in fear until Isaiah’s voice urged me forward. Clinging to Jerimiah’s hand, I ducked my head and ran between the angels. The light grew brighter and brighter and then we were across. It was no longer night, but midday. And although we were on a riverbank, there was no bridge in the direction we’d come from.
“Still clutching Jerimiah, I collapsed on a bench. I felt sure we were in heaven and that Isaiah would come to welcome us home. Then I saw you. When you told me we were in Scotland, I knew what had really happened . . . a miracle.”
The coincidences between Cheska’s and this boy’s stories—angels beckoning them to cross a bridge—gave me chills. Wishing I had thought to grab a plaid for myself, I crossed my arms over my chest in an attempt to control my shivering. “Did the angels say anything to you? Did they send a message?”
Ezekiel shook his head. “No, mum. I could not understand what they said. The light and sound invaded my body in a way that filled me with fear and made my senses burn. I was barely conscious. I am sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’m just glad you’re here and safe.”
I reached out, intending to refill Jerimiah’s bowl, when the younger boy grabbed my hand. He lifted his head and his haunted eyes bore into mine. “The angels want you to rebuild a bridge.”
“Excuse me?” How did the angels know I’d been questioning the purpose of rebuilding the bridge?
“It is called the Brig o’ Doon. They cried, ‘Restore the Brig o’ Doon to its former glory. Rebuild the bridge and prepare a mighty army.’ That is the message we were to give you. Rebuild the bridge and be ready to fight.”
CHAPTER 10
Duncan
I walked down the street next to the auld man who claimed to possess singular knowledge that would help us defeat the Witch of Doon. Kinsman or not, I needed to determine what Alasdair’s game was. Until I knew that, I would have no idea if the information he supplied was false or true.
Despite his spry, cheeky demeanor, Alasdair grimaced with each step of his left leg. “Might we stop on the way back to see your bonnie horse?”
“Of course.” Although both of us were loaded with the meager possessions we’d just retrieved from his flat, he didn’t need to ask twice. I’d eagerly accept any reason to lavish attention on Mabel. Since being stranded in Alloway, I’d been hard pressed to make time for my second-best girl. Not that I’d ever admit to her that Mackenna came first in my heart. Still, I suspected she knew—some beastly feminine instinct for competition.
Cutting away from the village center, we headed toward the parcel of land we’d acquired for our improvised garden and dining hall, and the adjacent paddock and barn just beyond.
“Have you always lived in Alloway? I mean, since the miracle?”
“More or less.” He shrugged. “I’ve adventured out into the world—seen many a wonder—but I always come back in the hopes that Doon will call me home.”
“If you are King Angus MacCrae’s brother, you would’ve been a young man when the miracle happened.”
“Aye, that I was. Like you, I was a great, strapping lad.” The auld man preened like a rooster. “A favorite of the village lassies too.”
“How did you come to be so—” I paused, belatedly realizing the rudeness of my question.
“So old?” Alasdair’s leathery face cracked in two as he laughed. “You can say it. I know what I am. Not havin’ the benefit of magick like Adelaide to stay young, this world has taken its pound of flesh from me. I’m aging, ye see. Just more slowly than others. ’Tis not natural for a man ta live in such a suspended state. I’m ready ta go home . . . ta be at rest.”
The hall was packed with Doonians taking their dinner meal. Knowing the bairns would be anxious to start combat training, I skirted around the building, careful to stay out of view of those within. My stomach grumbled in protest.
When Alasdair and I entered the barn, I reached for a bag of green apples. After tossing one to the auld man, I grabbed two more, one for me and one for my bonnie steed. We munched in companionable silence until there was nothing left but cores, which Mabel accepted with a grateful whinny. As she finished our meager meal, Alasdair took the hoof pick and comb from a shelf on the side of the stall.