Page 81 of Treachery in the Highlands
"Aye."My own gaze darts around the room as I search for any clues to our exact timeline."It seems so.But when exactly, I cannae say."
As we cautiously explore the gallery, I can't help but marvel at how different yet familiar everything feels.The bones of the castle remain the same, but the trappings of modernity---electric lights, sleek furniture, and what I recognize as security cameras---create a jarring contrast to the Dùndubhan I know.
"Rachel," Joey's voice draws my attention.He stands in front of a large painting, his brows wrinkled."Look at this."
I move closer to examine the painting Joey's fixated on.It's a grand portrait, ornate and clearly ancient, depicting a gathering of clan leaders.My breath catches as I recognize familiar faces---ancestors I've only known through stories and my own visions.
"That's Bróccin MacTaggart," I whisper, pointing to a stern-faced man in the center."My great-great grandfather.And there, that's Gelis Campbell---she was said to be one of the most powerful witches of her time."
"What do we do now?"
Before I can answer, a noise from the hallway catches our attention.Footsteps, growing closer.
"Quick," I hiss, grabbing Joey's arm and pulling him behind a large display case.We crouch down to hide and wait for an opportunity to slip away.
"...and this is the Long Gallery," a crisp, professional voice announces."Home to some of Dùndubhan's most precious historical artifacts."
I risk a peek around the edge of the display case, my heart racing.A small tour group enters the gallery, led by a smartly dressed woman in a blazer.Her polished accent marks her as English, and I assume she's a professional guide.
"As you can see," she continues, gesturing to the very painting we were just examining, "this portrait depicts a crucial moment in clan history.The Great Gathering of 1426, where alliances were forged that would shape the future of the Highlands."
Joey shifts beside me, his breath warm against my ear as he whispers, "The year 1426?Is that an important year in your family?"
"Aye, 'tis the year when the MacTaggart book of magics vanished.The story goes that a witch from our clan cast a spell that went awry, and that's how the book was lost."
"Then we need to find it, huh?"
"Aye, we do.But no one has ever been able to find it despite many attempts to do so."I cannae move, barely daring to breathe as the tour group moves closer to our hiding spot.The guide's voice drones on, explaining the significance of various artifacts, but my mind is whirling with the implications of what we've learned.
Suddenly, a small boy at the back of the tour group breaks away, darting toward our hiding spot with the reckless abandon only a child can muster.My heart leaps into my throat as his curious eyes scan the display case, inching ever closer to our concealment.
Joey tenses beside me, ready to spring into action if needed.
I squeeze his arm, silently willing him to stay still.The last thing we need is to cause a scene and alter the timeline even further.
Just as the boy's gaze is about to land on us, a stern voice cuts through the air."Timothy!Get back here this instant!"
The child freezes, then reluctantly trudges back to his mother's side.I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.
As the tour group moves on, their voices fade down the corridor.Joey and I slowly emerge from our hiding place.
"That was close," Joey whispers, his eyes still darting toward the door."But at least now we know when we need to go."
"Nay, my intuition urges me to avoid the year of The Great Gathering."I take a moment to consider the problem but cannae come up with any answers."How do we get there?And more importantly, how do we fix whatever went wrong without making things worse?"
Joey runs a hand through his hair, a habit I've come to recognize as a sign of his frustration."I don't suppose you have a time machine hidden away in this castle, do you?"
I can't help but smile despite the gravity of our situation."No time machine, I'm afraid.But we do have magic."
"Right, of course," Joey mutters, still not entirely comfortable with the concept despite everything he's seen."So, what?We cast a spell and...poof, we're in whatever time we need to be in?"
"Afraid it's not that simple," I reply, biting my lip as I consider our options."Temporal magics are incredibly complex and dangerous.One wrong move could unravel the entire fabric of reality."
Joey's eyes widen."Okay, let's avoid unraveling reality if we can.What do we need to do?"
"Find the book.We must invoke a spell that will guide us to it.That could be dangerous, if the book is protected by the witch or sorcerer who appropriated it."
He raises his brows."Are you sure about this?Couldn't we potentially screw up the timeline if we layer more magics onto the problem?"
