to check on Alec this morning and I found Maggie – my Maggie – I knew what a fool I’d been. One look at her and there was no doubt in my mind.” He took Maggie’s hand in his. “This Maggie is the true Maggie. She would never do anything to hurt any of you.”
Robert pointed to Brielle. “Cailin, Cormac, seize her. She’ll need to be locked away before she does any more harm,” Robert stated. Cailin and Cormac strode to Brielle’s side. Before Brielle could react, Maggie cast a spell, freezing her in place. Unable to move, Brielle was no longer a threat, but to be on the safe side, Maggie cast a spell of protection over Cailin and Cormac.
“Ye cannae do this to me! Ye’ll regret it,” Brielle shrieked. Cailin and Cormac each grabbed one of her arms. Brielle struggled to no avail. Her frustration at being unable to break Maggie’s spell was evident in her expression.
“Lock her up, lads,” Robert ordered, as Brielle was dragged from the room. “We dinnae want her to escape.”
Chester wriggled out of his hiding spot beneath the table and ran to Dylan, practically turning himself inside out in his excitement. He hadn’t gone near Dylan since Brielle was around.
“Hello, Chester,” Maggie said, reaching her hand out to pet him. “’Tis good to see you again.”
“There, we have further proof! Chester hasnae left Cormac’s side since ye’ve been spending all yer time with Brielle. I understand why, now.” Robert smiled as he watched the dog wriggling every which way, as Maggie and Dylan showered him with attention.
“Well, I for one, am very relieved,” Irene said. “I havenae had many good thoughts for that woman. Something about her set me on edge, from the very moment I met her.”
“I knew there was something odd about her. She had no idea who I was when she first arrived and I was pretty sure after spending a few days with her in Glendaloch that she would remember me,” Jenna agreed.
Maggie left Dylan’s side and walked across to Jenna. “I’m sorry she deceived ye in my name. I couldnae forget ye – or ye, Ashley.” She hugged both women, one after the other before turning to Irene. “Irene, I’m so glad to meet ye. I’ve always wanted to visit Breaghacraig; I just never thought it would be under these circumstances.”
“Now we must decide what we’re to do with Brielle,” Angus announced. “Edna didnae make her intentions clear to us and I believe things have moved far more quickly than she anticipated.”
“Maggie, why did ye nae tell us who ye were right from the start?” Robert asked.
“Aye. I was wondering the same,” Cailin added.
“When Edna told me she wanted me to come to Breaghacraig to rid ye of Brielle, she said it was important that I be in disguise. I wasnae certain why. The only ones who knew my true identity were Edna, Angus and Brielle,” Maggie explained. “I’m sorry to have fooled
ye fer so long, but I believe that Edna was trying to avoid the confusion that was sure to set in when ye had two Maggie’s in yer presence. Brielle may have reacted badly and done more damage if she had been found out sooner.” Maggie anxiously twirled her fingers through her hair. “We managed to surprise her today, and that worked to our advantage.”
“Are we safe from her now? Or can she harm us from her cell below stairs?” Robert asked.
“I hope so, but I’m not sure what she is truly capable of. So far I’ve been able to stop her from doing any real harm, but she is a powerful witch and I don’t believe we’ve seen the worst of what she can do. I have cast a spell on her that will temporarily keep her from mischief. I will need to find a more permanent solution, though. I would like to speak with her first, if someone can show me the way.”
Maggie observed the others in the room. They all still appeared to be stunned by the events of the past few minutes and it took another minute before anyone responded.
Robert spoke. “Of course, as soon as Cormac and Cailin come back, I’ll have one of them escort ye down to see her. Why do ye nae sit and eat a bite first? Ye must be verra hungry after that long sleep ye had.”
“Aye. Uncle Angus brought me some food, but in our hurry to come and explain things to ye, I’m afraid I didn’t eat much,” Maggie smiled. “And I didn’t eat more than a bannock and a pear yesterday.” Her eyes surveyed all the warm and welcoming faces of the MacKenzie’s and she suddenly felt very much at home.
“How do ye feel this morn?” Irene asked. “We were all quite worried about ye when ye wouldnae wake yesterday.”
“I’m fine. Aunt Edna helped me escape from the spell Brielle cast, and then I slept peacefully throughout the rest of the night.”
It seemed to Maggie as if she were on display for the next few minutes. She and Dylan helped themselves to some food and Maggie looked up to discover everyone else watching her intently as she ate.
Angus cleared his throat and their attention turned to him. “Mayhap we should let these two have their breakfast in peace.”
“Aye. I’ll see where Cailin and Cormac have gone off to and I’ll send one of them back for ye, Maggie,” Robert said as he turned to leave the room.
“Thank ye,” she agreed, around a mouthful of bannocks.
The group turned in unison and filed out of the hall, leaving Maggie and Dylan alone. As soon as they were gone, Dylan sat back in his chair and put an arm around Maggie’s shoulders. “I’m so happy you’re really here now.”
Her heart sang when she heard his words. Maggie was beyond elated to be seated next to him, the warmth of his touch making its way through her clothing and flowing deep inside. How could she have doubted him? “I’ve been here all along, Dylan.” She thought for a moment before she continued. “I was wondering why ye continued to kiss Brielle, if ye didnae enjoy it?” Maggie asked the question as casually as possible shovelling food around on her trencher in hopes that her jealousy wouldn’t be revealed.
Dylan cleared his throat and when Maggie looked up, he smiled, melting her heart. “Maggie, I kissed her because I was trying to recapture what I’d felt between us. When I first met you back at the inn, I felt an immediate connection. It was something I’d never experienced before and I knew it was something special. So, when Brielle showed up here, disguised as you, I had no idea she was someone else trying to trick us. Those feelings I had for you were suddenly gone and I didn’t understand why. I guess I kept hoping that things would settle down between us, that maybe because we’d been separated for a while, we had to get to know one another again, maybe that would help to find it. I thought if I kissed Brielle, because I thought she was you, it would eventually come back, but it didn’t.”
“So you didn’t enjoy kissing her at all?” Maggie questioned.
Dylan shook his head. “Not in the slightest.”
“Not even one tiny bit?” Maggie asked.
“Not even one tiny bit.” Dylan lifted her chin with his fingertips and gazed into her eyes. “Come, sit here with me.”
Maggie found herself being drawn up out of her chair and onto his lap. She was the witch, but he was the one who’d cast a spell over her. They were sitting so close; she could feel his breath on her face and feel the truth of his words as something hard poked against her thigh. Gathering all her courage, for she had never been a verra forward girl, Maggie turned her head and kissed him. The sensation that ran through her body was amazing. She kissed him some more and he kissed her back, drawing her closer. She could feel the hard muscles of his chest and the strength of his arms, caged as she was inside them. Maggie wanted to run her hands all over him, but she didn’t dare. Should she continue to kiss him, or should she stop? Her inexperience in these matters had her head spinning. She didnae wish him to think her easy, even though for him, she most definitely wanted to be. Gasping for breath, Maggie pushed herself back and quickly turned her face away as a blush formed on her cheeks.
“Maggie, look at me,” Dylan said.
Red-faced, she did as he asked. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”
“Don’t apologize. I enjoyed it and I’d like to enjoy it again. I know that this isn’t the right time, and definitely not the right place, but promise me we’ll do this again… soon.”
“Aye,” she blurted out. Kicking herself, she couldn’t believe how eager she had sounded. Wasn’t it better to play hard to get? “Aye, soon. First we must take care of the Brielle problem.”
Footsteps warned them that someone was approaching and Maggie stood up abruptly, so as not to be caught behaving like a besotted schoolgirl.
“Maggie,” Cailin’s voice rang through the empty hall. “Robert says I’m to take ye to see Brielle.”
“Aye, please. Dylan, will ye join me?” Maggie hoped he would agree. She really didnae wish to face Brielle on her own, but there were questions that needed answering.
“Of course. I was planning on it,” Dylan responded.
“I’ll be joining ye as well,” Cailin said. “There’s strength in numbers, ye ken.” He led the way down a passageway, which took them from the hall and into a dimly lit stairway and then down into the underground levels of the castle. “She’s down at the verra end there and hopefully far enough away so she cannae use her witchcraft to seek aid in escaping.”
“’Tis a bit creepy,” Maggie said, as a shiver ran across her skin. Dylan clasped her hand and pulled her closer to him. “Is anyone else down here?”
“Nae,” Cailin said. “None but Latharn, I’ve left him here to guard her. He’ll nae let her out, no matter what she might say.”
“I’m nae so worried about what she might say, but what she might do. She is a witch, ye ken and while I was able to stop her from casting spells, it was only temporary. I’m sure she’ll be able to overcome my spell at some point soon, and then I don’t know what we can expect.” Maggie strained her eyes to see in the darkness. The torch that Cailin carried did little to light their path, and his large frame kept her from seeing what was in front of them. Finally, she could distinguish another glowing torch up ahead and as they approached, Maggie could see Latharn seated in a chair outside of a locked door. He stood as soon as he saw them.
“How has she been behaving?” Cailin asked.
“Quiet,” Latharn responded.
Maggie stood on tiptoes and peeked through the barred opening into Brielle’s cell. “I must speak with her, Cailin.”
Cailin pulled the chair Latharn had been seated on closer to the door. He held out his hand to Maggie. “Step up onto the chair. I’d prefer that ye speak with her through the opening.”
“Dinnae think that a wooden door, no matter how thick can protect ye,” Brielle shouted from inside her cell. “I’ll get my power back soon enough and ye’ll be sorry for ever thinking that ye could get the better of me.”
“We’d nae be foolish enough to believe that,” Maggie answered. “Brielle, what is it ye were trying to accomplish h
ere?”
“Did yer auntie nae tell ye? Why did she send ye here on a fool’s errand to try to stop me, when mayhap it should have been Herself to do so?”
“Edna cannae leave because she is the keeper of the bridge in Glendaloch. She sent me, because she couldnae come,” Maggie replied.
“So, she didnae tell ye why she sent ye.” Brielle laughed scornfully. “That sounds just like Edna. Sending a wee babe to do her bidding in her stead.”
“I am nae a wee babe,” Maggie retorted. It occurred to her that she was beginning to sound defensive. “If ye know so much, why am I here?”
“Yer here, because Edna was afraid to go up against me in a battle for the bridge. She didnae wish to die.” Brielle laughed maniacally. “As soon as I’ve defeated ye, I will be the keeper of the bridge. That was our agreement – Edna’s and mine. I can do so much with control of the bridge! So many on this side, would pay me handsomely to allow them to travel forward in time to gather riches, or go back in time to change the outcomes of their fate.” Brielle paused, as if waiting for a reply. “So, ye’ve nothing to say?” she asked.
Maggie said nothing, preferring instead to let Brielle continue.
“I knew ye were coming and I disguised myself as ye because I knew the MacKenzies and Dylan would welcome me with open arms. Once I was here and accepted as ye, it would make my work much easier. I had only started to play with them, when ye arrived, spoiling my fun. Edna was quick to send ye here. Her love of the MacKenzie Clan is great and I used that to my advantage.”
Maggie was shocked by this information. So this was all really about the bridge, and Edna had been willing to sacrifice her niece in hopes of defeating Brielle. “How did ye ken I was coming?” Maggie asked.
“Were ye nae listening to me, lass? Yer auntie told me. In order to save the MacKenzie Clan from destruction, yer auntie agreed that we would fight for the bridge, of course, as I’m sure ye ken, I enjoy nothing more than causing a wee bit of trouble, and if I’m bored and left to me own devices, well.... The sight of the clan running for their lives in the apple orchard was invigorating to say the least. And the water, the horses and the bread dough all helped relieve my ennui. As for ye, yer auntie wouldnae come, so she sent another witch, but she didnae send the right witch. Ye’ll be easy to destroy.” As she spoke, Brielle’s voice took on a whole different tone, sounding as if she’d aged one hundred years in the last few minutes. “Yer auntie sacrificed you. As I’ve said, once I’ve defeated ye, the bridge is mine. Yer auntie swore to it.”