stool in the front, and the band became a quiet accompaniment.
The chatter in the room became silent, as he put up his hand to signal the start of his story. “Let me tell you a story of our dragon who dwells in the loch and silently awaits the return of her knights.”
Brigid gasped, placing a hand over her heart.
He glanced her way, and as he tilted his head, he gave her a knowing smile, then continued in his telling of the tale. She sat enthralled, already knowing much of the story, but he recounted details as if he had witnessed them. She found it fascinating that at the end of the story—there was hope. A round of cheers and clapping ensued.
Brigid was stunned when Tuck jumped off the stool, and walked over to their table. Introductions were exchanged, and Tuck took a chair next to Brigid.
“Well, well, so this is the bonny lass who has kept Conn absent from the glen.” Tuck chuckled as he gazed at Brigid.
Embarrassed by his words, she quickly said, “He’s just showing me around the glen. However, I’m sure I can do fine by myself if he’s needed elsewhere.”
Conn just sat there with his arms folded across his chest, an arched eyebrow the only response to Tuck and her statements.
“I found your story fascinating, Tuck.” Brigid was hesitant, but she realized Conn had probably told Kate and Hamish about the sword. Therefore, what could be the harm in telling Tuck?
He swiveled toward Brigid. “Ah yes, one of the saddest, too. You ken the tale?”
“Yes, and I believe I have one of the relics.”
“Sweet Danu! Then ’tis true?” Tuck looked at Conn for confirmation.
Conn gave one nod meaning he was correct.
“Tell me, Brigid, how did you come upon the sword?”
She recounted from the beginning how she received the sword, leaving out the details of her dreams. She managed to convince Tuck that after doing some research with Archie, it was determined that she should return the sword to the Clan Mackay here in Urquhart Glen.
Conn added, “Kate believes the mistress of Castle Aonach is a Mackay, and possibly descended from the original Mackays of Urquhart.”
Tuck nodded and took a swig of his ale. Then exhaling slowly, his gaze focused on Brigid. “Lass, what you have been entrusted to do is not for the weak. Your journey is about to begin.”
She was startled by his words and took a quick breath of astonishment. “ What ?”
He jumped down from his chair, went over, and grasped both of her hands, placing a kiss on each. “May the light of the fae guide you on your path, for danger lurks within the shadows.” Giving her a slight bow, he turned to Conn, quietly speaking. Apparently, it was not for her ears for he uttered it in Gaelic to him.
Then with a nod of his head, he left a stunned and speechless Brigid.
Chapter 16
“The dragon looked down upon the young knight, and asked, What is the difference between a myth and a legend?”
“ Who ?” Duncan rasped. With a look of puzzlement over his features, he waited for an answer.
Holding his palm up to still any more questions, Cathal glanced up toward the night sky as if listening for something. Gazing back toward Duncan, he just shrugged his shoulders and went over to the fire. Bending down, he grabbed some more dirt and tossed it onto the blaze, which seem to respond in kind with more heat.
Duncan ran a hand through his hair and across his face in frustration. He was bone tired, and the fire was not reaching the chill within. Cormac sat next to him in brooding silence, sword extended across his knees.
Cathal came forward and sat down. “I can only tell ye that the Guardian is sending someone of great importance. Ye must be mindful and alert, my son.” Sighing, Cathal continued, “Life is sacred, Duncan. To forfeit a life will not end or break the curse.”
“Ye dinnae ken that,” Duncan said wearily.
“Ye are still blinded by fury and grief and cannot hear the words of the Guardian. Yes, there is danger in your path, but
The chatter in the room became silent, as he put up his hand to signal the start of his story. “Let me tell you a story of our dragon who dwells in the loch and silently awaits the return of her knights.”
Brigid gasped, placing a hand over her heart.
He glanced her way, and as he tilted his head, he gave her a knowing smile, then continued in his telling of the tale. She sat enthralled, already knowing much of the story, but he recounted details as if he had witnessed them. She found it fascinating that at the end of the story—there was hope. A round of cheers and clapping ensued.
Brigid was stunned when Tuck jumped off the stool, and walked over to their table. Introductions were exchanged, and Tuck took a chair next to Brigid.
“Well, well, so this is the bonny lass who has kept Conn absent from the glen.” Tuck chuckled as he gazed at Brigid.
Embarrassed by his words, she quickly said, “He’s just showing me around the glen. However, I’m sure I can do fine by myself if he’s needed elsewhere.”
Conn just sat there with his arms folded across his chest, an arched eyebrow the only response to Tuck and her statements.
“I found your story fascinating, Tuck.” Brigid was hesitant, but she realized Conn had probably told Kate and Hamish about the sword. Therefore, what could be the harm in telling Tuck?
He swiveled toward Brigid. “Ah yes, one of the saddest, too. You ken the tale?”
“Yes, and I believe I have one of the relics.”
“Sweet Danu! Then ’tis true?” Tuck looked at Conn for confirmation.
Conn gave one nod meaning he was correct.
“Tell me, Brigid, how did you come upon the sword?”
She recounted from the beginning how she received the sword, leaving out the details of her dreams. She managed to convince Tuck that after doing some research with Archie, it was determined that she should return the sword to the Clan Mackay here in Urquhart Glen.
Conn added, “Kate believes the mistress of Castle Aonach is a Mackay, and possibly descended from the original Mackays of Urquhart.”
Tuck nodded and took a swig of his ale. Then exhaling slowly, his gaze focused on Brigid. “Lass, what you have been entrusted to do is not for the weak. Your journey is about to begin.”
She was startled by his words and took a quick breath of astonishment. “ What ?”
He jumped down from his chair, went over, and grasped both of her hands, placing a kiss on each. “May the light of the fae guide you on your path, for danger lurks within the shadows.” Giving her a slight bow, he turned to Conn, quietly speaking. Apparently, it was not for her ears for he uttered it in Gaelic to him.
Then with a nod of his head, he left a stunned and speechless Brigid.
Chapter 16
“The dragon looked down upon the young knight, and asked, What is the difference between a myth and a legend?”
“ Who ?” Duncan rasped. With a look of puzzlement over his features, he waited for an answer.
Holding his palm up to still any more questions, Cathal glanced up toward the night sky as if listening for something. Gazing back toward Duncan, he just shrugged his shoulders and went over to the fire. Bending down, he grabbed some more dirt and tossed it onto the blaze, which seem to respond in kind with more heat.
Duncan ran a hand through his hair and across his face in frustration. He was bone tired, and the fire was not reaching the chill within. Cormac sat next to him in brooding silence, sword extended across his knees.
Cathal came forward and sat down. “I can only tell ye that the Guardian is sending someone of great importance. Ye must be mindful and alert, my son.” Sighing, Cathal continued, “Life is sacred, Duncan. To forfeit a life will not end or break the curse.”
“Ye dinnae ken that,” Duncan said wearily.
“Ye are still blinded by fury and grief and cannot hear the words of the Guardian. Yes, there is danger in your path, but
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