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I sit down amid three flames

"Three points define a plane, and I am fixed

Four points box the earth and mine is the fullness thereof

Five is the number of protection; let no deold

And holds the power of the sun

My right hand is sheathed in silver

And the in

Garnets rest in love about my neck

I will be faithful"

Brianna sat up, arms wrapped around her knees She was silent forcertifiably insane is unfortunately no guarantee that soroaning, and sat up crosslegged on the straw

"Part of it is traditional ritual, I think--given that the tradition is ancient Celt The bits about the directions; those are the ‘four airts,’ which you’ll find running through Celtic legend for some way back As for the blade, the altar, and the flaht witchcraft"

"She stabbed her husband through the heart and set him on fire" She still re flesh in the circle of Craigh na Dun, and shivered, though it arm in the shed

"I hope on’t be forced to find so to eh, Bree?"

She nodded in reply

"Your bracelet," she said softly "And I had randmother’s pearl necklace in h fine"

"Pearls aren’t geanic--like people" He rubbed a hand across his face; it had been a long day, and his head was starting to throb "Silver and gold, though; you had the silver bracelet, and the necklace has gold, as well as the pearls Ah--and your old, too, didn’t she? Her wedding rings"

"Uh-huh But ‘three points define a plane, Four points box the earth, five is the number of protection…’ " Brianna e to do? Are those the ‘points’?"

"Could be She had drawings of triangles and pentagraickal’ properties listed alongside She wasn’t laying out her theories in any great detail--didn’t need to, since she was talking to herself--but the general notion seemed to be that there are lines of force--‘ley lines,’ she called theain, the lines run close to each other, and sort of curl up into knots; and wherever you get such a knot, you’ve got a place where time essentially doesn’t exist"

"So if you step into one, you ain…anytieht warp the lines a bit…"

"Would any geer said "But it’s the best chance we have, aye?"

"Yes," Brianna agreed, after a pause "But where are we going to find any?" She waved an ar like that anywhere--in Inverness or here I think you’d need to go to a large city--London, or maybe Boston or Philadelphia And then--how et twenty pounds, and I still have h for--"

"That’s the point," he interrupted "I was thinking of that, while you were sleeping I know--I think I knohere Iis--" He hesitated "I’ll have to go at once, to find it The ht now, but he won’t be there for long If I take a bit of yourand be in New Bern by the next day I think it’s best you stay here, though Then--"

"I can’t stay here!"

"Why not?" He reached for her, groping in the dark "I don’t want you with me Or rather I do," he corrected himself, "but I think it’s a lot safer for you here"

"I don’t mean I want to coh she grasped his groping hand She had nearly forgotten, but now all the exciteer, I found him--I found Jamie Fraser!"

"Fraser? Where? Here?" He turned toward the door, startled

"No, he’s in Cross Creek, and I knohere he’ll be on Monday I have to go, Roger Don’t you understand? He’s so close--and I’ve come so far" She wanted suddenly and irrationally to weep, with the thought of seeing her er sounded faintly anxious "But could you not wait a few days? It’s only a day or so by sea to New Bern, the sae what I have to do within a day or two"

"No," she said "I can’t There’s Lizzie"

"Who’s Lizzie?"

"Myto hit you with a bottle" Brianna grinned at the er said dryly "Be that as it may--"

"But she’s sick," Brianna interrupted him "Didn’t you see how pale she is? I think it’s malaria; she has horrible fevers and chills that last for a day or so and then stop--and then a few days later, they’re back again I have to find my mother as soon as I can I have to"