Drayton lifted his hand and dragged it through the air. A wave of fire burst from the ground, creating a wall between himself and the others, except for Jesse. “Looks like it’s between you and I, Master Pond.” Jesse looked surprised. “What’s this? You are shocked that I know your real name? I know all about you and your group of twelve. Phelan’s told me everything. I don’t suppose you know that I have magical powers and know spells equal to yours.”

Jesse scoffed. “Your magical tricks don’t frighten me, boy. You’re as foolish as your ancestor. Oh, so now you’re surprised. Yes, I know Dugan. I fought against him many times. At least he had some class, which is more than I can say about you. Look at you. Earrings, like a woman? Long hair, like a woman? You probably fight like a woman too.”

“Why you…” Drayton tripled in size. He looked down at Jesse. “Let me show you how much I fight like I woman.” He reached down and grabbed Jesse in his large hand. Holding him high in the air, he threw him.

Jesse whirled through the air, hitting several trees before falling to the ground next to the loch. The wall of flames died down to glowing embers.

Drayton, angered that he couldn’t finish Jesse off, returned to his normal size and ran off into the woods. “I can’t go back to the B&B now. I’ve got to find somewhere to stay. I’m not sleeping outside another night.” He headed for town. “All my money’s in my room. I guess I’ll have to pay Elsie one more visit.”

Opening the front door, he marched into McDougal’s B&B. “Why there you are, Drayton. I’ve been looking for you all day,” Elsie said.

Drayton brushed past her and walked up the stairs. “I’m checking out.”

“Tonight? So late?”

“Now.” He went to his room and crammed everything into his bag. Making sure none of his money was missing, he ran back down the stairs. Elsie and the others were sitting around the fire, drinking wine, eating chocolate biscuits and chatting. Drayton stared at them for a few moments. “Why not?” He went into the room and coughed. Everyone turned to look at him. “Now that I have your attention, I’m checking out, but before I leave, I’d like you to empty your pockets and wallets into my bag.”

“What? Drayton? What’s going on here?” Elsie stood up and walked towards him.

He pushed her into an armchair. “Sit down, you old hag and shut your mouth. Now, unless you want to be hurt, I suggest you give me your wallets and empty your bags and pockets. NOW!” He pulled a knife out of his boot and flipped it open, revealing a long, steel blade. “Don’t make me use this. Dear Elsie will be the first one hurt if I don’t get your cash.” He waved the knife at her. She screamed and slouched down in the chair. The guests handed over their wallets and handbags. Drayton took all the cash out of them and threw the wallets and bags into the fire. Smoke poured out of the chimney as the leather melted and caught fire. “I hope nobody’s hiding anything from me,” he snarled, looking at each of them with an evil gaze. They all shook their heads back and forth. “I’ll bid you a fond farewell then. By the way, Else, I’ll not be paying my bill. Maybe one of these fools can pay it with their melted credit cards.” He cackled and ran out the door.

Five minutes later and out of breath, Drayton stopped. “I’m sure they’ve called the cops by now. I’ll be a wanted man in this miserable town.” Drayton went from house to house looking in windows, watching for a place where nobody was home. He found a vacant house on Rob Roy Lane. He crept in through an unlocked window and searched the house. “Nobody’s home. I guess I’ll make myself at home then.” Rifling through the refrigerator and cupboards, he found enough food to last him a few days. After stuffing his face with potato crisps, cheese, cold cooked chicken legs, and beer, he lay on the king-sized bed and fell asleep, not even taking time to remove his filthy clothes and mud-covered boots.

                                                *  *  *

“I suggest you and Fiona get some sleep. Tomorrow’s going to be a busy day. Fiona’s got to get the next jewel. You’ve got to go to work and I’ve got to go back to the castle and do some exploring. There are places inside that nobody else knows about. I may be able to find something to help us, maybe some weapons,” Johnny said.

“Johnny, this is the 21^st century. We don’t do battles with axes and clubs any more. Violence isn’t the way it’s done any more, at least for most of us,” Mairi said.

“I didn’t mean weapons in that sense. I meant that there might be another book hidden with spells, or information that might help us against Phelan and Drayton Steele.”

“Oh. You’re right, of course. Fiona, get on up to bed. I’ll be right up. I’m not sure though if I’m all right with Fiona, Callum and Elspet going off to some foreign land to battle monsters and wild animals.”

Fiona stopped on the stairs. “I’ll be all right, Mum. I have to do this. Callum and Elspet are the only ones who can help me. We’ve been to three places and nothing has happened,” Fiona said. “We’re not dead or anything.” She stood up. “I’m going to brush my teeth.” She ran upstairs.

Mairi looked at Johnny. “She nearly got eaten by an octopus, boiled alive by trolls, stung by scorpions, and she thinks I shouldn’t worry?”

Johnny pulled her down to the couch. “Mairi, she now has another power. She grows stronger every day. There are other forces helping her too.”

“What does that mean? What other forces?”

“I can’t explain it really. Let’s take Iceland. When she needed it the most, the fairies and elves came to help her. Throughout time the forces of good seem to sense when another needs their help. Does that make sense?”

“Johnny, none of this makes sense. Last week Fiona’s biggest crisis was that she was bored. Now she’s meeting elves and fairies and evil wizards. None of this seems real to me. It’s like a dream.”

“I know. I’m real though, aren’t I?”

She laid her head on his shoulder. “Yes, you’re real. Stay here tonight. I’ll feel safer knowing you’re here.”

“I planned to stay here. You’d better get upstairs and say goodnight to your daughter. You’ve got work in the morning, remember?” Johnny kissed her forehead and she turned the lights off and headed upstairs.