Once Found: The Pocket Watch Chronicles Read Online Free Page A

Aunt Dolina still wasn’t home, she made bannocks and prepared a pot of soup, hanging it over the fire to simmer. Finally, she tidied things up.
    She had just finished sweeping when the door to the cottage swung open with force, banging against the wall. She spun around to see Drummond, one of the laird’s guardsmen standing there. His sudden appearance startled her, and she took an involuntary step backward. She was a little afraid of the huge guardsman. In truth, she was more than a little afraid of him. He had a reputation for cruelty, and she was happy enough to stay out of his way.
    It was impossible to avoid him with him filling her doorway. Not wishing to make eye contact, she glanced down. “Good afternoon, Sir Drummond.”
    “The laird has need of ye. Gather yer things.”
    “Why do I need to gather my things?”
    “Because I told ye to, ye insolent chit. The laird is sending ye on an errand. If ye waste any more of my time with questions, ye’ll go with nothing but the clothes on yer back.”
    An errand? Where? To do what? She didn’t dare ask. This was not good, but she figured it was best to follow his bidding. She only had a few garments. Laying them on a linen sheet with her comb and a silver brooch that had belonged to her mother, she folded the sheet inward over the clothes and rolled them up, tying the bundle with a ribbon. She folded a blanket in half and rolled it around the bundle, securing it with a belt. She had barely wrapped her mantle around her shoulders when Drummond grabbed her arm, practically dragging her from the little cottage and up the lane through the village.
    Elsie didn’t complain. It would do no good and would likely result in worse treatment. All she could do was try her best to keep up. They were halfway to the keep when a horrific screeching sound assaulted her ears just before a searing pain tore through her skull. Gripping her head, she fell to her knees and dropped her bundle.
     
     

Chapter 4
    NYUHC Intensive Care Unit
    Sunday, February 12, 2006
    “Elsie.”
    Elsie became vaguely aware of someone calling to her.
    “Elsie, ye need to wake now.”
    Nay. Her head hurt, but she couldn’t move it. Her body hurt. It hurt to breathe. She wanted to sleep.
    “I know ye can hear me, child. Be a good lass, and open yer eyes.”
    Elsie blinked. The face of an elderly woman with white hair and kind eyes came into focus.
    The woman smiled broadly. “There ye are.”
    Elsie looked around. She had no idea where she was. Just moments ago, Drummond was dragging her through the village. Now, she seemed to be in some sort of bed. Something was around her neck that prevented her from turning her head. Likewise, her left arm was bound to something rigid. The room was oddly bright, but she saw no torches or candles. Strange noises accosted her ears. Nothing was familiar. How had she gotten here? “What…where…,” her voice sounded strange to her ears. She tried again, “What…”
    The old woman leaned over Elsie and gently stroked her hair. “Sweetling, look at me. I know this place is strange to ye, and ye have a lot questions. I am going to try to help ye understand what has happened. But I need for ye to stay calm, and focus on what I’m telling ye.”
    Afraid to hear the bizarre sound of her own voice, Elsie nodded as much as the thing around her neck would allow.
    “My name is Gertrude. I am...an immortal spirit. One of the ancients.”
    Elsie frowned. “An angel?”
    “Aye, that’s one way of understanding it.”
    “Have I died?”
    Gertrude smiled warmly. “Nay, ye haven’t. But yer soul has switched places with another.”
    Elsie became agitated. “What kind of sorcery is this?”
    Gertrude stroked her hair again. “It isn’t sorcery, lass. Far from it. Please try to stay calm while I explain. Will ye do that for me?”
    “Yes,” she whispered. Her voice sounded less strange as a whisper.
    “I know this is hard to believe, but as I said, yer soul has switched