Page 18 of A Keeper of Time

“I’m surprised I’ve never seen ye at the Council,” Edna said. “I’m sure I’d remember ye.”

“I’ve no’ attended the Council. They never approved of me sister and me.”

“But why?” Edna asked, trying to be as sympathetic as possible with this woman who felt she’d been wronged not only by Edna, but by everyone it seemed.

“Jealousy, I would assume. Brielle always said they were jealous of our abilities and would have nothing good to say to us if we attended.”

“Were ye the older or younger sister?” Edna asked. Either way, Edna was sure she’d applied some magic to make herself appear youthful. Edna wasn’t above doing that herself and she had. Only just enough to erase some of the wrinkles, but never to change her beautiful white hair. Angus loved it and the blue streak was fitting for a witch with a talkative nature.

“Younger,” Evanore said. “Brielle always took care of me. She guided me in me witchcraft and taught me everything I ken.”

Edna was not without sympathy for Evanore, who loved her sister and looked up to her, maybe never knowing the terrible things she’d done or planned to do. Evanore was unable to accept those facts right now and she may never be able to. Edna didn’t wish to cause her heart to ache with grief; in fact, it was Brielle who had done so by being the cause of her own demise.

“She was a powerful witch. I imagine she’d be quite proud of me.”

“I’m sure she would be,” Edna said, truly meaning it. Evanore was quite possibly the most powerful witch she’d ever known, with the exception of Brielle. William snaked his way through her legs and she picked him up.

“Traitor,” Evanore said to William who ignored her.

“Does he have a name? I’ve been calling him William.”

“Ye can call him what ye wish. I brought him with me after finding him yowling outside me bedroom window one night. I thought he would be me familiar and be of some help to me with me magic, but he’s actually been quite useless.” She sneered at the cat. “Ye can have him.”

“He’s yer cat. I was sure he was keeping an eye on me when ye were no’ around,” Edna said.

“That was his task, but as I said he was quite useless. I can see he’s decided he prefers ye to me.” Evanore didn’t seem bothered by this. It was said as a matter of fact and nothing more.

“He’s good company,” Edna admitted. She wouldn’t take Evanore’s words too seriously. He was quite possibly still her familiar, but he did seem to like Edna. She’d be careful though. “Do ye believe in love, Evanore? In the power of romance?” Edna asked.

Evanore gazed in the mirror at herself and Edna noted a slight collapse of her shoulders, but a quick recovery. She turned to face Edna once again. “Of course no’. Love is for fools.” She looked pointedly at Edna as she spoke.

“What a shame.” Edna not only said it, she meant it. Love was the guiding principle in her life. It always had been. Even as a child she would match her dolls up and perform handfasting ceremonies binding them to each other not for a year, but forever.

“Why do ye say that?” Evanore’s voice rose in a defensive manner.

“Just curious. Everyone deserves to find the love of their life, wouldn’t ye agree?” It was the romantic in her. She couldn’t help herself.

The look of derision on Evanore’s face spoke volumes. “I doona care about such things.”

“I already suspected it was of nae importance to ye. Why else would ye separate couples who love each other more than anything else.”

“Enough of this conversation.” Evanore whirled towards the door and out, leaving Edna alone with William.

“I think I struck a nerve, aye?” William’s head bobbed up and down as he purred happily in her arms. “Did ye just agree with me?” She stared down at the soft bundle of fur she held. “I suppose anything’s possible.”

Chapter 6

As the men stood in the courtyard saying their goodbyes, Angus hugged his sister for the longest time. He didn’t want to leave.

“Please doona be away so long next time,” she said, her voice muffled in his chest.

“I will no’. I promise ye.”

“I hope ye find Edna,” she said.

Inside, his heart broke a bit. His Edna was lost and he didn’t know where or when she might be. Looking around at the men who would ride with him, he felt comforted by their strength and their presence, but he was beginning to worry that their search was in vain.

No. He couldn’t think that. He couldn’t stand around and wait. He needed to search, and he would continue to ride until she was safe in his arms once again, no matter how long it took.