AllFreeNovel
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I shrug and stare around the bar, doing my best not to squirm. I’m not in the mood to share my truth, and if I was, this isn’t the way or the place I would choose to do so. Savannah knows, but she’s my best friend.
“She doesn’t like blood,” Savannah lies, coming to my rescue. “Queasy stomach.”
“Oof,” Ryan says. “That would screw the pre-med, wouldn’t it?”
“Yeah, who knew?” I say, thanking Savannah with my eyes for not telling the truth.
My fascination with, love of, and soul deep calling to Scotland and all things Scottish isn’t something I want to share broadly. I only told her one night when we had had way too much wine. Which, as it turned out, worked in my favor since she told me about this opportunity being offered to archaeology majors.
“And what ’ave we ’ere?” asks someone with a thick Scottish accent, saving me from further interrogation. “Group of bairns getting guttered unless I miss my mark.”
An old man stands with a pint in his hand, looking us over. His eyes are rheumy, his large nose red and pockmarked. His thick white eyebrows brush together and blend into the large gray and white beard that hides the majority of his face. He’s wearing a kilt with green and blue patterning that I recognize as Black Watch, as well as a sheepskin vest and a black beret that barely keeps his wild, wiry gray hair out of his face.
“Evening, sir,” Ryan says, untangling himself from Gail and rising to greet the local. Ryan holds out a hand, which the man takes.
“Ach, and Americans to boot.” The old man grins.
“Yes, sir,” Ryan says, shaking hands. “I’m Ryan Coolridge. These are my classmates.”
“Classmates?” the old man says, looking us over. “Here for the wee dig in the hills, I’d wager.”
“Yes, sir,” Ryan says.
“Well, welcome to Dunally,” he says. “I’m Gerard Campbell.”
“Pleasure, sir,” Ryan says, smooth as ever. “Would you care to join us?”
“For a min, I might,” Gerard says.
Ryan resumes his seat, and Gail melds against him.
Gerard grabs a chair from a nearby table and sits down. “You’ve only arrived, I take it?”
“That’s right,” I say.
“Well, bairns, let me give ya a warnin’, one ye be takin’ right to your hearts,” he says. “I’m an old man, as ye can see, been around a right long time and seen more than my fair share of what this world can offer to ya.”
“You lived here long too?” Savannah asks.
“All me life, ’cept for the war, ’course,” Gerard says. “Served the Queen but that’s nae what’s important here. When you bairns are up in the highlands, it best to keep one eye open and to be cautious.”
“What are we watching out for?” Gail asks.
“The highlands is home to the fair folks,” he says, looking at each of us in turn.
Something trembles in my chest, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. When he locks his watery eyes onto mine, my breath catches in my chest.
“Aye, I know how you young ’uns be thinking. Crazy old man, probably half-guttered he is, you’re thinking.” As if to emphasize the statement, he takes a long drag on his beer. “But you take this to heart, yuins hear? When the fog lies heavy on the land, that’s the Fair Queen’s time, and you best be payin’ your respects.”
“The Fair Queen?” Savannah asks.
“Oh, aye,” Gerard says.
“I’m sorry,” Savannah says, leaning forward with her arms on her elbow.
The musty smell of the room grows stronger, mixing strangely with the old man smell of Gerard. My stomach flips, and for a second, I’m sure I’m going to lose the battle to keep its contents down.
“What do you mean the Fair Queen? Is that a local celebration?”
