She shivered from the cold air and tried to stop her stomach from quivering in anticipation of what she was to find. Even though she did not believe in fortunes and magic, she still loved to explore.
Isla held the hem of her dress high and counted her steps until she got to the massive cave just beside the non-existent loch.
She couldn’t imagine how beautiful the now flaky grounds would have looked when the blue-green waters existed on it.
Must have been magical.
She sucked in a deep breath and looked at the veil of darkness extending into the passage under the huge rock. She swallowed hard and held her breath steady. Once she stepped in there, she doubted she would be able to see anything as the rising sun would not reflect in there because of the thick layering rock covering it.
She had lived her years craving adventure. Whenever she visited a new land, she liked to experience what life was like for them there.
What’s in a cave I can’t explore?
Isla wanted to solve that mystery, so she put one foot in front of her, and started walking into the cave with slow strides.
Isla held the medallion tight and raised the flashlight up she carried from her car, hoping she could find her path. The hand holding the medallion quivered. Isla inhaled sharply and took in the unique earthy smell associated with rain and damp dust.
She wondered how long it had been since anyone came under the cave here. As she continued walking, her mind drifted off to her friends.
Once I find nothing here, I’ll tell them they’ve been defrauded.Isla couldn’t wait to get back to the main village and tell them how she had found nothing in the cave that woman had told them about.
She suddenly stopped when she met a solid wall. It blocked the path further and left her with nothing else to do than walk back out. Isla scoffed and raised the medallion up again. “What did she say about finding a key?”
A second after she spoke, her gaze caught onto something shiny by her left and she turned toward it. Isla gasped and her jaw dropped.
On the wall to her left, she saw something moving and nearly screamed before she realized it was a mouse. Isla looked closer and noticed a carved-out space on the wall too. It had the same shape as the medallion she held.
This is impossible,she thought as she slowly lifted the medallion and placed it on the spot. The instant she did that, the ground beneath her feet shifted, and her head swooned. She staggered back, her hand dropped from the wall and next thing she heard was long whispers deep inside her.
Thig an t-uisge agus tillidh sibh gu am far a bheil so dhanachd gad thoirt gu agus bidh sibh beo na laithean and sin a stri ri bhith beo gus an ionnsiach sibh gradh agus maitheanas.
Isla heard the same words the old woman had whispered to her back at the fair. She put her hands on the sides of her head and tried to fight off the dizziness that overpowered every other emotion she was feeling.
It was stronger than her however, Isla could no longer control her breathing or the rising pulse in her temples. Her limbs suddenly felt weak, she heard a loud rumble of thunder outside just before her lids dropped closed and she fell limply to the ground with a loud thud.
3
BIRLET SHALLOWS, SCOTLAND
1650
Jack Lyons dismounted his stallion when he reached the main market of the small village settlement, Glencoe. As his boots hit the ground, he marched toward the crowd of villagers gathered and tried to make his way to the front.
“My Laird,” a guard greeted as soon he saw him. Jack nodded once then looked from the guard to the crowd of villagers chanting praises in native Gaelic. He enjoyed riding out to the villages to watch his people whenever they held celebrations in the market square. His Clan was small, but the people enjoyed their feasts and gatherings.
“What is goin’ on?” Jack asked as he rubbed a hand over his jaw.
“The people are celebratin’ their champion in the joustin’ competitions. Sir Cristian Meade won the final rounds, and the people sing his praises.”
“Cristian Meade?” Jack asked, not knowing who his guard was referring to.
“Aye, My Laird… he’s of House Meade, and he is a knight. A new Knight added to our guards.”
Jack nodded, then turned away from the scene. Another of his guards had taken his horse to tie it in a corner, and as he strolled around the market in silence, he inspected his surroundings.
Glencoe was one of the small settlements of Clan Humphreys and Jack was Laird of the people here and in the other two settlements, Birlet Shallows and Onich. He liked to keep himself informed on the happenings among his people. Even though Birlet Shallows and Onich were far off, he still had a tight grip on the happenings there and got his reports from the village head and guards.
“The rains last night destroyed the vineyards in the Castle,” his guard reported. Jack glanced at him before the man added, “The council wants a meeting. They want to decide what happens next. As soon as winter comes, Clan Humphreys might not have enough to sustain itself and it is predicted to be a long winter this year.”