Page 88 of A Rogue in Twilight
“I have seen similar stones in this mountain and near Struan House,” Donal said.
“Then let us proceed, sir.”
As they went up the slope, Elspeth saw that James walked steadily but with the uneven gait common to him. Yet she noticed that he never complained even where the walking was strenuous. Her heart went out to him to see his steadfast courage.
The sky clouded over in a cool mist, and Elspeth felt raindrops on her cheeks. She looked up as they went higher, following a narrow dip between two slopes, a natural path like a tuck in a quilt. A slim runnel of water trickled downward, and ahead she saw a vast piling of rock and scree, tumbled eons ago from the mountain’s massive black shoulders.
Now and then, James stopped to pick up rocks and examine them, sometimes dropping small chunks into his satchel, other times setting them back in place reverently. “Limestone with marine fossils are signs of the Old Red Sandstone layer,” he said at one point, then later, “there are volcanic traces here.” He made notes in a small journal, muttering to himself. “Granite and basalt. Fascinating.”
Donal looked at Elspeth. “I do not understand why he loves old rocks.” She laughed.
More than once, James picked up small stones and handed them to Elspeth. She gasped at the glitter of perfectly formed crystals, clear and peat-colored.
“Rock crystal and cairngorm,” he explained. “For you.” She tucked the crystals in her skirt pocket, delighted.
“The Goblin Cave is over here,” Donal said, leading them across a slope covered with turf and broken rock, so that they went carefully, offering a helping hand as needed. Overhead, mist gathered and rain spattered their heads.
Cut into a cliff among the widespread scree was a dark, deep opening in a fold of rock. Elspeth went toward it.
“We cannot go inside. It is not safe,” Donal said.
“Grandda, we came all this way. We have to go inside.”
“The power of the Fey is strong here. We should stay away. But you two have more protection against them than I do.”
“Why is that, sir?” James asked.
“Love,” Donal said. “That bond guards you, and can break their hold. Though it would be stronger if—well.” He stopped, shrugged. “You will think me mad.”
“He thinks both of us a little mad already,” Elspeth said. “What is it?”
“If you were wed already, and securely bound in love.”
Elspeth glanced at James, who looked from one to the other soberly, silently. The rain began in earnest as she reached out to take his hand. “Grandda, come with us. We will search together for the fairy gold together.”
“Mr. MacArthur, may I see the agate again?” Taking the rock, James held it up to the light and turned it. Then he held out the stone. “Look here. Do you see the resemblance to the slope and the cave?”
As Elspeth studied it, the shapes and points seemed to form an image. She gasped. “It looks like a miniature of the cave opening! How could that be?”
Donal frowned. “I have held this stone many times and never noticed that.”
“Elspeth spotted the cave in your son’s painting, and when I compared the agate geode to the picture, I saw the similarities. Perhaps this is the place to look, sir.”
“Why would Niall paint this cave in the picture?” Donal was still frowning.
“Perhaps he wanted to leave a clue to lead you to the treasure.”
“To break the spell! Oh, Grandda,” Elspeth said. “What if James is right?”
“He left us a map? Huh,” Donal said. “There is nothing in that cave but rock, and signs of the smugglers who come here now and then. And possibly a fairy portal, so we should stay away.”
James shouldered his pack and grasped his walking stick. “I intend to go inside. I promised Elspeth I would search. You two can wait here.”
“I am coming with you,” Elspeth insisted.
“If there is any danger here,” he said, “you should stay with your grandfather.”
Elspeth grabbed his coat sleeve. “I am coming with you!”
