Page 52 of A Keeper of Time

“It’s me.” Seeing his face warmed her in a way the flames couldn’t. She was so lucky to have a wonderful husband like him. “I’m doing alright. They started the trial today and Evanore told everyone that Auntie killed her sister Brielle,” Maggie explained.

“That’s crazy!” Dylan yelled.

“And that she shouldnae have been matching couples from different times,” Maggie added.

Dylan shook his head and frowned. “That’s not good.”

“No. It’s no’, but they heard from some witnesses here today so we’re all hoping they are reasonable witches and they’ll see how terrible it would be to separate everyone.”

“Maggie, you’re going to be able to come back to me, aren’t you?” A tinge of doubt could be heard in his voice.

“I will be back as soon as this is over,” Maggie assured him.

“Good.” He sounded relieved.

“Auntie asked me to help the servant, Barnes. He is under Evanore’s spell. I’m going to try to set him free, but I doona ken where to start.”

“I wish I was there to watch you work. You can do it, Maggie, I am certain you’ll figure it out.”

“Thanks, hun. I’ve got to go,” Maggie said. “But I’ll be in touch tomorrow. Who knows, I may even be home and all of this will be behind us.”

“Let’s hope,” Dylan said as his face faded from view.

Maggie sat back from the flames and looked up into the night sky. She would have to find a work around, as the council had when they made the house appear. If there was a way she could get into his head and help him remember who he was, that might be all it would take.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a pouch filled with dried herbs and some crystals. Placing them on a flat rock she found, Maggie concentrated, set her intention and went to work. Before long a plume of smoke rose from the herbs and drifted towards the house. The smoke carried Maggie’s own spell. One that would tickle Barnes’ memory about who he was and where he was from.

At first there was no indication that it was working, but before long another plume of smoke left the house and wafted through the air directly to her. On it were memories from his past. She now knew who he was, where he’d come from and why he had been there.

The pieces came together with a story of a life of servitude that had been forced on him. At first she thought that part was about Evanore, but as it turned out, it was not. More and more information came to her and as it did, she sent it back to him. With any luck as he received his own memories back again they would stick and he would be better able to escape Evanore.

Before she was done, she left him with the instruction to tell Edna that Maggie had helped him. This way they would know that it had worked.

The smoke that had been moving back and forth between her rock and the house stopped. Maggie gathered her crystals back into the pouch and, feeling pretty pleased with herself, went back to the camp to find Biera.

Chapter 15

“Biera and I were up late working on it. We talked to Richard and Latharn about using their memories and I think we have enough to show them what happened.”

“Everyone take yer seats,” Melusina said as she banged her gavel on the judge’s bench. “We’re about to get started.”

“Ye’ll do just fine,” Edna assured Maggie as everyone took their place, ready for the trial to begin.

Edna watched and listened as Maggie approached the bench. “I’ve something I’d like to share with everyone this morning.”

“Does it pertain to our trial?” Daire asked.

“Aye, verra much so. It specifically pertains to Brielle’s death.”

“Fine. We’ll start off with that. Have a seat for a moment if ye will.”

“Thank ye.” Maggie turned to Edna and gave her a thumbs up before sitting next to Angus.

Edna gazed at the two of them as they sat together. She loved them both so much. Maggie was her niece, but she was like a second daughter to her. Sitting behind them was the other love of her life, Lena. She seemed worried. Edna caught her eye and mouthed the words, “I love ye.”

Lena mouthed the same words right back to her, blowing her a kiss as well.

For the first time during this ordeal, Edna had hope that things would work out well for her.