The Strength of Caledon: The Plague

By Virginia Crow

The long-awaited return of one son is about to cost the life of another.

Kenneth Gordon's return from the dead sparks hope and celebration, but it soon transpires that there is something more to this miraculous return: something evil. As an unnatural plague tears through Golspie, the Clan of Caledon attempt to protect their people. But the price of this may be more than they are able to bear.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Virginia Crow
• Release date: Apr 30, 2024

Virginia Crow

Virginia grew up in Orkney, using the breath-taking scenery to fuel her imagination and the writing fire within her. Her favourite genres to write are fantasy and historical fiction, sometimes mixing the two together. She enjoys swashbuckling stories such as the Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas and is still waiting for a screen adaption that lives up to the book!When she's not writing, Virginia is usually to be found teaching music. She believes wholeheartedly in the power of music, especially as a tool of inspiration.She now lives in the far flung corner of Scotland, soaking in inspiration from the rugged cliffs and miles of sandy beaches.She loves cheese, music and films, but hates mushrooms.

Book preview

The Strength of Caledon

Virginia Crow

Part 5

The Plague

Copyright © 2024 by Virginia Crow

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof

may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever

without the express written permission of the publisher

except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

First Published in 2024

Crowvus, Stempster House, Caithness, KW14 7QW

For comments and questions about

Caledon

contact the author directly at [e-mail]

www.crowvus.com

Returning From the Dead

The dark had never frightened Robert. The thought of what waited out in the dark had worried him once, but with all he had gone through as part of the Clan of Caledon he knew the dark concealed himself as much as anyone who might seek him. Besides which, his eyesight had never been sharper.

He stepped out of the shelter of the houses and walked out onto the pier. There was no one there at this hour, as he knew there would not be, but he leaned down and looked inside the coil of the heavy rope and smiled to himself as he pulled out the bucket of fish which was hidden there. Gordie had not let them down yet. Each week one of the clansmen would be sent down to the pier to retrieve this offering from the fishermen of the town and tonight was Robert’s turn. Only Annie and Donnie were excused from it. Gathering the fish he began his walk back, humming a tune idly as he went. He had almost reached the end of the pier when, certain there was no one in his vicinity, he dared to sing some of the words.

Until all my sons return to me.

He stopped and looked about him, crouching down against the wall of the tax man’s office and stared out into the night. Perhaps he had imagined it, but he had felt the weight of someone’s gaze upon him. The back of his neck had begun to tingle and each bone in his body had told him to take cover. He sat like this for several minutes before he had the strange sensation of watching himself and stared into his own green eyes as the wildcat stalked towards him.

He had not realised he had been breathing so shallowly, but now to have found the cause of such an unnerving feeling, and one so easily explained, he let out a heavy sigh of relief. Rising to his feet once more he collected the bucket of fish and smiled down at the cat.

Fine, he said softly, just don’t tell them.

He pulled off a chunk