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The Magic Ring of Brodgar

10. What Is Love?

The restaurant chosen for dinner specialized in game dishes, and its interior was largely adorned with hunting trophies.

“This is the best place in town. Malcolm and I used to come here often for freshly brewed ale and delicious meat,” Alaric recalled, smiling as he remembered the good old times.

“You won't find better game preparation anywhere else,” Duncan added.

“You praise the local cuisine so much that I can’t wait to try everything,” Megan laughed.

Ordering various dishes of wild boar, venison, duck, hare, they drank ale and enjoyed the food. The conversation throughout the evening revolved around the factories; they also discussed the latest local news. Megan didn't wait for the planned family meeting to announce her decision and share her plans, which she had previously discussed with Warren.

Alaric was pleased with this turn of events, saying, “I think you made the right decision. It's quite hard to split your time between two cities and manage two enterprises. Warren is a worthy candidate and will handle the business well. You are a member of our family. This is your home, and you are welcome here anytime. We will always be happy to see you.”

“I completely agree,” Duncan chimed in approvingly.

At that moment, a man in his thirties approached their table: tall, broad-shouldered, with light hair and green eyes. The McKenzie men warmly greeted him – he turned out to be an old friend of Warren's. Without much thought, Alaric invited him to join them at the table.

“Craig, I'd like to introduce you to my cousin Megan. She's Malcolm's granddaughter. She came to take care of her inheritance and decide its fate,” Warren explained.

“Nice to meet you,” Craig said, looking at her with an admiring smile, extending his strong firm arm for a handshake.

Megan found the highlander quite attractive. It seemed that the feeling was mutual because throughout the evening, almost all his attention was directed at her. Craig clearly wanted to learn as much about the girl as possible, and she happily engaged in conversation, enjoying the company of the young man and her family members.

“Craig, what do you do for a living?” she inquired.

“I work for one of the local shipping companies.”

“Tomorrow we're using one of your ferries to get to the island,” Warren said.

“Really? What are you heading there for?”

“We're going to sacrifice Megan on the altar of the druids,” joked the younger cousin.

“Thanks, Duncan. At least I know the real purpose of our journey now,” Megan laughed.

“If you don't mind, I’d like to come along,” the young man said, looking hopefully at the girl.

“Of course, you’re welcome to join us. Megan, you don't mind, do you?” Duncan asked.

“Of course not.”

“What time will you be at the dock tomorrow morning?” he asked Warren.

“I think we'll arrive by eleven thirty.”

“Well, Megan, prepare yourself! You're in for an unforgettable experience, since it will be conducted by true local highlanders,” Craig said with a proud smile.

“I’m looking forward to it,” she replied cheerfully.

After dinner, everyone said their goodbyes, and went their separate ways. On the drive home, Warren said, “Megan, in just one evening, you've charmed my friend. I've known him for a long time, and he's already smitten with you.”

“Is he always so quick to fall in love?” she laughed.

“No, quite the opposite! I can't remember the last time he was so enchanted by a woman. Since Craig decided to join us tomorrow, it means he wants to get to know you better.”

“Did you like him? He's quite interesting and handsome, isn't he?” Glenn chattered.

“Glenn!” Warren protested.

“What did I say? I just asked if she liked him. I would be really happy if she found her love here and stayed with us.”

“I understand you'd be happy, but it's tactless to ask such questions. They've known each other for a few hours, and you’re probably already imagining a wedding and a bunch of kids in your romantic fantasies. Let people get to know each other better and then we'll see.”

“Don't worry, Warren. We're women and it's normal for us to ask such questions. Craig is certainly a charismatic and handsome young man, in my opinion. But it's too soon to say anything more. We barely know each other to draw any conclusions.”

As they arrived at the castle, Megan checked the time; it was already 11:10. Her heart beat faster. Was he waiting for her tonight? What if he came, saw no light in her window, and left?

She eagerly anticipated their next meeting and feared it might not happen anytime soon.

After wishing Warren and Glenn goodnight, Megan rushed to her room and ran to the window. He was there, on the hill, waiting for her. Her hands trembled, butterflies fluttered in her stomach, and a joyful smile lit up her face. Without a second thought, she quickly left the castle.

Coming close to Derek, she said, “I'm glad you came; I was waiting for you.”

He smiled, brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, and kissed her.

“I'm glad to see you too,” he whispered softly in her ear.

“Derek, I don't understand why all the mystery? These meetings under my window, without any warning… It's as if we're living in the Middle Ages and there's no other way to meet. Can't we do it differently?”

“You don’t like this?” he asked with a barely noticeable smile.

“Well, it's a bit strange.”

“I work late every day.”

“Don't you have any days off?” Megan asked surprised.

“Not at the moment. I'm currently working on a secret project, and I’m only free in the evenings.”

“There are secret projects in city administration? I never thought that was a thing,” she said dubiously.

“I can't explain everything to you yet. It's not just about the city administration. I've signed nondisclosure agreements regarding my current mission. So, please don't ask me about my work for now. I'll definitely tell you everything when the time comes. This… mystery, as you call it, is temporary.”

“Alright, I understand. Non-disclosure means nondisclosure. You’re probably a 007 agent,” she joked.

Derek just smiled, “How was your evening?” he said, changing the subject.

“Very good, I wasn't as bored today as I was on the other days.”

"Who entertained you?" he inquired.

In his question, Megan sensed strange notes, as if he knew about her new acquaintance.

“We had a family dinner,” she shared without going into details.

“I'm glad you had a good time. Would you mind taking a walk with me? We could go down to the sea or up the hill.”

“I'd love to,” she responded, happy for the opportunity to spend more time together.

Derek wrapped his arm around her waist, and they headed towards the beach. Megan was dressed warmly, so the light breeze blowing from the sea didn't bother her. Large boulders were scattered across the sand. The young man sat down on one of them and pulled her close. They sat there for a long time, talking about various topics. The conversation flowed easily and naturally. Megan noted to herself that Derek was intelligent, well-educated, and knowledgeable on many issues; with his wisdom and tact she felt they could discuss anything and everything. He seemed perfect. For the first time in her life, she felt truly happy, spending almost the entire night in his strong embrace.

“You know, Derek, I find myself liking you more and more,” she said with a smile, gazing into his eyes.

“Thank you, I'm flattered. And what did I do to earn such affection today?” he asked, cocking his right eyebrow.

“You're smart…, interesting. It's very easy and comfortable to talk to you.”

“The feeling is mutual.”

“It's hard to believe that one person can embody incredible beauty, wisdom, romanticism, and so much more,” she continued.

“So many compliments! You're idealizing me, I'm embarrassed,” he laughed.

“I'm not idealizing. Actually, I was thinking… there must be at least one flaw in you! Tell me, what's not right, what am I not seeing?” she playfully said.

“Like everyone, I have my downsides.”

“Such as?”

“The most serious one you'll find out about later,” Derek said, devoid of any emotion.

“You're a sadist? Or a maniac?”

His loud laughter broke the silence of the night. It was the first time Megan had heard Derek laugh so genuinely and contagiously. The suggestion amused him greatly.

“Why of all things did you come up with these ones?” he asked, still laughing.

“I don't know,” Megan chuckled.

“Your guesses are wrong. Any other ideas?”

“You're not really a 007 agent, are you?” she asked, making a disapproving face.

“What an imagination you have!”

“I can't think of anything else. You tell me,” Megan insisted.

“In time, you'll definitely find out,” Derek replied, kissing her face.

“Alright, we'll see how imperfect you can be,” she said.

But her companion had already resumed his usual serious demeanor.

“Dawn is soon,” he whispered.

“Already? That was quick.”

“It's time for you to go home. I'll come tomorrow if you don't mind. We could have dinner at that restaurant,” Derek pointed towards one of the hills.

“I don't mind,” Megan replied, looking forward to their next meeting.

“I'll be there at 10:00 p.m.” he said, releasing her from his embrace.

“Great!”

“Let's go, I'll walk you home.”

She embraced him around the neck and gently kissed him. She didn't want to leave him at all, and he didn't want to let her go. But he knew it was time…

When the girl found herself in her bedroom, she understood what it meant to be the happiest person in the world, because that's exactly how she felt at that moment. She discovered what love is. Love that fills every cell of the body. This intense emotion seemed to squeeze her heart so tightly that it was hard to breathe. For Derek, she was now ready to go to the end of the world and back again. And now, she very well understood what her mother meant before she moved to America. Megan's ears echoed her words, “Baby, I know it’s a very difficult choice right now, but one day you’ll understand me. There’s nothing more powerful in life than love. When it comes – everything changes: the values, the meaning of being.” Megan was amazed at how quickly and unconditionally one can fall in love with someone, how in one moment everything changes, and there's no turning back.

It was difficult to fall asleep. Thoughts overwhelmed her, emotions ran high, but she needed to rest at least a little before the trip to the islands tomorrow.

* * *

She managed to sleep only a couple of hours before the alarm went off and it was time to get ready. Megan thought about the unfortunate day they chose for this trip. But somehow, the usual predictability of life didn't apply here. Nobody could have known in advance that on this sleepless night she would find the love of her life.

She quickly washed up, combed her gorgeous hair, dressed warmly, and went down to the kitchen to drink a double shot of strong coffee. Warren and Glenn were just finishing breakfast.

“Good morning, Megan,” the couple said in unison.

“Good morning,” she said with a smile and reached for the coffee.

“Aren't you going to have breakfast?” Glenn asked in surprise.

“No, I don't want to. I'll just have some cookies,” murmured the sleep-deprived girl.

“Are you feeling okay?” Glenn asked worriedly.

“Yes, I'm fine. Just didn't sleep much. Insomnia. It happens sometimes.”

“If you want, we can stop by a pharmacy today and get you some calming drops; they'll help with the insomnia.”

“Thanks, Glenn, I think that's a good idea. We can stop by on the way back.”

“Well, are you ready? If so, let's go,” Warren said cheerfully, getting up from the table.

“Yes, we can head out,” Megan replied.

Sitting in Warren's cozy car, she again immersed herself in thoughts about Derek.

Arriving at the port, they saw Duncan and Craig there.

“Hi, Megan,” Craig greeted her joyously.

“Craig, Duncan, it’s nice to see you both!” she said.

“The weather is wonderful today, so the trip should be fantastic,” Craig observed.

Leaving their cars in the parking lot, the group chatted and headed towards the dock, where a boat was prepared. Fifteen minutes later, everyone was aboard the vessel heading to Kirkwall, located on the Orkney Islands.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard!” Craig announced playfully, mimicking a sea captain, wanting to catch Megan's attention. Spreading a blanket in his hands, he continued, “If you get cold during the journey, you can always cover yourselves with the blankets under your seats,” with these words, he carefully covered the girl's shoulders.

“Thank you, captain, you're very kind!” she thanked him with a smile.

The day was clear and sunny. The sky was cloudless. But Megan knew that despite the good weather, it would definitely be cold on the way due to the headwind.

“How long will it take us to get there?” she asked.

“About an hour,” Duncan replied.

The company was made up of interesting conversationalists, and time flew by unnoticed.

From Kirkwall, they began their exploration of the island. Megan couldn't get enough of the beauty that unfolded before her eyes. Magnificent cliffs of various shapes and heights extended deep into the sea. The delightful sandy beaches invited peace and solitude. She couldn't have imagined such a variety of landscapes in this area. Moving from one place to another, they eventually arrived at the famous Ring of Brodgar. This ring consisted of 27 megalithic stones and had been here for several thousand years. It was unknown who built it and for what purpose – whether it was the Celts or those before them, there were no answers to these questions.

“Originally, the ring had about 60 stones, the rest hadn’t survived to our time,” Warren began. “Legends say that for many centuries, sacrifices were made on an altar situated in the center of the megalithic circle to appease various gods. Locals say that at first, virgins and children were offered as sacrifices, and in later times – animals. Nowadays, this place is just a tourist attraction, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.”

“Such gigantic stones,” Megan exclaimed in admiration.

“And how many terrifying stories they hold in their memory,” Duncan said. “I really like this place; it's definitely filled with mystique.”

Craig also contributed, “The local legend says, once every four years, according to the Celtic calendar, on the night of November 11th to 12th, a unique astronomical event occurs. Stars and planets align in a special order, creating a connection with the altar within the ancient stone circle. It's said that if you lie on the altar at midnight, you can momentarily connect with cosmic forces and receive answers to the most important questions about the past and the future. However, the altar must first be sprinkled with the blood of those seeking knowledge.”

“This is the first time I'm hearing such a legend, Craig. Did you just make it up to scare Megan?” Warren asked, laughing.

But Duncan supported the storyteller, “I've heard about this from some locals as well.”

“And does the belief actually work?” Megan asked Craig, surprised.

“I have no idea, nor the desire to test it. Many tell the legend, but no one has ever named a single person who received any information from the cosmos while lying on this altar. I think it's just as much of a fairy tale as the blooming fern. Our region loves mysterious stories. Point out any mysterious place, and immediately a new tale is invented, giving it the utmost mysticism,” he replied.

“I completely agree with you, Craig,” Duncan said. “If we were to go to the sea now and set up another stone circle, even if it’s smaller than this one, by tomorrow a story would be born about some sea monster that built its altar on land to communicate with the Universe. And by next year, this myth would be known across the north of Scotland.”

Warren also eagerly joined the conversation, “Megan, Scots are special people, remember, it's only in our country that the Loch Ness Monster lives. Just think about it, nowhere else in the world, in none of the tens of thousands of lakes on Earth, does any creature like this exist, but in Scotland, it does, and what a creature it is! Do you know how many tales are associated with it? All you have to do is visit any bookshop and you'll find dozens of books with countless myths about this being. During the boat ride on the lake, they'll tell you at least ten different stories related to the Nessie monster within an hour.”

Megan was impressed. People had invented so many stories about a single lake inhabitant! For a moment, she wondered what she actually knew about the most popular, albeit possibly fictional, Scottish creature.

“Could you tell me more about this monster?” she said, addressing Warren. “I saw something about it on TV, but I can't remember what it was.”

“I'd be happy to share all I know. In the lake itself, Loch Ness was formed at the end of the Ice Age, about 10,000 years ago. Its water is murky and black due to the abundance of peat, but it is very deep and surrounded by steep cliffs. Until recently, before tourist paths were laid, it was an impassable and inaccessible place. Hence, the most popular theory is that the Loch Ness Monster is a descendant of a surviving dinosaur. Some scientists believe the lake is connected to the sea through underground tunnels and that several dinosaurs could have survived thanks to this. There's no confirmation that there's more than one, but it's unlikely that the creature could have survived alone. According to ancient legends, Roman legionnaires were the first to tell of this monster. All known animals were immortalized by local inhabitants on stones. There was only one animal the Romans couldn't identify – a huge seal with a very long neck. In the sixth century AD, a certain water beast appears in the chronicles, but then all mentions of it disappear until the late nineteenth century. People living near Loch Ness today remember being forbidden to swim as children, because of a hellish creature with a horse's head that drags people into the depths and eats them there.”

“You're telling too many horror stories,” Craig said.

“What do you think about this creature? You probably know a lot about it too?” Megan asked him.

“I prefer the theory that the Loch Ness Monster is a vision that appears under the influence of hallucinogenic gases. The lake is located on a huge earth crust fault. This fault facilitates small earthquakes, and the release of gases from underneath can cause hallucinations in people. However, it's unclear why these hallucinations are similar among different people. Or perhaps it's a supernatural entity that penetrates our world through astral tunnels.”

Duncan continued the theme, “Also, Loch Ness and the creature living in it are a local attraction that draws many tourists. And that brings substantial money to hoteliers and the city administration. It's quite possible that all the tales about the monster are made up to keep visitors interested in the place. Tourists will visit the lake in hopes of seeing an unknown creature to humanity, meanwhile leaving quite a sum of money behind.”

“Regardless, for several centuries, scientists have been trying to get to the truth of whether something large and unexplored lives in Loch Ness; locals and tourists try to photograph it… But so far, there's not a single convincing explanation for this phenomenon,” Warren concluded his story.

“Yes, Scots are indeed unique people,” Megan said.

The group members dispersed in different directions around the stone circle, examining the ancient megalithic slabs. Megan approached one of the megaliths and ran her hand over its rough, cold surface. At that moment, a strong wind blew from the sea, and strands of hair blew onto her face. Craig, who stood beside her, carefully moved the strands away from her face. This gesture seemed quite intimate to her. Unexpectedly, out of nowhere, a black raven flew between them, brushing the young man's face with its wing.

“Damn bird,” he snapped, stepping back slightly startled.

It was so sudden that they each got a fright. The raven made a few circles above their heads and flew away.

“I've noticed that these ravens are very bold around here. One constantly circles around Castle Mal. Once, it even landed on my hand when I was trying to pick flowers in the field. These birds scare me,” Megan said, looking disdainfully after the departing raven.

“Pay no attention to them, Megan. They're just birds. Maybe they're going through some kind of nesting frenzy right now, who knows,” Craig said, annoyed at being robbed of an intimate moment with the girl.

“You're right. It's just a bird. But it's very unpleasant when it suddenly appears everywhere I go,” Megan sighed, stepping away from the giant stone.

“Guys, come here!” called Glenn, spreading a picnic blanket on the grass outside the circle.

The diligent hostess had prepared everything for a picnic in advance. She placed a checkered basket in the center of the makeshift table, from which she took out cheese, sandwiches, apples, and a bottle of wine, which Warren immediately opened. Pouring the contents into glasses, he handed each person their share.

“Here's to a good, warm day! Such weather is rare around here,” Duncan said.

They clinked glasses. After taking a sip of wine, Megan noticed a raven sitting nearby on the grass, watching them attentively. Glenn followed her friend's gaze and said, “It's staring at us so strangely; it's probably hungry."

With these words, she pinched off a piece of bread from a sandwich and extended it towards the bird. The raven shifted its gaze from Megan to Glenn, looked at her intently, but stayed put. Then, she threw the bread towards it, thinking the feathered creature was simply afraid to come too close to people. But it simply looked at the offered treat then fixed its gaze back on Megan.

“Try feeding it; it's looking at you. Maybe it will take food from your hands,” Glenn suggested.

“Indeed, perhaps yours tastes better,” added Duncan with a playful smile, and he winked at Megan, as if teasing Glenn.

“I don't want to, I'm scared of it,” the girl said, looking at the raven in terror.

“But this is a different raven. Not the one from Castle Mal. It wouldn't have flown so far from home. Try giving it some bread,” Glenn persisted.

“Alright. Only because you're asking. But I really don't like these birds being near me,” Megan said, displeased.

She pinched off a piece of sandwich and cautiously extended it to the bird. She was scared it might peck her hand or attack her. The raven looked at her intently for a long time, then approached slowly and carefully, taking the bread from her hand…never taking its eyes off her face.

“Look at that, you're more to its liking than Glenn,” Craig laughed.

“Megan, maybe you did inherit something from Margaret after all? See how the creatures come to you! Can you, by chance, hear its thoughts? What's on its mind?” Warren joked.

“No, I can't hear them! And I wouldn't want to be able to,” she said, feeling a bit relieved that she wasn't bitten.

The thought that the raven wouldn't harm her greatly calmed her fear of it.

For the next fifteen minutes, each took turns offering food to the unexpected guest, but it accepted treats from no one other than Megan. After some time, it lost interest in the crowd and flew away, leaving them to continue their picnic.

Having fully enjoyed and admired the local scenery, the travelers returned to the boat, and soon landed back at the pier from where their sea journey had begun. After saying goodbye, they headed home. Megan was thrilled about her day and eagerly awaited her meeting with Derek. At dinner with Glenn and Warren, she only drank tea, claiming she wasn't hungry. She didn't want to mention the dinner invitation. Thanking her friends for a wonderful day, she wished them a good night and went to her room.