178 Souls store house

they worked for several hours clearing out the old foundation the floor was still intact.  It was close to dark by the time they were able to clear enough away to find the floor hatch to the cellar. They will need to come back in the morning in full daylight to start again. The two men head back to the house. On their way they see a strange shadow close the the waterfall. A chill runs through them not wanting to try anything in the dark they agree to check it out in the morning. 

Aisling goes down early in the morning to offer help in the kitchen. Hopefully she can get close to Macha so she lets her guard down. Remi thinking the same is already there. Macha hasn't arrived yet so they find ingredients for breakfast. The clerk comes out of his room to the smell of biscuits baking. He is not going to work today from being hung over. He makes a small basket of fresh food and goes out to the garden. The girls peak outside through a crack in the door. He is going to a small door under the window of his room. Macha comes in through the side door calling for the clerk. 

"My what a wonderful smell ,old man I didn't know you could cook." She stops when she sees her guest cooking in the kitchen. She doesn't know what to say. 

"Good morning ma'am,we are early risers and thought we would fix the morning meal. I hope you do not mind." Aisling smiles warmly at her hoping that she doesn't get suspicious. Macha smiles at the two young women. 

"leave that the boys will clean the kitchen. You may cook what you like and if we are not here then you can clean after yourselves. When the boys are here they clean . Why don't you go and explore the town . We will get your rooms clean and let me know if you wish to cook tonight or if what I brought will be ok." Aisling and Remi thank her . Aisling told her .

"we are fine with whatever is here. I hope that we did not upset you by cooking this morning. I'm afraid habits are hard to break. We are used to getting up early and preparing the family meal in the morning." 

"oh not at all I enjoyed it. I rarely cook myself so to have such delicious food was a treat for me and the boys. Feel free to cook whatever you like." Macha goes towards the back door and tells them.

"Feel free to enjoy the garden but don't go into the cellar through the door under the window. I'm afraid that there are wild dogs that wander in through the cavern entrance from the mountain. I leave food there so that they dont go into the front cellar to spoil the household food. If you need to go into the cellar use the door in the front of the house. " 

they nod ok and go upstairs to talk to the men. They maybe they can hike up the mountain to find the entrance to the cavern. That way they can call it an accident if they get caught in the cellar. 

Macha is outside tending the garden when they leave the house. Walking up the side of the mountain they take it slow for Aisling . When they reach the rick they take a break. Aisling points to the different areas that she knows from her time. Some of the building are not built yet. So after resting they walk past the graveyard. There is a Mausoleum looking around it they find a small cave entrance to the left of it. The men decide they will go inside.Aisling gives them the flashlights from her purse and the pistol. She tells them they will be waiting for them to please be careful. The two men climb down into the cave. It is bigger than expected they both are able to stand up without hitting the ceiling once inside .  Turning the flashlights on they see that it's been used as a ritual place. There are candles and an alter. Looking around they find a stone chest pushing the lid off there is a blinding light coming from the chest. They found the book of life. Calling for Uktena and Morrigan by rubbing the stone . The two appear in the cavern and see what they found. Uktena heals their eyes while Morrigan takes the book and covers it in a cloth. They replace the book with a fake one so that Macha won't notice till it's to late. The blinding light only effects humans. So even though she is mortal she still is not human. Uktena tells them. 

"Go for now we will return the book to the keeper. Do not explore here anymore for now . I have reset things so it looks Undisturbed. The witch without the book can be killed now though I do not know how it being gone will effect her magic. Go now and continue to be just tourists. " the two disappear and the two men go out to meet their wives. Giving Aisling the pistol and flashlights back they go back to sit on the rock. Once there they tell the ladies what they found. 

"We found the book and already called Uktena to come take it. He had to heal our eyes as it blinds humans. Now we just have to bide our time to see what happens with things in our time and if Macha makes a move or not. whatever we do we can't make her suspicious of us. Hopefully it will effect her magic and weaken it but we will see. " Astila explains the situation as it is for now. Wondering what his uncle has found in their time. 

they sit at the rock for a little longer when they hear a group of children calling. School has let out and the kids are running down the path. They see Norma fighting with her older sister . 

"You just want me to come with you so you can see that boy. Mama is going to be mad if she finds out. " they see them sitting on the rock Norma comes running to them. 

"Are you coming to the bridge opening. You know once the bridge opens we won't need the ferry anymore. It opens tomorrow. " Yona looks at her and grins telling her 

"of course we wouldn't miss it. " it's starting to get late and they head back towards the house. 

Morrigan and Uktena are giving the book back to the keeper when they are summoned by the father. They enter the fathers chamber and is surrounded by loving warm and light. No one has ever actually seen the fathers face only felt his presence. 

"You returned the book and have found Macha . Her rein of evil will be over soon. She needs to be judged as a human in order to have her legacy brought to an end. I believe the child will be the end of the evil she has brought and will be the beginning of a new era. Protect them and guide them wisely. " with that they are back in the garden . Looking into the pool they watch Aisling and the others walking back towards Macha's house. They will watch over them to see if there is a change in her power by the book being taken. Knowing the father has already seen Macha's legacy ended they have confidence in what will happen.