Page 32 of A Keeper of Time

Angus joined the others as they silently sat staring into the flames. If only Edna could speak to them the way she always had in the past.

Singing could be heard coming from the darkness behind them. They all turned to look as Hamish and Donal appeared.

“What took ye so long?” Logan asked.

“We were walking, if ye remember,” Donal said, throwing himself down on the ground. “I have no’ walked that far in a verra long time.”

“Ye’ve gone soft living in the future,” Logan said.

“Aye, he has,” Hamish confirmed. He plunked himself down next to Donal. “Have we learned anything new?”

“Nothing,” Angus said. “We’re doing the only thing we can at this point. We’re waiting.”

All around them men began setting up camp.

“Is there any food?” Donal asked.

Brenna passed a loaf of bread their way.

“Is that it?” Donal seemed astounded that there was nothing else.

“I told ye he’d gone soft,” Hamish said, tearing off a piece of bread for himself.

Robert passed along a bag of provisions which Hamish rummaged through. He pulled out some dried beef, cheese and two apples, all of which he shared with Donal.

Angus handed them his flask of whisky which caused Donal much happiness, as evidenced by the huge grin he was now wearing. Fires were stoked here and there and were populated by different groups. Some men whistled, while others sang. Those who were not missing their wives and children were merrier, as they laughed and joked with one another.

“We should get some rest. Who kens what tomorrow will bring.”

Biera had erected a tent for herself and her companion and retired for the night much earlier than the others.

“Does everyone have what they need for the night?” Robert asked.

A chorus of voices answered, “Aye.”

“Good night to ye then,” Angus said.

The men found and prepared spots around the fire. Angus observed the group making themselves comfortable. He had such gratitude for all of them and what they were sacrificing to help Edna.

Chapter 10

Maggie made her way down the narrow alley squeezed between walls of brick on either side, clasping the paper with the address for the Council of Witches in her hand. She checked the number against the one on the door to her right. She was getting closer it had to be just up ahead.

An ornate sign above the next door in the alley read: Mardella, Melusina and Daire. She double checked the number beside the door. This was it. At least she hoped it was. She glanced up and down the alley. It was quiet. She seemed to be the only one out and about this morning. She rapped loudly on the door using the claw shaped cast iron knocker. A small window in the door opened barely a crack.

“Can I help ye?” a woman’s voice asked.

Maggie moved closer to the door, peering into the darkness beyond the sliver of space between the window and the door itself. “I’m Maggie Sinclair. Me aunt is Edna Campbell.”

“Just a moment.” The window closed, leaving Maggie standing alone in the alley. A shiver went through her as a gust of wind blew down the narrow passage bringing with it the magical sound of tinkling bells. She bundled her wool shawl closely around her shoulders as she drew them up to her ears and waited for someone to open the door.

A few moments later she heard a bolt slide and then another before the door opened. A tall, thin woman dressed in a long black dress and a beautiful red and gold floor-length kimono-type coat stood assessing her. “Please come in,” she said, after concluding her inspection.

“Thank ye,” Maggie said, entering into a long hallway that had the walls, floor and ceiling completely paneled in highly polished wood. Lantern-like lamps were spaced a few feet apart and hanging all along the ceiling. “Me Aunt Edna sent me…”

“Shhh…” the woman said, turning so that Maggie could see a solitary finger placed on her lips.

Maggie followed along silently from that point, taking in everything with the wonderment of someone who had no idea what to expect next. She had no idea there was a Witch’s Council. Her aunt never spoke of it before this. No one would even know it was here without someone telling them. She imagined that was the way the council wanted it. At the end of the hall, they entered a round room. Three individual desks, all distinctly different, faced her. Two of them had women seated behind them. The tall, thin woman went to the third desk and sat down. Silently she waited and so did the others. She was about to speak, but as she opened her mouth. A finger silenced her and so she waited once again.