wall that once kept out primitive warriors, attacking clans, and the armies of enemy nations. Now, thanks to a powerful spell cast three generations before, the keep and its land was shrouded in a time cloak. All members of the clan had a special piece representing them, which always stayed in the castle as an anchor, allowing them to travel back. The linking items were held in a secret vault , hidden by not only magic but brick and mortar , and only a few knew its location. Fionn had been surprised to learn his father kept his linked item. A dagger with the family crest in the handle was the last gift his mother had favored him with before her death. Because of the obvious emotional link and the added bonding spell spoken by the current laird , the dagger allowed Fionn through the intricat e spells that hid Hughes Place.
As the two men looked out at the green acreage and the numerous people that moved about, Fionn remembered his father taking him on his first time ride. It had been to 15th Century Scotland. Fionn and his father both considered The Scottish Highlands their favo rite place, no matter the time.
Rordan began speaking in a low voice filled with emotion. “There are those who think that because I keep our clan shielded from the outside, I am a tyrant. That because I refuse to accept all the conveniences of modern times, I am a dictator. While I don’t feel the need to explain my choices to them, I will to my son, my heir.”
Fionn straight en ed his back and opened his mouth to contradict his father. At one time, he might have been heir but , after his banishment, then acceptance of immortality, and now judgment as a fugitive, he didn’t feel he deserved it. Rordan raised his hand and narrowed his eyes at his son, a wordless order to remain silent. Once again, a childhood’s worth of life lessons kicked in. Fionn closed his mouth and listened.
Rordan looked out over the land as he spoke. “Good lad. Now pay attention. Everything I do, I do for the good of the clan. Anyone who wants to leave is free to go. By choosing not to use electricity or technology, it ensures the values of hard work and pride of labor are not lost. We depend on each other , creating a unity in the clan. But most of all, magic and sorcery should be what we t hink of first, not technology.”
It was as if a puzzle piece had fallen into place with in Fionn’s brain. He finally understood what his father meant when he’d told him as a young boy “Simplicity ensures the clan’s survival and the legacy of our magic.”
Turning to face his son, Rordan nodded and grunted . “Now, about Cordelia’s child.”
Fionn prepared to correct his father’s notion, but then decided against it, for Cordelia had b een the woman who raised Maeve.
“Your mother was the woman chosen for me, and out of honor I did my duty to wed her.” Rordan withdrew the gold pocket watch he often spent hours looking into, yet never allowed anyone else near. He ran his thumb across the face, and then offered it to his son. “Unfortunately, my heart always belonged to another.”
Fionn pushed the button at the top of the sphere and the watch back sprang open. Inside was a picture of Maeve’s grandmother and a fiery auburn curl.
“Rick, Cordy and I were together from the breast. Cordy had a hard time keeping up with us physically , but the lass threw a knife better t han any man I have ever known.”
Fionn chuc kled. “Aye, so does Maeve.”
“Is that the lass’s name?” Rordan asked.
“Aye.”
“Always did like that name , ” Rordan mumbled , looking out somewhere far away it seemed. “Cordy left to train in the art of healing for a couple seasons and came back Cordelia, a woman. The most beautiful woman Rick and I had ever seen.” A peculiar sadness seemed to emanate from Fionn’s father every time he mentioned Rick. “In the end she chose Rick, and because I was an arrogant fool, I lost them both. Now that they’re gone and I’m an old
As the two men looked out at the green acreage and the numerous people that moved about, Fionn remembered his father taking him on his first time ride. It had been to 15th Century Scotland. Fionn and his father both considered The Scottish Highlands their favo rite place, no matter the time.
Rordan began speaking in a low voice filled with emotion. “There are those who think that because I keep our clan shielded from the outside, I am a tyrant. That because I refuse to accept all the conveniences of modern times, I am a dictator. While I don’t feel the need to explain my choices to them, I will to my son, my heir.”
Fionn straight en ed his back and opened his mouth to contradict his father. At one time, he might have been heir but , after his banishment, then acceptance of immortality, and now judgment as a fugitive, he didn’t feel he deserved it. Rordan raised his hand and narrowed his eyes at his son, a wordless order to remain silent. Once again, a childhood’s worth of life lessons kicked in. Fionn closed his mouth and listened.
Rordan looked out over the land as he spoke. “Good lad. Now pay attention. Everything I do, I do for the good of the clan. Anyone who wants to leave is free to go. By choosing not to use electricity or technology, it ensures the values of hard work and pride of labor are not lost. We depend on each other , creating a unity in the clan. But most of all, magic and sorcery should be what we t hink of first, not technology.”
It was as if a puzzle piece had fallen into place with in Fionn’s brain. He finally understood what his father meant when he’d told him as a young boy “Simplicity ensures the clan’s survival and the legacy of our magic.”
Turning to face his son, Rordan nodded and grunted . “Now, about Cordelia’s child.”
Fionn prepared to correct his father’s notion, but then decided against it, for Cordelia had b een the woman who raised Maeve.
“Your mother was the woman chosen for me, and out of honor I did my duty to wed her.” Rordan withdrew the gold pocket watch he often spent hours looking into, yet never allowed anyone else near. He ran his thumb across the face, and then offered it to his son. “Unfortunately, my heart always belonged to another.”
Fionn pushed the button at the top of the sphere and the watch back sprang open. Inside was a picture of Maeve’s grandmother and a fiery auburn curl.
“Rick, Cordy and I were together from the breast. Cordy had a hard time keeping up with us physically , but the lass threw a knife better t han any man I have ever known.”
Fionn chuc kled. “Aye, so does Maeve.”
“Is that the lass’s name?” Rordan asked.
“Aye.”
“Always did like that name , ” Rordan mumbled , looking out somewhere far away it seemed. “Cordy left to train in the art of healing for a couple seasons and came back Cordelia, a woman. The most beautiful woman Rick and I had ever seen.” A peculiar sadness seemed to emanate from Fionn’s father every time he mentioned Rick. “In the end she chose Rick, and because I was an arrogant fool, I lost them both. Now that they’re gone and I’m an old
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