The boat skimmed through the water toward the next Island, or the Island Sage assumed they were heading for. Looking at the orb, she turned it, counting the islands she had been to before counting the ones they still needed to reach.

"Are we going to make this?" she called over the high revving of the engine, glancing around the boat.

Matthew looked at his watch, took the orb from Sage, and turned it while the boat continued towards its next port of call. He nodded before silently returning to the task of watching the surroundings.

The last few islands had been quick and easy, but a strange tension had settled on those who had lived here all their lives as they headed to this particular Island.

Suddenly, they penetrated the mist around the Island before bursting through to the other side; the boat began to slow, almost immediately bringing Sage to her feet; there was no dock, and the tree line already held a thicket of human beings. They seemed to be waiting, but Sage couldn't tell exactly what they wanted or needed, if anything. The boat stopped just short of the beach, and Matthew threw a peg tied in a rope into the sand, keeping the vessel in place. A plank was moved from the side of the boat and wedged into the sand.

"Make your walk quick," he whispered to Sage as he helped her onto the plank, "and don't fall in … the water is bottomless right off the beach."

"No one coming with me?" Sage asked.

Everyone else looked toward the human line at the top of the beach and shook their heads. They remained in the boat while Sage made it to the beach. She smiled at the people, lifting her hand in greeting, and began walking. The Elders of the other islands had made contact with her briefly, but the elder of this Island remained with the people and watched her. Sage walked the shoreline, taking in the coast of the Island when she reached a stone. Looking the bolder over, she found a handprint etched into the stone, and above it, Gaelic letters appeared. Sage paused, reading the words.

"Charlotte pledged herself here," she whispered. Looking at her relevant hand, Sage slowly lowered her hand into the impression and gasped as energy surged through her; she felt the memories of this Island fill her, visions of Charlotte's tears as single mothers and unmarried pregnant women in need of sanctuary were brought here. Murmured words from time past filled her mind, and she quietly repeated them.

"May this land remain a place of love, laughter and peace for all who come to live and heal," she whispered, "I pledge my life to the safety of all."

Heat closed around her hand, drawing a gasp from her, and suddenly, her hand was free. Breathing heavily, Sage waited as the world around her returned to normal. Turning to retrace her path to the boat, she froze as she faced a tall Amazon woman.

"I am Sage Caroline Mary Annabella Rosemary Cooper-Channing," she spoke quietly, keeping eye contact with a cautious expression, "the time has come, and I am here to complete what Charlotte started."

The woman's gaze narrowed on her, "I felt the island bond with you," her mellow voice whispered, "may you go quickly and find what you seek … time is running out."

Sage smiled, "Thank you. I will do everything possible to protect these islands and everyone on them."

The woman stepped aside, allowing Sage to pass, watching her as she moved quickly down the beach toward the boat. Walking the plank, she nodded and commanded to move on to the next Island. Taking her seat as Matthew engaged the engine and quickly moved from the shore under the watchful eye of the island elder, Sage felt everyone breathe a sigh of relief as they drove away.

"We need to hurry," she said, "how fast can we go?"

"How many islands do we have left?" Stuart asked, looking at the orb Sage turned in her hand.

"I see five more dots," she said, handing it to him, and he nodded; absently, she traced the course to the next Island with her finger, hoping there were no obstacles to keep them from getting there quickly. She had felt the urgency behind the Island's connection and the words offered by the elder. Glancing at her watch, she willed the boat to move faster. Matthew's exclamation at the sudden fog and appearance of the following Island seemed to startle everyone but Sage. He glanced over his shoulder at her before moving to the dock and mooring the boat.

"Make it quick, and we can get to them all," he said as Sage left the boat and moved to the shore, jumping from the dock into the warm, dry sand, "she's beginning to connect …" he said quietly to those remaining in the boat.

"You sure?" Stuart asked.

"The ride between those two islands is at least five minutes, if not ten, with obstacles," he sighed, "I saw her drawing a straight line between the islands, and we were here."

"You're right," Stuart nodded, "she is connecting … get ready; here she comes."

Sage dropped into the boat and nodded to get moving, "We are nearly out of time."

"Is the clock ticking faster?" Stuart asked.

"No, but I sense that the enemy is on the Island, and although our forces are fighting, there are those who are headed toward the island entrance," Sage said, "we need to move."

She sat again, feeling an urgency she didn't truly understand, but she allowed her head to follow her instinct and heart. She could get this done. She was determined to protect her islands; this was her heritage, and no one would take it from her. She didn't know if she would make it in time, yet she knew everything would be okay.

"Sage, are you okay?" Maddy asked, watching her with a concerned expression.

Sage smiled and nodded, "Just want to get to the end of all these islands."

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"We'll make it," Maddy smiled, "I'm glad you're doing this, looking out for all these people and the beauty of this place."

Sage sighed, "It is beautiful," she whispered, "I'm only sorry that I cannot explore all of this right now."

"Before you venture back, you may wish to learn who lives on the islands," Matthew said. "I'm sure you know there are different kinds of people who have experienced different things from life, living in each place."

"Yes, I have realised that," Sage said, nodding, "I have an understanding but, as you say, no knowledge."

"We're here," Stuart called as they entered the fog, and Sage looked down at the Island lighting up on the orb. She gasped as Stuart swerved immediately to the left to avoid a waiting group of heavily armed boats, "I think they were expecting trouble."

"Can we dock?" Sage asked, "Will they let us?"

Stuart quickly cut the engine as the boat drifted into shallow water and lodged onto the beach, "Don't think you'll have to ask. Go … do your … thing."

Sage climbed out of the boat, landing on the beach. She paced inland a little and then walked the shores; she could feel the energy surge getting tighter, more agitated. Sage noticed a rock with a strange-looking flag rising from the top a little distance along the beach. Stopping before it, she lifted the flag but didn't recognise it. Reading the insignia on it.

"Of course, Gaelic," she murmured before repeating it, "For the Love of Land and Limb."

Trailing her hand along the seam of the rock, she gasped as the sharp edge sliced along the palm, leaving a trail of blood behind. Lifing her injured hand, Sage checked for any dirt in the wound. It seemed clean; turning toward the boat, she glanced back at the rock.

"What is that?" she whispered, reaching into the crevice appearing where she had sliced her hand.

Pulling the parchment from the space, she carefully unfolded it and frowned.

"That is a map," a deep, mellow voice said at her shoulder, making her jump, "apologise … I didn't mean to startle you."

"I didn't know you were there," Sage said, smiling as she turned to look into a familiar face but frowned; she had never met this person before, "you look like …" she shook her head, "…sorry I was going to say Charlotte's husband but …" she shook her head again, "… you're related."

The man nodded, smiling, "I am of the Channing line, but my heart and soul is Cooper," he glanced over his shoulder, smiling, "I married a Cooper, and our children are Cooper – Channings by choice."

Sage smiled at the gathered families waiting at the tree line, nodding, "I understand what this Island is for. But what is this map for."

"To show you the way to the one your heart seeks," the man said, "to your bloodline and family."

"Okay, I guess it's okay if I take it with me," Sage said, meeting the soulful eyes.

The man nodded, "It is yours by passage," he glanced out to the sea, "...the last two islands are waiting."

Nodding, Sage moved past him, waving as she went; quickly, she climbed into the boat, pushing the parchment into her utility belt and securing it.

"Let's go," Sage said, turning the orb, "huh, he was right … two more to go."

"Two?" Stuart said as he sat beside her, "I thought it was three."

"Nope, according to the orb two," Sage said, sighing, "I know this is important and urgent, but I'm enjoying this."

"I'm glad you are," Stuart whispered, "not all of us are happy about what is happening, and we're still on edge …" he sighed, "… but it doesn't mean you have to be miserable. Right?"

Sage turned to look at him, "What do you mean by "not happy and on edge"?"

"The last time we had to deal with these people, they found the last three islands," Stuart murmured, "that's why Matthew has taken the wheel. He is better at evasive driving on water than I am."

"Let us hope that they don't get to these islands or near them," Sage said, looking around them, "I have never seen such beauty. We're on the ocean, but the beauty above us is phenomenal."

"Above us?" Stuart frowned, looking up, "Well, what do you know … we have never had that before."

"Never had all that greenery on the cave roof and walls?" Sage asked, surprised.

"Never," Stuart said, chuckling, "it has been plain rock walls,"

"Perhaps the place knows it can shine now," Sage whispered as she leaned close to him.

"Perhaps," he nodded, "before we get engrossed in all this … around us," he waved his hands in the air, "let's finish this first."

Picking up the orb, he dangled it from its chain, letting it swing slowly in a circle. Sage's smile disappeared as it turned, and she turned it to find what she had seen. Standing quickly, she moved to Matthew's side.

"We need to take a different route," she said, showing him the red dots moving toward the Island they were heading.

"We can't," he said; the water here is too treacherous.

Nodding, Sage drew a direct line from where they were to the Island. A bank of fog appeared, and they headed through. A concerned group gathered on the shoreline, prepared to fight. They moved back toward the tree line when they saw who it was. Sage didn't wait for the gangplank to be lowered to the beach. Standing on the boat's side, she launched onto the sand and rolled to her feet. Covered in sand, her body began to hum, and Sage felt an old Gaelic war song rise within her. Softly singing the melody as the words came, she walked along the shoreline and returned to the boat.

"We have no time to lose," she said, taking the orb, waving to the group of people and waiting until the boat was deep enough in the water and moving before she drew a direct line to the last Island, "we should be there quickly."

The boat moved toward the next Island and the approaching speed boats.

"We're in trouble," Stuart said, "we don't have the manpower for all those people."

"No, we don't," Sage said, looking up at the large round holes in the roof where the sunlight flooded in, "but we have it coming."

Stuart saw groups of men gliding down ropes from the top and then looked at Sage incredulously, "What did you do?"

"Followed my instinct and my heart," she said, as they moved through the fog and appeared on the other side, "they are on this island …" she whispered, "… they seek one person in particular."

"You need to finish the process," Matthew said, "we know who they search for … this island only has one occupant."

Nodding, Sage dropped to the sand, surprised as Matthew and Stuart followed her, "What?"

"You'll need protection while you finish the process," Matthew said, "we'll stand watch ..." he looked around before meeting her penetrating gaze, "... go."

Sage moved down the shoreline between the rising rock faces, "Not much of a beach, but oh, it is beautiful."

"Do you think she suspects who the occupant is?" Matthew hissed, watching her move away.

Stuart shook his head as he returned to where Matthew stood, "I don't think she does, and that occupant is not to be found. There is nothing here."

"Then they have not found her," Matthew sighed in relief, "let's finish this."

Nodding, the men waited for Sage to return.