“My grandmother, Nessa. She is the seer of our clan. Come, you’ve naught to fear from any of us. I’m well aware of where you’re from. Nessa and Gilleoin also await your presence in the chief’s solar.” The warrior led the way across the pebbly beach toward the grassy path winding upward to the castle, his men stepping aside and allowing them safe passage through.
“Well, this is a rather interesting turn of events.” Isla rubbed her arms and Iain tucked her under his shoulder as they trekked up the rise, protecting her from the brisk sea breeze as best as he could.
“Nessa did first speak the prophecy.” He walked through the arched gates and past flickering torches mounted against the bailey’s stone walls.
Isla’s gaze darted around the inner courtyard and she smiled at him. “Wow. This is amazing to see the castle as it first was. It’s also wonderful to have finally brought you home.”
“Perhaps you missed the part about which century this is.”
“I minor technicality.” She wiped her face with her wet shirtsleeve. Her jeans clung to her legs, outlining every delectable inch. Swiftly, he hauled his white shirt over his head and drew it over hers. The hem dangled around her knees. Better, much better. “Thanks.” She squeezed his fingers. “Dad saw that this was about to happen, us traveling through time. I know he did.”
“He should have given us more warning. He and I will have a long talk the moment we return.” His boots squelched with water as he entered the great hall with its vaulted ceilings and high wooden beamed rafters. The walls were covered with large tapestries, of hunting and landscape scenes, and the trestle tables had been pushed to one side and dozens of sleeping pallets laid down before the roaring fire. Warriors bedded down for the night, those wearing both Matheson and MacDonald clan plaids.
Kenneth led them toward a side room and opened the door. “Chief, our guests have arrived.” He motioned toward Iain. “This is Iain, the Chief of Matheson’s eldest son, and the lass is Isla, the eldest daughter of Murdock Matheson, the chief of her clan.”
Before a chunky wooden desk, a middle-aged man eased out of his chair and stood in tan pants and a thick fur vest, a sword sheathed at his side. He walked around his desk, plucked a tartan blanket from the corner chair next to the blazing fire and passed it to Iain. “For the lass.”
“She is no’ just a lass, Gilleoin, but his chosen one.” An older woman standing before the narrow window overlooking the courtyard, her red hair wisped with gray and coiled high atop her head, crossed to them in an elegant olive gown with lacy white sleeves fluttering over her wrists. “You’ve traveled far this day, and I take it, rather unexpectedly. I’m Nessa.”
“Iain, and these are my brothers, Finlay and Kirk.” Draping the tartan over Isla’s shoulders, he gestured toward them with a tip of his head. “I’m glad you’re aware of where we’ve come from. Having to explain how we arrived would have been interesting.”
“Aye, I’ve informed Gilleoin and Kenneth that you’ve crossed time in order to fulfill the prophecy, the foretelling I decreed at the birth of Gilleoin’s sons.” She smiled at Isla, her hands folded in front of her. “I’ve ‘seen’ your skill to compel, and that your father is the seer, Murdock. ’Tis a rare skill you hold amongst those with fae blood. The last man within the village who held it passed away five and twenty years ago.”
“I’m the only compeller in my time too. My great grandmother held the skill before me.” Swamped in the plaid, Isla wriggled one hand free and threaded her fingers through his. “Can you tell us why we’re here, Nessa?”
“In completing the bond with your mate, you fulfilled the prophecy. ‘Gilleoin’s sons will separate when they come of age and rule their own clans, yet there will come a time far in the future when a mated bond forms between the two clans. Only then must Gilleoin’s descendants once again merge, and the ‘power of three’ be unveiled.’” Her dark blue eyes swirled with such wisdom within.
“What exactly is the ‘power of three?’” Isla stroked the inside of his palm with her thumb. “That’s never been made clear within the prophecy.”
“Then I shall enlighten you. The ‘power of three’ are the three brothers who stand in this very chamber. Together, with their chosen ones, they shall instill new blood into the clans and give your future people hope.” She moved toward Iain’s brothers. “Finlay, Kirk, I’m aware you feel the pull of the full moon toward your women, yet when you search for them you’re led to a place where you cannae find them. That is because they are here, in this time, and on the night of the next full moon, on June the fourteenth, the ones you desire shall no longer remain beyond your grasp.”
“If they’re here in this time then where exactly are they?” Finlay demanded.
“The vision I’ve received of them still remains hazy. I dinnae always see all, even though I wish it, although I am aware they hold a touch of fae blood as many of the villagers do.”
“You’re saying our mates await us at the village?”
“Possibly, or they may have traveled farther away. No’ all of those who are fae-blooded remain at the village.”