Page 51 of A Keeper of Time

He did as requested. “Edna!”

“Would ye find Maggie for me please. I must speak with her.”

“I’ll get her.” He hopped up and jogged out of her line of sight.

A few moments later Maggie appeared. “Auntie. Is everything alright?”

“It is, but I’m hoping ’twill be even better. I need yer help.”

“I’m here for ye. What do ye need?” She sat down cross legged in front of the fire, listening for Edna’s instructions.

“I want to show the Council what happened with Brielle. All of the things she did that led to her demise. It’s all well and good to tell everyone what happened, but I think if they can see it then they’ll understand that we were merely defending ourselves. Maggie even though ye destroyed the amulet that ultimately destroyed Brielle, I want ye to keep that part to yerself. Do ye understand?”

“But Auntie…”

“‘Twill only work if ye do as I say. As far as anyone kens I was the one who killed Brielle. If they’re going to punish anyone, let it be me.”

Maggie looked as if she might argue with Edna, but a stern look from her aunt did the trick.

“Alright, but how do we do it?” Maggie asked.

“Biera may be able to help as well. Her magic is different, but just as powerful. I’m thinking there should be something like a giant screen in the air.”

“Like a movie screen,” Maggie said.

“Exactly. Richard and Latharn were there, we could use their memories to show Brielle was on a rampage. That should take care of Evanore’s complaints about me murdering her sister.”

“What about undoing everything she’s done?”

“That will be the next challenge, but I will have to hope they are compassionate witches who will understand what I was trying to do and let these couples remain together.”

“I’ll get to work right away,” Maggie assured her.

“Good lass. I ken ye can do this. One more thing. Have ye been able to work on helping Evanore’s servant?”

“No’ yet, but I will.”

“Good lass.”

“Good night, Auntie. Sleep well.”

“I doona ken that it’s possible until this is all settled, but I will try. Good night, Maggie.”

The fire died out, but Edna stayed where she was. “Thank ye, William. Shall we retreat to the bed? It’s much more comfortable.”

She placed William on the bed and peeked over at the glass orb, which had been retired since the Council’s arrival. She changed into her nightclothes and smiled when she saw that William had curled himself up into a little ball at the foot of the bed, hardly noticing when Edna got between the covers and placed her weary head on the pillow where she pushed thoughts of the next day out of her head. She had faith that Maggie would take care of everything.

***

Maggie found a quiet spot where she could be alone to contemplate how she might help Barnes. Edna told her that he had been abducted from another time and was under Evanore’s spell. She turned the problem this way and that in her mind while building a small fire.

She had to find a way to release him from it, but it was a well-known fact that a witch could not undo another witch’s spell. At first, she thought she might be able to locate his family, but since she didn’t know anything about him she had no spell for that.

She sighed, not sure what to do next.

“I’m going to contact Dylan and let him know where I am,” she said aloud, then concentrated on the flames.

“Maggie,” Dylan said. “Is that you? Are you okay?”