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cousin of the Campbells
of Glenorchy and I have come to seek council with Akira.”
    She eyed the other ghost suspiciously. “I am Akira MacDonell
of Castle MacKinnon. How have ye found mi?”
    It appeared as if Mary was uncertain if she should speak.
She glanced around the room then back to Akira. “May I speak in confidence?”
    “Aye, it is safe. We are alone.” Akira’s curiosity rose.
    “I found ye because we are bound by a common thread. Your
husband gave something to mi cousin to hide. Something I took a solemn oath to
protect ‘til it was deemed safe for his return.”
    If her heart still beat, Akira knew it would pound heavily
at the moment. “Aye,” she stated softly as she forced the word to form across
the excited knot in her throat.
    “Your brathair , Struan, has been found.”
    Instantly, Struan’s riddle recited in Akira’s head.
     
    Thy mighty Ben Lawers surrounds thee
    Four rounded forts protect thy sleeping bairn
    Chained within the center floats thy fourth
    Safe beneath thy watchful eye of Breadalbane
    Rest ye weary one fer yer day of release shall come
    Lest nay be the month of one when thy favored fish of
Balloch run
     
    Was Mary of Breadalbane the watchful eye? Considering Akira
had chosen to linger in this world as Gavin’s protector, maybe this Mary had
done the same for Struan. Were they lovers? As women of 1740, it was not proper
to discuss such matters, but being dead, Akira felt that trumped society’s
rules.
    “Why did ye protect mi brathair ? Why did ye not cross
over?”
    Mary’s chin tilted and a shy smile formed. “Honor and gaol bound mi to your clan.”
    “Ye were in love with Struan?”
    “Aye, but we never acted on our feelings.” Mary shook her
head sadly as she paused, then added, “I was betrothed to another. When mi
cousin died, I alone knew where Straun lay hidden and vowed to protect him even
in death, which came sooner than anticipated. Mi husband poisoned mi for not
providing a male bairn.”
    Akira hugged Mary. “It is a sorry fate ye received but I
thank ye for your sacrifice.”
    Mary pulled from the hug. “It was not easy. Though the
angels took pity on the way I died, I had to bargain with them in order to
protect Struan.”
    Akira laughed. “So did I. But how is it ye can travel when I
am bound to MacKinnon land?”
    “As I said,” Mary replied. “We are tied by a common thread.
Both protect the ones we loved within the same clan. I reached out to ye but
cannot reach out to any other. Mi travel is restricted to ye and limited in
time. I have but a wee few minutes to visit before I shall be returned home.”
    Suddenly something clicked inside Akira’s thoughts. She
protected Gavin. Izzy’s mother lingered to watch over her little girl and thus
protected Ian in the process. Mary protected Struan. All were women who chose
to linger to protect a loved one or a MacKinnon brathair . Were there
others like them? It warmed her cold, dead heart to know each o’ her brathairs may have a guardian assigned to watch over them.
    “Where has Struan been found?” she asked.
    Mary looked at Akira as if she warred with the decision to
answer. “Loch Tay.”
    Akira floated over to the giant map that hung on the wall.
She located Loch Tay and wished she could stick a bright-blue pin in it to show
the others when they returned. She turned to look at Mary. “Who found him?”
    “A woman named Caledonia.”
    “Caledonia,” Akira repeated on a heavy sigh. “A strong,
Scottish name. A woman given the proper name of Scotland should be perfect to
save mi brathair .”
    “He has already been saved. They lifted him from the bottom
o’ Loch Tay at dusk.” Mary’s perplexed look made Akira smile. The other ghost
had no idea what they were dealing with in the form of this curse.
    “Mary, he has simply been found. Not saved.” Akira floated
in a circle. “It is gaol which shall set him free.”
    “How?” Mary questioned.
    “As ye know, mi brathairs were cursed