Page 52

Alasdair

A fortnight passed, and Alasdair and his family sat around a fire under the stars near the beach south of Duart Castle. It was just the five of them, something they wished to do before they returned to the mainland.

“I know you think I’m daft, Emmalin, but this place was calling to me. I had to come. We will return in a few days, but I had to spend one more night on the coastline. No sandy beaches on Grant land.”

“It is lovely here. I’ll agree with you, though the nights are surely getting cooler.” She tugged the plaid up over her lap, covering her hands.

Alasdair and Emmalin sat against a tree farthest from the water, Emmalin leaning against her husband so he could wrap his arms around her to keep her warm, the flames from the roaring fire not far away.

“But that chill is in the air to stay. We need to get back before the snow begins.”

Their three bairns, John, Ailith, and Coira, spent their time combing the edge of the water for shells or anything else interesting, a pail set out to hold their best findings, the light from the fire helping them sort through their treasures.

“It’s been a wonderful trip, but it’s time to return,” Alasdair said. “I thank you for your patience.”

“Mama,” Ailith called out. “May we return next summer? I wish to swim in the sea again. Mayhap when it’s warmest.”

Coira said, “I would like that too.”

“Of course. I think this should become a yearly trip.”

John added, “Good, because I would love to see Alaric and Eli’s new bairn.”

“Mayhap Merryn and Broc too. I wonder if they will stay,” Emmalin said.

“I think they will because of Tristan. He adores Shealee. And after you lose that many of your family, you cling to the ones who remain.” Alasdair stared up at the stars above. “The night is so clear. Mayhap we should stay.”

“Da!” John stopped, spinning around to stare at them. “I smell mint leaves again. Just like before.”

Alasdair stared out over the sea at a small light that appeared to be floating above the water. “Does anyone else see that? I’m not taking my eyes from it. Just tell me if you see it, Emm.”

Emmalin stood up. “I see it. What is it?”

Ailith said, “It’s getting brighter, and it’s coming this way.”

Alasdair got up, stepping in front of his wife to move closer as the light approached since he had no idea what it was. Sure enough, the strong aroma of mint leaves hit him as soon as he approached John and the sea.

John shouted, “Da! Grandda is here!” He pointed to a cloudy vision that floated over the water.

Ailith cried, “He is! There. And Grandmama!”

Coira murmured, “I feel his presence so strongly.”

Two faces appeared in front of them, like apparitions, not as real as a person. The visions grew, then strode toward them, hand in hand, one woman and one man.

“Mama? Da?” Alasdair couldn’t take his eyes from the visions, afraid that if he blinked, they would disappear.

“Grandda?” John asked.

“It’s your grandparents,” Alasdair whispered. “It’s them. Jake and Aline, my parents. Mama, Da. I miss you so.” His cheeks flooded with tears, and he only cared to keep them from blocking his vision.

His father’s voice cut through the quiet, the only other sound the lapping of the waves. “Alasdair, we came to meet Emmalin. This will be brief, but we wished to meet your wife and our grandbairns.”

Emmalin said, “Jake, Aline, I’m Emmalin, and these are our bairns, John and Ailith, and our adopted bairn Coira, who is loved as much as the other two. You raised a fine son. We all love him so much.”

“We know who you all are,” Aline said. “Alasdair, we’re so sorry that we had to leave you at such a young age.

We miss you terribly, but we are always watching.

It was your father who gave you that surge when you needed it in battle.

His arm supported yours. Know that you will always have us nearby when you need us. ”

Alasdair didn’t know what to say. “Mama, you are as beautiful as ever.”

Two other figures appeared.

“Grandda? Grandmama?” Alasdair couldn’t believe his eyes. He wished to walk into the sea and hug them.

Emmalin whispered, “Alex? Maddie?”

Alasdair could only nod, the view of the four people he missed every day of his life so close that it overpowered him.

Grandda said, “We miss you, Alasdair, but you’ve done a fine job raising your family. Tell all we are proud of how you handled this chaos. The Isle of Mull will be a wonderful place for many of our clan, but it will eventually belong to the MacLeans.”

“Should we stay?”

“Nay,” his sire said. “We are here to tell you that you belong on the mainland. John and the sapphire sword belong on Grant land. It won’t be needed for many years, but keep it hidden there. It was here when it was necessary, but it’s time to take it back.”

Alasdair still couldn’t speak. All these years, so many questions to ask, but none came forth from his frozen tongue.

His grandmother said, “Ailith, you look exactly like your grandmama Aline.”

Emmalin whispered, “She does.”

Grandmama lifted her hand and waved. “We will always be in your heart, Alasdair. All of your hearts. We watch over each of you, whether you need us or not.”

Grandda said, “It’s our greatest pleasure.”

And with a swirl of light, they were gone.