The Irish Knowing: A Raven Hill Farm

Mystery Jane E. Drew

Visit to download the full and correct content document:
https://ebookmass.com/product/the-irish-knowing-a-raven-hill-farm-mystery-jane-e-dr
ew/
THE IRISH KNOWING
RAVEN HILL FARM MYSTERIES
BOOK SIX
JANE E. DREW
JANE DREW PUBLISHING, LLC.
Copyright © 2023 Jane Drew Publishing, LLC.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or
mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without
written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a
book review.
 CONTENTS

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
 CHAPTER 1

“W ho was that on the phone?” Quinn heard Fiona call out

from the other room. She went in search of her friend.
She found her in her study watching TicToc videos on her phone.
Quinn and Fiona were both in their forties. Quinn was the
shortest of the two, with a pleasant face, dark curly hair, and an
athletic build. She was a fixer and a pleaser who, unsurprisingly,
became a psychologist. She tried to help others as much as she
could. This led to bouts of frustration and resentment—common
traits among people pleasers.
Fiona was attractive in a belligerent sort of way. Her red hair was
thick and straight. The look in her eye bore testament to her sense
of humor. She was also completely comfortable speaking her mind,
no matter the situation.

“F ee , how can you spend so much time on there? I don’t get it

myself.”
“That’s because you’re not a fun person like me.” Fiona laughed
and then got up and began to dance in what could only be described
as a ludicrous attempt to look cool.
Then she sat back down and looked at Quinn. “Really, who was
that? You sounded so serious.”
Quinn sat down and crossed her legs. “Fee, do you remember
Adler James from high school? She was in our class but way more
popular than we were. She treated us like we were invisible.”
Fiona tilted her face toward the ceiling as she thought. “Oh, of
course, the stuck-up blonde who always dated guys on the football
team. Are you telling me that was her on the phone? How would she
know a thing about us, let alone have your phone number?”
Quinn squirmed in her chair a little before speaking.“Do you
remember when we got that high school reunion information in the
mail a while back, and you told me to throw it away?”
“Yes.” From Fiona.
“Well… I went ahead and filled everything out and sent it back. I
don’t know why. Maybe I wanted our old classmates to know how
well we turned out. I’m afraid I gilded the lily a bit too.”
“QUINN! And you’re always acting like you’re the mature one!
What did you say about us, and why is Adler James calling you?”
Quinn grimaced. “I may have implied that I am a well-known and
sought-after psychologist here in Ireland and that you are on the
board of directors of the Botanical Society here. I honestly don’t
know what got into me. I’d had a glass of wine, for one thing.
Fiona stared at her friend. “I’m thinking I don’t know you at all.
That’s so, so…me! You still haven’t told me why Adler James called
you, though.”
“I’m not sure myself. She said she also lived in Ireland and
wondered if she could visit us. Why she would want to visit two
people she never gave the time of day to is a little odd, don’t you
think?” Quinn looked at her friend for a response.
Fiona sat with her mouth open in disbelief. “Of course, it’s odd!
You told her absolutely not, right?” Fiona leaned forward and stared
at her friend.
Quinn drummed her fingers on her knee and then sighed. “Fee,
in my defense, I, again, unfortunately, have had a glass of wine this
afternoon. Two, actually. I’m afraid I told her she could stop by
tomorrow for tea.”
“Good god, Quinn! Now we’ll have to relive our glory days as two
high school losers while that stunning and probably highly successful
twat lords it over us.”
T he next afternoon , Adler James sat at Quinn’s large, pine kitchen
table sipping tea. Both Quinn and Fiona sat opposite her. Each
reading the other’s thoughts.
The attractive and popular blonde they remembered from high
school was now a frumpy, middle-aged woman with prematurely
graying hair. Her clothes were poorly thought out, and her glasses
were less than stylish. Both women felt only slightly guilty at their
delight in this unexpected turn of events.
After a few minutes of small talk, Quinn said, “I’m sure you’ll
understand if I say I was surprised to hear from you. Honestly, I
didn’t think you even knew who I was.” Quinn waited for a response.
Adler laughed nervously. “I always saw you as one of the ‘smart
girls.’ You too, Fiona. I didn’t think either of you would want to be
friends with an airhead like me. I was so boy-crazy back then. I
thought having the right boyfriend was all that mattered. You were
the intelligent ones. You knew how important getting an education
was. I admire your success, Quinn. And yours, Fiona. I ordered
flowers from you many times when you owned Bloomers, and now
look at you on the board of directors of the Botanical Society. That’s
quite an achievement.”
Fiona shot Quinn an angry glance.
Quinn took a deep breath. “Adler, I owe you and maybe our
whole class an apology. I wasn’t being completely truthful when I
filled out that reunion questionnaire.” Quinn took another deep
breath. “Look, I volunteer part-time at the local mental health clinic
in Ballyfrannen. Fiona has a greenhouse here on the property and is
a member of the local Botanical Society, but that’s the extent of our
success here in Ireland. I don’t know why I lied on the reunion
questionnaire. Well, actually, that’s not true. I was so insecure
growing up, and I felt like a nobody in high school. People like you
seemed to have it so together. I was jealous; I admit that. I wanted
everyone to think that Fiona and I were hugely successful. That’s
really immature, and as a psychologist, I should know better. I’m
truly sorry for the deceit.” Quinn looked at Adler to see her reaction.
Adler blinked several times and then pushed her glasses further
up on her nose. “God, I’m so relieved! I was almost too intimidated
to come.”
All three women looked at each other and began to laugh. Fiona
was the first to speak. “Would you like something a little stronger
than tea, Adler?”
“I would love that, and would you please call me Addie?”
The three women proceeded to down a bottle of red wine. Then
they moved to the living room and opened a second bottle.
Addie spoke, “Isn’t it funny how wrong our impressions can be of
people? Who would have thought twenty-five years ago that we
would sit in a cottage in Ireland, drinking wine together like old
friends? Life is so strange.” Addie paused for a moment and then
continued. “Maybe now I should tell you why I sought you out,
Quinn.”
Quinn took a sip of wine. “Okay, Addie, why did you seek me
out?”
Addie pushed her glasses further up her nose again before
speaking.“I’m on the high school reunion committee, so I get copies
of all the paperwork people send in.” Addie momentarily looked at
Quinn and smiled. “You can imagine my surprise when I realized that
two classmates also lived in Ireland.”
Addie stared at her glass of wine for a moment. “Two years ago,
I ended a bad marriage, my second. My life didn’t seem to be going
anywhere. I was drifting along. My kids are grown and have moved
away, so I had no one to answer to anymore. One evening, as I
worked my way through a box of chocolate chip cookies, I decided I
needed a change. I’d always dreamed of living in Ireland, so I sold
my belongings and moved here.”
Addie shifted her gaze to Fiona and then continued. “I rented a
little house in Skibbereen near the town center. It’s nothing fancy,
but it suits me. My grandmother was from Ireland, so I’ve always
had dual citizenship, which allows me to work here. I work for a vet,
and I love my job. Everything was going along just fine; then I met
a man. He’s from Spain but has lived in Ireland for the last few
years. At first, I thought he was great—a real departure from the
type of man I usually pick. But after a while, things seemed a little
off. I couldn’t put my finger on anything in particular, but I was
uncomfortable. Something didn’t ring true.”
Again, Addie paused. “He was out of town a lot on business. He
said he worked for a company that sold antiquities. I’m talking about
stuff that’s thousands of years old. Apparently, there’s a big market
among the very wealthy for that kind of thing. About a month ago,
he went off on one of his trips, saying he’d return in a few days. I
never heard from him again. He hasn’t been back to his house
either; I’ve checked. Mail is spilling out of the mailbox, and his lawn
hasn’t been mowed.”
“But what does any of that have to do with us, if you don’t mind
me asking?” From Quinn
“Well, that part is kind of strange.” Addie smiled at Quinn as she
again pushed her glasses. ”I was in that beautiful little art gallery in
Skib a few days ago, and I got to talking to the owner. Suddenly, she
took my hand and said, you need to seek Quinn’s help. I was
startled, but then I remembered how close you were to Skibbereen.
I asked her if she meant Quinn Langston from Chicago, and she
said, yes, she’s my granddaughter. I hadn’t mentioned my Spanish
friend, but somehow, I knew that’s what she meant. Anyway, I took
her advice, and here I am. I’m a big believer in premonitions, or
whatever you want to call it.”
Quinn looked at Addie for a moment. “Good, that will make
things a lot easier.”
 CHAPTER 2

T he day after Addie’s visit, Quinn drove to Skibbereen to

speak with her grandmother. The two now sat on the lovely
linen chairs at the back of Rose’s gallery. A small coffee table held
cups, saucers, plates, and a charming blue-and-white teapot. Quinn
and Rose sipped tea and nibbled on delicious little biscuits as they
chatted amiably. Quinn loved these times with her grandmother. She
hadn’t even known she had a living grandmother until a few years
ago. Now, she couldn’t imagine life without her.
At 83, Rose still painted and ran her small art gallery. She wore
her white hair in a stylish bob and dressed casually in oversized,
well-made shirts, designer jeans, and Doc Martin Oxfords. Silver
earrings dangled from her ears, and a dark blue tanzanite stone
hung from a black rope necklace. Her make-up was impeccable. She
was thin, with good posture, and an agile mind.
Quinn finally mentioned Adler James and her visit. Rose only
smiled and said, “I thought that’s why you came. I should have
called to warn you I was sending someone from your past who
needed your help.”
“You know I don’t mind. I want to get your take on her situation,
though. Obviously, you had a Knowing of some kind.” Quinn waited
for Rose to respond.
Rose laid her head against the back of her chair for a moment. “I
didn’t get that much—only the image of a man and the knowledge
that the woman was in danger. I’m unsure if the threat comes from
the man or something else. Sometimes, Knowings can be so
frustratingly non-specific.” Rose sighed and lifted her head. “I’m
sorry, Quinn; I know that’s not much to go on. How did the meeting
with her go?”
“Well, actually, it was a little embarrassing at first. I had to admit
to fudging my accomplishments on a high school reunion form. How
pathetic is that?” Quinn looked at her grandmother a little
sheepishly.
Rose gave a hearty laugh. “And here was me thinking you were
the one perfect person on the planet!” Rose patted Quinn’s hand.
“Our flaws make us stronger, granddaughter, especially when we
admit them. They force us to grow. I know you strive to be perfect
because you were so criticized as a child, but, as I well know, we are
all flawed. I love you all the more for it.”
Quinn found herself tearing up. “Now look what you’ve done,
Rose. I was expecting a lecture on honesty.”
“That was honesty, my dear. You are always far too hard on
yourself. You admitted what you did, and that is true maturity. Now,
tell me about the rest of the visit.”
Quinn told Rose all that Adler, or Addie as she liked to be called,
had said.
“Not much to go on then? Did you get anything at all from the
Knowing?”
“No, nothing. I suggested she fill out a missing person’s report. I
sent her to Dermot. He called this morning to say they were putting
out a country-wide bulletin on the man’s disappearance since it’s
been this long. He’s also getting a warrant to search his house. I’ll
let you know what that turns up. Dermot is good about keeping me
informed.”

A s Q uinn loaded the dishwasher the following day, she heard a

knock at the front door. Fiona was shopping in Ballyfrannen, so
Quinn went to the door. Maggie, her Border Terrier, and Jibbs, a little
dog that had turned up at their front door, along with Binx, a half-
grown calico who had also managed to find his way to their front
door, all followed along behind. Pike, Quinn’s pet Raven, flew in from
the kitchen. Quinn sighed and then laughed at the little parade of
creatures. “Come on then, let’s open the door and see who it is.”
Dermot Brennan stood on the stoop. He was the local Garda and
also a good friend of Quinn’s. He knew about The Knowing, and
although he didn’t understand it, he had come to respect it. There
was a young woman with him that Quinn didn’t recognize who also
wore a Garda uniform.
“Hello, Dermot. I’m surprised to see you. And you’ve brought
back up. Is something wrong? What have you found out?”
“Well, Missus, you’d better put on the tea; this will take a while.
And my backup, as ye call it, is Nora Fey, a trainee sent here from
Cork to assist me.” Dermot turned to the young woman, “This is Dr.
Quinn Langston; she works as a psychologist at the mental health
clinic in Ballyfrannen. As you can tell by her accent, she’s from the
States.”
Quinn shook hands with Nora Fey, who smiled warmly. Quinn
then headed back to the kitchen. “Why don’t we sit in here?”
Dermot sat at the kitchen table, as did Nora, who now looked a
little ill at ease. Dermot crossed his hands. He was obviously waiting
for his tea before imparting any information.
Finally, everything was ready. Quinn poured Dermot and Nora tea
and then put a small plate of biscuits in front of them. Anyone
visiting you in Ireland expected as much.
Quinn smiled at Nora and then turned her attention to Dermot.
“Okay, Dermot. What have you found?”
Dermot took a sip of tea before speaking. “Well, Missus, your
friend was right to be concerned. We got a search warrant yesterday
afternoon and went to that man’s house. His name is Hugo Diaz, by
the way. As soon as we opened the front door, we knew the
situation. The smell in that house was so bad we had to wear
ventilator masks. He was lying on the kitchen floor. Probably been
dead for weeks, from the look of him. Hopefully, we’ll know the
cause of death in a day or two.”
 Quinn was silent for a moment. “That’s horrible, Dermot.” She
looked at Nora, whose face left no doubt that she had also been at
the dead man’s house. Quinn gave her a sympathetic look. Then she
again spoke to Dermot. “Has anyone notified Addie James yet?”
Dermot cleared his throat and then smoothed his jacket before
speaking. “You know, Missus, I thought that would be better coming
from you since you know her and all.”
Quinn sighed, “Okay then, I guess I’d better go call her.”
 CHAPTER 3

A fter speaking with Addie James and realizing how upset she
was at the news of Hugo Diaz’s death, Quinn suggested the
two meet for lunch the following day. Now, the women sat in a quiet
little cafe in Skibbereen. After giving their orders, Quinn spoke. “I’m
so sorry about your friend, Addie. I hope they find out how he died
soon so you can get some closure.”
Addie looked out the window at the passersby before speaking.
“I have a feeling he didn’t die from natural causes. As I mentioned
at your cottage, I knew something wasn’t right. Hugo always
seemed preoccupied, kind of looking over his shoulder all the time, if
you know what I mean. When I’d asked him what was wrong, he
would say everything was fine. He seemed even more distracted
after his last trip. I guess the police will investigate now, won’t
they?”
“They will if the cause of death is suspicious in any way. All we
can do is wait for the coroner’s report now. I’m sure Dermot will let
me know when that comes back. Is there anything else you can tell
me about Hugo Diaz? Have the police taken a statement from you
yet?”
“To answer the last question, they came to see me yesterday.
They asked lots of questions regarding our relationship, when I last
saw him, and had we fought. I hope I’m not a suspect!” Addie got a
worried look on her face.
 “I can’t see how you would be a suspect,” replied Quinn. “Why
would you tell me he had gone missing or call Dermot if you had
anything to do with his death?”
Addie looked somewhat relieved. “To answer your other question,
I’m not sure there is much I can tell you. I met Hugo one night at a
local pub. I had been out with a co-worker. Hugo started chatting
with us, and I stayed behind when my friend had to leave. Hugo
asked me out to dinner, and after that, we saw each other once or
twice a week for almost a year. Then, as I said, he was supposed to
go on another one of his business trips, and that’s the last I heard
from him.”
Addie stopped speaking as their food arrived. Once the waitress
left, she continued. “Hugo never spoke much about his past. He
mentioned that he’d had a brief marriage some years back but no
children. He talked a lot about Spain and how much he missed it. He
said his work kept him in Ireland. In truth, Quinn, while I was fond
enough of him, it was never anything serious. Of course, I find his
death upsetting, but our relationship was never going anywhere. If
you want to know the truth, I always thought he could have done
better and wondered why he was even dating me.” Addie gave a
little laugh and adjusted her glasses. “Let’s face it; I’m not that hot
girl from high school anymore.”
Quinn remembered her and Fiona’s feelings of delight when first
seeing Addie again and felt guilty.
“If it helps, I never was that hot girl in high school.” Quinn looked
at Addie and smiled.
“Hey, don’t sell yourself short. You were fine back then, and you
look great now. I just peaked early.” Both women laughed and
began to eat their lunch.

L ater that day , Quinn got a call from Dermot. “Well, Missus, that
poor Hugo Diaz was shot. It was done by a professional, too—one
bullet between the eyes. We don’t see much of that in Ireland, not
even Dublin, let alone in West Cork. The big boys are pulling out all
the stops on this one. They want to know what this guy was up to
and why he was important enough to send a hitman to kill him.”
Quinn got off the phone just as Fiona walked into the kitchen.
“Would you like a cup of tea, Quinn?”
“Sure, Fee. While you’re fixing that, I’ll tell you what I’ve
discovered regarding Hugo Diaz.”

Q uinn and F iona sat in the living room in the chairs by the fireplace,
sipping their tea. It was a little warm for a fire, but the fireplace was
still welcoming. Quinn found the smell of burnt embers from the last
fire oddly comforting.
After some small talk, Quinn updated Fiona on the coroner’s
findings. Then, both agreed they had discussed that situation
enough for the moment.
They sat quietly for a few minutes, then Fiona spoke, “You know,
Quinnie, ever since Hattie moved into Bruno Tricot’s house, I feel like
we never see her.”
“I feel the same, but after being in love with him for all those
years, you really can’t blame her for wanting to spend as much time
with him as she can, and besides, they’ve started traveling a lot.”
“I know. I’m happy for her; I miss her sometimes. I’ve been
thinking about her cottage, too. Any ideas on what we should do
with it?”
Quinn thought for a moment. “What would you think of offering
it to Charlotte? I know she’s unhappy with the flat she’s renting in
town.”
Charlotte was Quinn’s 25-year-old cousin who had recently
moved to Ballyfrannen from Tanzania. She, like Quinn and Rose, had
The Knowing. Quinn and Fiona had both grown close to her in the
months since her move to Ireland.
“That’s a great idea, Quinn! Let’s text her right now and see what
she thinks.”
After several texts back and forth between the women, it was
agreed that Charlotte would move into Hattie’s cottage at the end of
the month. Charlotte had sounded as excited as they were at the
prospect.
Then, the conversation turned back to the murder of Hugo Diaz.
“Did Addie ever say what kind of business he was in?” From Fiona.
“She said he worked in antiquities, whatever that means. I guess
he bought and sold relics. Kind of a middleman, from what he told
Addie.”
“Well, that sounds fairly mysterious if you ask me,” responded
Fiona. “Maybe we should do some digging into that. You know, like
crime archeologists, get it?” Fiona laughed at her own joke.
Quinn shook her head and smiled, “I get it, Fee. Not a bad idea,
cheesy pun, though.”
 CHAPTER 4

Q uinn and Fiona spent several days trying to gather information

on Hugo Diaz. They spoke with his neighbors, then other
people in Skibbereen who Rose had said usually knew everyone and
everything about them. Despite all of that, they came up empty-
handed.
Quinn decided to call Dermot to see what the Garda had
discovered, even though she was pretty sure she would get a lecture
from him for what he deemed as ‘sticking her nose where it didn’t
belong.’
“Now listen, Missus, I’ve asked you not to get involved in matters
like this. It’s dangerous, for one thing.” Dermot didn’t sound that
mad, so Quinn pressed on.
“We’re being careful, Dermot. And, after all, this situation did
pretty much fall into our lap.”
“Oh, alright. You’ll keep pestering me until I tell you what I know.
I’ve been down this road before.” Dermot sighed, then began to tell
Quinn what he knew.
“That Diaz lad was a free-lance antiquities dealer. He would buy
antiquities on the open market and then sell them to rich collectors.
He bought pieces from all over the world, but his specialty was
artifacts from Spain, especially around the Saville area. Pieces from
what’s known as the Iberian Copper Age, which started around
5,000 years ago. They’ve found burials in megalithic tombs of high-
ranking women in that area. Not any men, oddly. One, in particular,
seems to have been a priestess or leader. She had many items
buried with her that a collector would be very interested in owning.
There was a sword and a comb, both made of ivory, a copper mirror,
a dagger made of crystal with a mother of pearl handle, a flint
dagger inland with amber, and other things, like an ostrich egg and
elephant tusks. Many would pay a fortune to own pieces buried in a
four or five thousand-year-old grave.” Dermot stopped talking
momentarily as though collecting his thoughts and then continued.
“When that site was discovered, they assumed it was a man
buried in the grave. The hip bones were somewhat degraded, which
made it difficult to say definitively, but in the last few years, they
have come up with a way to test the enamel on teeth to determine
the sex of an individual. That’s when they realized the skeleton
belonged to a young woman of no more than twenty-five. That part
of the world seemed to be ruled by women back then, or at least
they held very powerful positions. Who would have thought?”
Dermot chuckled and then continued. “Anyway, they had some
connection with Ireland, too, that I don’t understand.” Dermot
paused again.
“They think this guy Diaz stole some artifacts from that grave
and planned on selling them to buyers, who were probably unaware
they were stolen. One of the archaeologist’s helpers who worked on
that site and other ancient sites appears to have been working with
Diaz. They think Diaz’s death was connected to these thefts.”
“Missus, do ye see why I don’t want ye to involve yourself in
this? There is no way to know who we’re dealing with. Very
dangerous people, to be sure.”
“I do see, Dermot, and I appreciate your concern. Honestly, I
think you’re right; this is something Fiona and I should probably stay
out of .“
“I never thought I’d live long enough to hear ye say that, Missus.
I’m that gobsmacked you’re agreeing with me.”
Q uinn had been talking to Dermot on speaker, so Fiona had heard
the conversation.
”Did you mean that, Quinn? Are we really staying out of this?”
Fiona looked at her friend questioningly.
Quinn thought for a moment. “I don’t see how we can be of
much use. This seems to be pretty complicated. This guy was
stealing artifacts that could be sold anywhere in the world. And you
know the buyers are the richest of the rich, people who are very
insulated from most of life’s consequences. If he made someone like
that mad enough to hire a hitman, I’m sure they have covered their
tracks well.”
“So we’re just going to do nothing?” Fiona looked disappointed.
“Well, I didn’t say that. I was thinking of stopping in at Sadie
Fitzgerald’s bookstore to see if she has any books on ancient
cultures and artifacts, especially from the region of Spain Hugo Diaz
specialized in. At the very least, I think it would be interesting to
read about. Especially since women possibly ruled or had a great
deal of status in that culture. Who would have guessed prehistoric
people were so progressive?”

Q uinn and F iona built a fire and sat sipping wine, each with a book
on their lap. Quinn’s was titled Saville and the Iberian Copper Age.
Fiona’s was Pre-historic Societies of Spain and Portugal.
They both lost track of time and had been reading for several
hours when Fiona finally looked up. “God, this is so interesting. I had
no idea there were societies this advanced five thousand years ago.”
Quinn closed her book and took a sip of wine. “I’m really curious
about the status of women back then. Apparently, their role was
much more important than they knew until recently. And I agree
with you; people were far more advanced 5,000 years ago in that
part of the world than I realized.”
Fiona spoke. “I was just reading that rock crystal wasn’t mined in
the area, and the ivory had to have been brought from Africa, so
they speculate whoever owned those objects was a very high-status
person. Interestingly, they believed rock crystals had magical
powers, including connecting with the dead. That’s coming pretty
close to The Knowing and how tanzanite helps make it more
powerful.” Fiona frowned. “Are you sure you want to walk away from
this, Quinn? Maybe you should talk to Rose.”
 CHAPTER 5

Q uinn found herself once again in her grandmother’s pleasant

gallery. She explained what she and Fiona had read regarding
the Iberian Copper Age. She also told her grandmother about her
call with Dermot and what he had found out about Hugo Diaz.
Rose looked deep in thought. Then she spoke. “Quinn, there’s
something I should tell you. I should have told you as soon as you
learned about The Knowing.”
“These women you’ve been reading about, I know about them.
And they still exist; you and I are a testament to that. The
knowledge and powers that Abria had have been passed down
through the generations.”
“Abria?” Quinn looked at Rose, perplexed.
Rose only smiled, “Maybe I should start at the beginning, Quinn.”
“Our kind began in Spain around five thousand years ago with
The Ivory Lady, as you call her. Her real name is Abria. She was the
first to be born with the kind of powers we and many others like us
have. She was a great leader and very loved by those she ruled. She
brought prosperity and stability to that part of the world. They lived
in peace. There were no wars during the time she was in power. She
was a gentle and loving leader. In gratitude, her people brought her
gifts like the ivory sword, the crystal dagger, copper mirrors, and
many other items, which were buried with her.”
“A crystal dagger, like the one Abria had, was a potent weapon.
Carving a dagger out of crystal was arduous and required
considerable skill. Most could never dream of owning one. Abria’s
had an ivory handle; ivory was rare and had to be brought from
Africa. Copper mirrors were another powerful tool. In the right
hands, they could be a corridor into the past, a way to communicate
with the dead. Later, we found tanzanite to be valuable in increasing
The Knowing.” Rose sat back with a sigh. Then she looked at her
granddaughter.
“I think I’ve told you as much as I can. Some things you have to
discover for yourself.” Rose smiled, reassuring. “I suggest you hold
your stone as you fall asleep tonight and ask other women with The
Knowing to meet with you.”
Quinn sat speechless. Finally, she found her voice. “Rose, you’re
saying we’re connected to the people of The Copper Age? To people
who lived five thousand years ago? And we’re still connected in
some way?”
“I’d say we’re connected in every way. Time isn’t always what we
think it is, but, as I said, you need to discover some things on your
own.”
Quinn sat thinking for a moment. “What about the murder of
Hugo Diaz? How can I find answers to his death?”
“Hold your stone, as I have told you, while you fall asleep. Ask
for help from the women who come to you.”
“You do realize how all this sounds, Rose?”
“I realize many things, granddaughter.” Rose laughed. “Just try
that tonight and see what happens. You may find the answers you’re
looking for.”
Quinn looked at her grandmother for a long moment and then
laughed, too. “My life certainly has taken a few turns since moving
to Ireland. I should write a book, only no one would believe me!”
Quinn laughed again and then got up to leave. She put her arms
around her grandmother at the door of the gallery. “I love you,
Rose. I’m glad I found you. Think how dull my life would be if I
hadn’t.” With that, they laughed, and Quinn headed out of the
gallery, anxious to be home.
T hat night , Quinn did as Rose suggested. The dark blue tanzanite
stone hung around her neck. Quinn put her right hand around the
stone as she drifted off to sleep.
Quinn soon found herself in what looked like a cave. When she
turned around, she saw a group of women standing a few feet from
her. At first, she felt frightened but then was calmed by the
realization the women meant her no harm. They seemed to be
communicating with her telepathically. Quinn found herself doing the
same. Mentally, she asked, ‘Who are you?’
The woman who stood in front of the others answered. ‘We are
the women you seek. You called us to you. For what reason?’
’A man has been murdered. I wanted to know if you know
anything about that?’ Replied Quinn
‘The man you speak of was a thief, but we did him no harm. We
have no reason to seek revenge. He was a greedy man, not worthy
of our contempt.’
Quinn realized how comfortable she felt with these women. ‘I
have a gift too. I call it The Knowing.’
‘We are aware. We would not have met with you otherwise. It
would be best if you honed your gifts. They are powerful, as are the
gifts of your grandmother and cousin.’
The women turned to leave. ‘Wait.’ From Quinn. ‘Don’t go.’
‘We will see each other again.’ The woman smiled and turned
again to go.
‘When?’ Quinn awoke with the word on her lips. It was morning.
Quinn raised her head and then lay back on the pillow. Why had she
felt so connected to the women in her dream? She sighed and got
up to call Rose.
Rose was eager to hear about the women and what they had
said.
Quinn told her everything about the dream, including how
comfortable she felt with the women.
“One thing I’m convinced of, Rose, is they had nothing to do with
Hugo Diaz’s death.”
When Quinn had finished speaking to her grandmother, she
searched for Fiona. She found her sitting at the kitchen table, eating
a bowl of cereal.
“Morning, Quinn. How did you sleep?”
“That’s what I want to tell you about, Fee. I had a pretty exciting
night, as it turns out.” Quinn told her friend about her dream and
how comfortable she felt with the women.
Fiona looked amazed. “Who do you think they were? Where do
you think you were? Maybe it’s a real place that we could visit. Did
you get any sense of where it was?”
“No, not really. I’m sure we could find out if there are caves in
Ireland associated with any mythology. I’m not even sure it was in
Ireland. For all I know, it could have been some megalithic tomb in
another country. We need to do some research into all of that.”
”Maybe you and Rose should visit Trinity College; I’m sure they
have experts knowledgeable about The Iberian Copper Age. I’d love
to go too, but I have a lot to sort out in my greenhouse. I just got a
shipment of new plants, and they all need to be repotted.”
“Visiting Trinity College is a good idea, Fee. I’ll get on that as
soon as possible.” Quinn was eager to learn as much as she could
about the women who had existed five thousand years ago and had
powers like hers.”
 CHAPTER 6

T wo days later, Quinn and Rose took the train to Dublin.

After a short cab ride, the two women found themselves
climbing the library steps at Trinity College in search of Professor
Isabel Costa. Professor Costa was originally from Portugal and was
an expert on the Iberian Copper Society period. She was the curator
of antiquities at the university.
She greeted them at the top of the stairs. The professor was a
small, plain woman who looked to be in her thirties. She wore no
makeup, and her hair was somewhat uncombed. Her clothes were
drab and unflattering. She, in every way, looked like a woman who
had devoted her life to academia. She smiled and reached out her
hand to greet them. Then, she seated them in an office beside the
extensive library.
“Now, if you don’t mind me asking, what is your interest in the
people of the Iberian Copper Age.” Professor Costa looked at the
women expectantly.
Quinn spoke. “A man has been murdered in Skibbereen who, we
believe, stole a crystal dagger and other relics dating from that
period and possibly belonging to a woman buried in a grave
somewhere in Spain. I’m sure you would agree the relics are
valuable and could be sold for a great deal of money. We believe
that is why he was murdered.”
The professor looked out the window for a moment before
answering. She seemed to be evaluating her response. Then she
turned to Quinn and said.
“I was among the women you visited at the labyrinth. I see no
point in lying to you since you and your grandmother are the same
as I.”
Then she continued. “I am aware of the theft of the dagger and
the other artifacts. They belonged to Abria, or The Ivory Lady, as
she is called now. She was the first to be born with our gifts.” The
professor cleared her throat and continued.
“The man who stole it is of no consequence to us. The dagger
and everything else will be returned in time. I would ask you to drop
this quest for information. We do not need your help. I hope you are
not offended by my directness.”
Quinn digested this information before responding. “I believed
the woman who spoke to me when she said they had nothing to do
with this man’s death.”
“We do not need to resort to such tactics.” The woman smiled,
and Quinn believed she was telling the truth.
Quinn smiled back. “I have so many questions. You seem to
know much more about me and my grandmother than we know
about you.”
“That is quite true, but as you can imagine, we avoid any
attention. How would we explain ourselves to the world? They would
not believe us if we tried. You may feel the same.” The professor
directed her gaze at Rose.
“Yes, I understand not wanting to attract attention to your gifts.
What purpose would it serve? It would only make you an object of
ridicule, as I am all too aware.” Rose met the professor’s gaze. “But
we, understandably, have questions. There are many things I
already know. Some I have shared with my granddaughter, and
some I have not. I have reasons for holding some information back,
but that is not something I wish to discuss.”
Quinn glanced at her grandmother, but seeing the troubled look
on her face, she said nothing.
Professor Costa studied Quinn and Rose for a moment before
again speaking.
 “As you are like us, I will answer your questions but would ask
that you keep this information safe, only sharing it with people you
know beyond any doubt you can trust. Is that agreed? We have not
survived for five thousand years by making ourselves known to
others.” Quinn and Rose nodded in agreement. Then, the professor
sat back in her chair. “You are free to ask your questions.”
“Are you saying you have been alive for five thousand years?
That you’re immortal?” From Quinn.
The professor laughed good-naturedly. “Of course not. I, myself,
am 61 years old. We do not age as others, but we are not immortal.
Our usual life span is around 150 years. But you are the same.
Surely you realize you have not aged as others do, Rose.” The
professor looked at Rose for a response.
Rose was thoughtful for a moment. Then she spoke. “I guess
you’re right. I never really thought about it. I think I just felt luckier
than some. But my brother had the Knowing, and he aged normally.”
“Males with our gifts are rare, and they do age normally. I’ve
never understood why. But, as I said, they are also somewhat of an
anomaly.”
The professor continued speaking. “I’m sure you read about
women living well past 110. Almost all those women, and many that
go unnoticed, are like us. Some forge birth certificates and move
away to avoid drawing attention to themselves.”
Quinn and Rose exchanged glances, and then Quinn spoke. “But
you say your society is five thousand years old; what exactly do you
mean by that?”
“I mean, our gifts have been passed down from mother to
daughter or granddaughter for the last five thousand years. Our kind
thrived and were leaders for hundreds of years. The Ivory Lady was
a great leader. Because of her powers, she was considered a
Priestess. Under her leadership, society flourished. Unfortunately,
she died young. She was killed by her husband, who coveted her
powers. But before her death, she had given birth to three
daughters. At 17, her eldest daughter punished her father for killing
her mother. He was made blind and mute and finally went mad.
Then she ruled —this continued mother to daughter for eight
generations. There was great prosperity and peace during that time.
The women who ruled were all buried near The Ivory Lady. Their
graves held many treasures, a testament to their leadership and
societal status. Eventually, men, like Abria’s husband, became
jealous of their powers and began killing them. They justified the
killings by calling the women evil or witches. They were neither.
Finally, after being hunted for many years, only a few hundred of our
kind remained. All but a small number decided to flee the country.
They settled here in Ireland, communicating with each other by
honing their telepathic skills. We still communicate that way. You
experienced that, Quinn, when you called us to you. You can speak
with us at any time. We will respond as we did two nights ago.” The
professor paused a moment. “And, may I say, I’m glad you’ve found
us. You are a part of us, and we welcome you both.” Professor Costa
smiled at Quinn and her grandmother.
Quinn smiled back and then spoke. “You must realize this is a lot
to take in. One question that comes to mind is, how many of us are
there in Ireland?”
The professor thought for a moment before answering. “We
know of almost a thousand, but some, like you, have not found their
way to us.”
The professor continued. “People move out of the country and
then return, or their offspring return. They know they are not like
others, but the truth of who they are may be lost to them. Some
intentionally keep to themselves, not wanting to use their gifts or be
with others like themselves. That is their choice, and we respect
that. Most have chosen to remain as a society. We have honed our
telepathy to make it easier to communicate with each other. Our
gifts only exist among women here in Ireland or in other countries in
women whose mothers or grandmothers came from Ireland.
Originally, we only existed in Portugal and Spain until, as I told you,
most of us fled to Ireland for safety. Unfortunately, the ones who
didn’t leave were, eventually, hunted down and killed.”
Q uinn and R ose left the professor and walked a few blocks to a small
cafe. Neither spoke until they had ordered tea and sandwiches.
Then Quinn said, “I think processing all this will take a while. My
mind is spinning right now, as I’m sure yours is too.”
Rose nodded her head in agreement. Then she smiled and took
her granddaughter’s hand. “Looks like you’ll have to put up with me
for some time.”
Quinn laughed and squeezed her grandmother’s hand. “You have
no idea how happy that makes me.”
 CHAPTER 7

Q uinn and Fiona sat in the living room of their cottage in front
of the fire. After meeting with the professor, Quinn and Rose
had taken the train back to Skibbereen. Both had felt the need to be
home in familiar surroundings. Quinn looked around the room and
then at her friend.
Finally, Quinn was ready to tell her what she had learned. “Fee,
you aren’t going to believe what I’m about to tell you.”
“Should I open a bottle of wine?” From Fiona
Quinn smiled. “Maybe make us each a strong gin and tonic
instead.”
“That bad or that good?” Fiona’s eyes widened with anticipation.
“That unbelievable, I’d say.” Quinn raised her eyebrows and
looked at her friend.
“Okay then, gin and tonic it is.”
Once Fiona had made the drinks and sat back down, Quinn
began to speak. She told Fiona everything she had learned from
Professor Costa. She watched as a look of disbelief spread across
Fiona’s face.
“I had the same reaction you’re having. I’m still having that
reaction.” Quinn took a sip of her gin and tonic.
“Are you still planning on investigating the death of Hugo Diaz?
And how does that connect with what you learned today?” Fiona
waited for Quinn to answer.
“The answers to those questions are no idea and no idea!”
 “I’m sure the women I’ve told you about had nothing to do with
his death, though. And they don’t seem overly concerned with the
theft of the artifacts. They feel confident they can get it back. Hugo
Diaz may have been assassinated by someone involved in the same
type of enterprise he was involved in. I’ll ask Dermot if he will allow
Charlotte and me to look around his house.”
“That sounds like a good idea.” Then, Fiona studied her friend for
a moment. “How do you feel about what you found out, Quinn?”
“That’s just it, Fee; I don’t know how to feel. This is so much
bigger than I thought. I thought I had some random gift; I didn’t
know a whole society of women like me existed.”

A s Q uinn fell asleep that night, she again clutched her stone. She
mentally spoke to the other women of Ireland who had The
Knowing. She asked them to meet with her once more.
Quinn found herself, again, in a type of cave or tomb. Several
women stood in the shadows. Quinn stepped forward and spoke to
the women telepathically.
‘Thank you for meeting with me again.’ Quinn looked at the
group of women. ‘Knowing there are so many others like me, my
grandmother, and Charlotte is truly amazing. To think that women
like us have existed for five thousand years is almost more than I
can comprehend.’
Women began to step forward. All seemed pleased to have Quinn
among them. One of the young women to step forward was
Charlotte. She smiled at Quinn. ‘I think many of us here are looking
for a way to use our gifts to help others.’
Quinn thought momentarily. ‘Yes, that’s precisely what we should
do. In that way, we will honor The Ivory Lady and all who came
after her.’

Q uinn woke the following day , now fully herself for the first time.
There was no going back. She would never be the same, nor did she
want to be. She was a daughter of Ireland and a descendant of The
Ivory Lady, Abria.
Quinn got up, showered, and dressed. On her way to the kitchen,
she heard a knock at the front door. When she opened the door,
Charlotte greeted her with a smile. Without saying anything, she
began to communicate telepathy with Quinn.
‘Last night was amazing. Now, my eyes are opened. I can’t wait
to see what the future holds.’
Quinn smiled, then said. “I agree, Charlotte; what has happened
is amazing. I think we had better speak, though. I’m not sure others
would appreciate us communicating telepathically. It certainly will
come in handy at times, though.”
“What will come in handy?” Still in her pajamas, Fiona scratched
her head and stood looking at the two women.
“We’ll fill you in over breakfast, Fee. This might take a while.”
Quinn took her friend by the arm and led her into the kitchen. Then,
they heard another knock at the door. This time, it was Margaret.
Since remodeling and expanding her B&B, Margaret hadn’t been able
to spend nearly as much time with them. They were all delighted to
see her.
Once the four women were seated, Quinn wasted no time getting
Margaret and Fiona up to speed. Margaret sat silent and wide-eyed
for a few minutes before speaking.
“You know, the truth is, I’ve always been a spiritual person. Ye
can’t grow up in Ireland without seeing the mystical side of it.
Honestly, I’m not surprised at what ye are telling me. Strangely, it’s
comforting. I can’t tell you why, but it is.” Margaret gave Quinn a
warm smile, “Before we go any further, I want to get these scones
and cakes on the table before we all starve to death.”
“I’ll second that,” said Fee. “It’s been too long since I’ve had
anything baked by you. I’m dying to see what you brought!”
Everyone laughed. A kind of lightheartedness settled over the
women as they began to talk of other things.
 CHAPTER 8

Q uinn decided to meet with Adler James again. She had come
looking for assistance, and now, Quinn and Charlotte would
work towards providing that. They would do their best to discover
who had murdered Hugo Diaz.
Being able to communicate telepathically was of great value.
Quinn no longer had to pick up the phone or meet with Rose or
Charlotte. She could summon them at will, and they her. It was
enormously beneficial.
Quinn had asked Dermot if he would allow her and Charlotte to
walk through Hugo Diaz’s house. He had reluctantly agreed. The
three of them and Dermot’s new assistant, Nora Fey, now stood in
the dead man’s living room. Quinn didn’t know quite what to make
of Nora. She was about thirty, with a thick build and dark hair worn
in a ponytail. She seemed very competent. Quinn was sure she could
hold her own in a fight, which was probably good given her
occupation. There was an aloofness about her, though. Quinn found
herself disliking her and then feeling guilty. Maybe she was used to
having Dermot all to herself and resented this newcomer.
Quinn turned her thoughts to the business at hand. She soon
saw a woman walking into the house through the unlocked front
door. The man, Hugo, was startled to see her but not frightened.
Then, the woman pulled a gun from her large bag and pointed it at
him. A silencer muffled the shot. Hugo Diaz fell backward and lay on
the floor, a bullet squarely between his open eyes. Blood was flowing
profusely from the wound.
‘Are you getting anything, Charlotte?’ Quinn looked at her cousin
but was speaking telepathically.
‘I see a woman pointing a gun with a silencer at Hugo Diaz and
then firing. I get the sense he knew her.’
‘That’s what I’m getting, too. I don’t recognize the woman,
though. Her face seems somewhat shrouded. And that’s more than
frustrating.’ From Quinn.
‘Same here,’ said Charlotte telepathically. ‘But I’m getting
something else. She went looking for something. I don’t think she
found what she was looking for.’
Quinn turned to look at Charlotte. ‘Was it the artifacts from the
tomb?’
Charlotte thought for a moment. ‘I don’t think I can say what it
was. Only that she didn’t find it.’
Dermot looked at the two women, somehow knowing something
was transpiring between them. “Are either of you picking up on
anything?”
Quinn looked at Nora and smiled. “He seems to think we’re
psychic.” Then she shot a warning glance at Dermot.

W hile she was in S kibbereen , Quinn decided to pay Adler, or Addie as

she liked to be called, a visit. After a quick call, Quinn and Charlotte
headed to Addie’s house.
Addie sat them down and brought the tea. “Thank you so much
for helping me, Quinn and…Charlotte, is it?”
Charlotte smiled and nodded her head. “Yes, I’m Quinn’s cousin.
I was raised in Tanzania, but my people are from Ireland.”
“Same here,” replied Addie. “I’m from the States, but I’m Irish,
through and through.” Then she looked at Quinn. “Have you found
out anything yet?”
Quinn did not feel comfortable revealing the Knowing to Addie.
“Well, the Garda think it was a woman and probably someone he
knew. Do you know of any other women in Hugo Diaz’s life, Addie?”
“We never talked about being exclusive, so there could have
been others. I never asked. As I mentioned, I wasn’t looking for any
long-term, permanent arrangement with Hugo. I didn’t feel that way
about him. Going to the pub, having a drink, and going out to dinner
occasionally was nice, but I was satisfied with that. I suppose we
were friends more than anything else.” Addie looked at Quinn before
continuing. “I would like to find out who did this to him, though. I
feel I owe him that.”
After they left Addie’s, Charlotte looked at Quinn and said, “So
what now? How do we look for a female assassin that Hugo Diaz
possibly knew.”
“Well, as I learned from Hattie, the former occupant of your
cottage and a truly great detective, this is where the leg work comes
in. We need to talk to people to see who else was in Hugo Diaz’s life.
We’ll start with the pubs and see if any bar help or patrons can give
us names. I’ve already talked to his neighbors, and that turned up
no leads.”
After several hours, Quinn and Charlotte had visited every pub in
Skibbereen. Some bar help knew Hugo Diaz, but no one knew much
about him. Several patrons knew him, too, but not well. Mostly, he
visited the pubs alone. Of course, Hugo Diaz traveled the world so
his killer could be anywhere, and Quinn and Charlotte were getting
nothing from The Knowing.
The two women drove home a little discouraged. Finally, Quinn
spoke. “I’m not sure there is much more we can do. Hugo wasn’t
close to anyone in Skibbereen except Addie. At least, that’s the way
it looks. I’ll call Dermot tonight to see if the Garda are having better
luck.”
Once home, Quinn felt exhausted. So much had happened
recently that she could hardly think straight. She was happy to know
there were others like her and Rose and Charlotte, but it still felt
strange. Meeting people in her dreams and being able to
communicate telepathically would take some getting used to. And
according to Professor Costa, she could expect to live a very long
life. That sounded good when it came to Rose. She was grateful to
think she would have many more years with her grandmother. When
it came to herself, though, she couldn’t help thinking of Annie
McClery and her friendship with Biddy. She couldn’t imagine losing
Fiona. They were both still relatively young, though, so she would
put thoughts like that aside and concentrate on the positive aspects
of her gifts. Hopefully, she could put them to good use.
Just then, Jibbs, the stray pup that had turned up at their door
not so long ago, jumped into her lap and began licking her face. Her
dark eyes stared into Quinn’s knowingly. Quinn had to laugh. She
scratched the pup behind her ears and held her face, planting a kiss
on the top of her head. Binx, the young cat that had also found its
way to their farm, and Maggie, Quinn’s Border Terrier, all wanted
attention. Hearing the commotion, Pike flew in from the kitchen and
gently landed on Quinn’s shoulder, squawking disapprovingly at
Jibbs, who was still sitting on Quinn’s lap. Quinn laughed again,
“Alright, alright, I get it. I’ve been too preoccupied and haven’t given
any of you enough attention. I’ll make sure to do better!”
Quinn again thought how much her creatures meant to her. She
sat back in her chair and stroked the silky feather on Pike’s head.
Jibbs curled up and laid down on her lap as Maggie scooted in
beside her; Binx jumped to the top of the chair and lay down. Now,
Quinn felt totally at peace.
 CHAPTER 9

D ermot sat in Quinn and Fiona’s kitchen drinking tea. He had

called Quinn the night before to say he had news he’d rather
give in person.
Dermot cleared his throat and then fussed with his jacket. “Any
chance Margaret might stop by with some of her scones? I haven’t
seen her lately.” Dermot looked around the room as he spoke, not
making eye contact with Quinn.
Quinn studied Dermot for a moment before speaking. “Margaret
has her hands full now that they’ve added that large addition to their
B&B. She doesn’t get to stop by nearly as often as she did. We miss
her too.”
Dermot turned his head quickly and looked at Quinn. “Well, now,
Missus, I didn’t say I missed her, exactly.” Dermot began to study the
ceiling. “A’ course, I’m fond of Margaret, but I was talking about her
scones; I wasn’t saying anything about missing anybody.” Dermot
sniffed and smoothed his hair to the side, now looking
uncomfortable.
Quinn smiled broadly. “Dermot Brennan, I do believe thou
protests too much!”
“Now, what in the world is that supposed to mean? I swear,
Missus, sometimes you talk in riddles.”
“It means,” Quinn paused for effect. “It means you like her. And
before you start protesting, you should know she is fond of you, too.
You would know that if men weren’t so thick about things like this
and have to practically be hit over the head before they even notice
what’s happening.”
Dermot looked indignant. “I assure you, Missus, I have nothing
but the most honorable feelings towards Margaret. I’m an officer of
the law, for heaven’s sake!”
“And police officers aren’t supposed to have a love life?”
Dermot’s eyes bulged, and he choked on his tea. “Love life! Now,
Missus, you’ve gone too far! I’ve known Margaret all my life and
never so much as …”
“That’s exactly what I’m talking about, Dermot. Maybe it’s time
you stop rejecting the idea of starting a relationship with someone,
and by someone, I mean Margaret. You couldn’t find a better
woman than Margaret O’Callahan.”
“Well, a’ course, I know what a good woman Margaret is.”
Dermot sniffed again and sat up straighter. “I think you’re wrong
about her being fond of me. I’m sure that’s not true.” Dermot
glanced at Quinn and then down as he said the last.
Quinn smiled. “Don’t sell yourself short, Dermot. Margaret would
be lucky to be keeping company with you.”
Dermot seemed at a loss as to how to respond. Finally, he
cleared his throat and said, “I’m forgetting why I’ve come.”
“Oh, yes, there is that. What new news do you have, Dermot?
Any breaks in the case?”
“Well, yes and no. No, we haven’t any leads on who might have
killed Hugo Diaz, but we have some new information on why he
might have been killed. They’re pretty sure he angered some
wealthy and influential people. Those things he stole were worth a
fortune. If he was trying to keep them for himself, someone might
have sent an assassin to kill him to get the artifacts.
Quinn tried to act less interested than she was with this new
information. She would summon the women again tonight and see
what else she could discover. She was interested in the powers of
the artifacts, especially the copper mirror. Rose had said a copper
mirror could be a gateway to the past and the dead.
Q uinn , again, found herself in a cave or labyrinth of some kind. She
had gone to sleep clutching her stone like before. Now, she turned
to see even more women than last time.
A young woman of about twenty-five stepped forward and spoke
telepathically. ‘Why have you called us?’
Quinn recognized at once that this young woman was especially
powerful. She responded to her. ‘I have a question to ask.’ Quinn
looked, again, at the women. There appeared to be at least fifty.
‘Of course, ask what you like.’ The young woman smiled at Quinn
encouragingly.
‘I wanted to ask, what powers do copper mirrors have? The ones
made thousands of years ago by the Celts.’ Quinn waited for a
response.
The young woman in front of her spoke again. ‘I am well aware
of the copper mirrors you speak of. I, myself, owned several. You
can speak to those no longer living in your world through them.
They are scarce and coveted by our kind.’
Quinn felt strange. What was it about this woman? Quinn looked
at her and asked, ‘What is your name, may I ask? There is
something very different about you. What is it that makes you
different?’
‘The young woman laughed gently and smiled. ‘I feared you
would find me out. You are quite powerful.’ The woman looked at
Quinn momentarily and then continued.
‘I am Abria. In your time, I am known as The Ivory Lady. It is to
me the crystal dagger and ivory sword and all that has been stolen
belong.’
‘I walked the earth almost 5,000 years ago. My life started in a
poor family. I was not high-born. I had to work very hard. But I
always knew I had gifts. I knew things that others didn’t. I could
read others’ thoughts.’
‘Soon, people began to notice me. They came to me for help. At
the age of fifteen, I was chosen to lead my people. I ruled for ten
years. Under my leadership, society prospered. There were no wars.
We lived a peaceful existence. I did not accomplish all I could have,
as I died young, but my daughters also had my gifts. Orlaith, my
eldest daughter, eventually became the leader of our people. Then,
her daughter, Aine, ruled after her. This went on for a very long
time. Then, the men of our society grew jealous and began to kill us.
My descendants had to go into hiding or flee to Ireland. Their
children began to forget who they were. That is why I am thankful
that you have, again, awakened the sisterhood. You and all my
descendants possess the same powers that I have. Some are more
powerful than others, but all of you have powers, and you should
hone them. We are needed, now more than ever.”
CHAPTER 10
 CHAPTER 11

Q uinn woke the next day feeling at peace. She went to the
kitchen to make tea. As she filled the teapot, she looked out
the window that faced the back of the farm. Everything looked fresh
and well-tended. The animals roamed their enclosures contentedly.
Not for the first time, the beauty of the Irish countryside almost took
her breath away. She was so thankful for all that she had. Then, the
thought struck her. What if Fiona had not suggested a holiday in
Ireland? What if she had not seen the coffin pass by Coughlin’s
Grocery and realized she wanted to live in Ireland? Then, Quinn
laughed. There was no scenario in which she would not have found
her way to Ireland. Of that, she was sure. And she thanked God.
As Quinn sipped her tea, she heard a tap at the back door and
saw Margaret’s face looking through the glass. She jumped up,
opened the door, and hugged her friend tightly. “Margaret, it’s so
good to see you.”
Margaret took a good look at Quinn. “What’s got a hold of ye
woman? Ye look like you’re about to burst. Let me get these scones
on a platter, and then we can talk.”
Margaret went to the cabinets and pulled out the large, yellow
platter decorated with small white flowers that Quinn had found on
sale and fallen in love with. Margaret heaped scones onto the platter
and poured herself a cup of tea.
“Now, what is this? Tell me quick!” Margaret leaned forward with
both arms on the table and her hands clasped in front of her. She
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form,
including any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you
provide access to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work
in a format other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in
the official version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website
(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense
to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means
of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain
Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the
full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.

1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,

performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works
unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing

access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works
provided that:

• You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the
method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The
fee is owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark,
but he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to
the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty
payments must be paid within 60 days following each date on
which you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your
periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked
as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, “Information
about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
Foundation.”

• You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who

notifies you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that
s/he does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™
License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all
 copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and
discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Project
Gutenberg™ works.

• You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of

any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in
the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90
days of receipt of the work.

• You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works.

1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™

electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of
the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set
forth in Section 3 below.

1.F.

1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend

considerable effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe
and proofread works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating
the Project Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project
Gutenberg™ electronic works, and the medium on which they may
be stored, may contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to,
incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a
copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or
damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer
codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.

1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except

for the “Right of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph
1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner
of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party
distributing a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work under this
agreement, disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and
expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO
REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF
WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE
FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY
DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE
TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL,
PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE
NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you

discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it,
you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by
sending a written explanation to the person you received the work
from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must
return the medium with your written explanation. The person or entity
that provided you with the defective work may elect to provide a
replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the work
electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose to
give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in
lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may
demand a refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the
problem.

1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in
paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO
OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.

1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied

warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted
by the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the
Foundation, the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the
Foundation, anyone providing copies of Project Gutenberg™
electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and any
volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution
of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, harmless from all liability,
costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or
indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur:
(a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b)
alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Project
Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any Defect you cause.

Section 2. Information about the Mission of

Project Gutenberg™
Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of
electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of
computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.
It exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and
donations from people in all walks of life.

Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the

assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s
goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will
remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project
Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a
secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future
generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary
Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help,
see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at
www.gutenberg.org.

Section 3. Information about the Project

Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit
501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification
number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws.

The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West,

Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up
to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website
and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact

Section 4. Information about Donations to

the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
Foundation
Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without
widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can
be freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the
widest array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small
donations ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax
exempt status with the IRS.

The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating

charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and
keep up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in
locations where we have not received written confirmation of
compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of
compliance for any particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate.

While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where

we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no
prohibition against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in
such states who approach us with offers to donate.

International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make

any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.

Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation
methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of
other ways including checks, online payments and credit card
donations. To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate.

Section 5. General Information About Project

Gutenberg™ electronic works
Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project
Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be
freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and
distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of
volunteer support.

Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed

editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in
the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not
necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper
edition.

Most people start at our website which has the main PG search
facility: www.gutenberg.org.

This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™,

including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how
to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.