Page 92 of Laird of Twilight
“Mr. MacArthur, may I see the agate?” When Donal handed it to him, James held the rock up to the light. “Ah, just as I hoped. Come look. The hollow, and the crystal formation here—there is a definite similarity to the landscape—do you see?”
Elspeth took the stone, holding it up to compare as James had done. The shapes and points came together into an image, and she gasped. “The crystal looks like the cave, but in miniature! How could that be?”
Donal took the agate next, frowning as he held it up to the light. “I have seen this stone many times, and I have been up here , but I never noticed that before. How did you discover it?”
“Elspeth noticed the cave in Niall’s painting, and last night I noticed similarities between the agate and the picture. That is why the Goblin Cave seems the best place to look for the treasure, even if you have searched here before.”
“Why would Niall put that cave in his painting?” Donal was still frowning.
“He may have left a clue,” James said. “He may have intended to help his father and his daughter by showing you where to find the treasure.”
Donal tilted his head. “It sounds as if you are coming to believe in our fairies, Struan.”
James cleared his throat. “I only noticed the detail. The rest is up to you.”
“Grandda, James could be right,” Elspeth said. Her heart beat a little faster in excitement. “What if my father wanted to help, even though he could not tell you the secret directly?”
“Huh,” Donal said thoughtfully. “But I have been inside. There is nothing but rock, and signs of the smugglers who use this place now and then. There is no treasure. But there is a fairy portal, invisible but dangerous. We must stay away.”
“Nonetheless,” James said, shouldering his pack and grasping his walking stick, “I intend to go inside.”
“If you want to fetch more rocks, it is a good place for that,” Donal said.
“I intend to fulfill my promise to Elspeth. You both wait here.”
“I am coming with you,” Elspeth insisted. What if James entered that cave and never returned? She had never been sure of Donal’s fairy stories—but here and now, in this place, they seemed more real than ever.
“Any cave can be dangerous,” James said, “so you should wait here. Or you can walk back with Donal, and I will meet you later.” He kissed her cheek and turned away, but Elspeth grabbed his coat sleeve.
“I am coming with you. Grandda, please, come inside where it is dry.” The world had turned gray and misty on the mountainside. Rain fell in earnest now, wetting her bonnet and plaid, spattering and slicking over the stones.
“I am too old to bargain with the Fey.” He reached out, embraced her. “Find the gold, if it is inside there. They cannot harm you if you are with your love. That is your safety. He is your shield, and you are his.” He looked over her shoulder toward James, who was already proceeding up the slope toward the boulders that nearly obscured the cave entrance in the cliffside.
“Do come with us.” She stepped back.
“Eilidh,” he said. “You must guard yourself in the best way you can.”
Her grandfather rarely used her Gaelic name. “What is that?”
“If you were married to the man already, that would be the safest today. Love will protect you both. But a marriage bond made in love—ah, that is even stronger. If only you had married him before we came up here.” He sighed.
“That day will come soon,” she assured him.
“Eilidh.” Donal took her by the shoulders. “Marry him now, lass,” he said. “Take his hands in yours and wed him here in this old place, in the old way, before you enter that cave.”
She stepped back, astonished at the suggestion. “We will have a wedding for all to celebrate when the time comes.”
“That time is now. Give him your pledge forever, in love, before you enter that realm. Forge your bond now. A handfasting. I will witness it.”
The wind whipped hard, pushing at her back, but she stood firm. “You truly mean this.”
“I do. Go tell your man. I will wait and stand witness so all will know it was done. The Fey will know it too. Hurry.”
She paused, wondering at the strange suggestion, but then she felt, suddenly and clearly as the strike of a bell, his utter seriousness, and the truth of it. He was right. So right. She drew up her skirt hems and turned to hurry after James, who was now exploring the rock formations near the mouth of the cave.
As she approached, thunder grumbled overhead. The cave opening looked foreboding, and she stood in the rain, hearing thunder, seized with doubt and fear.
“James!” she called, coming nearer. He had knelt to examine some rocks. Waving, unhurried, he broke off stone bits with a hammer.
