The Portent and Other Stories

"The Portent and Other Stories" by George MacDonald is a set of short stories that looks at the life of a young man named Duncan, who is trying to understand his ability to see the future and what it means. Set in the Scottish Highlands back in the 1800s, the main story, "The Portent," is about Duncan's life as he deals with his special powers and how they affect him. The story talks about love, the supernatural, and what it means to be human, especially as Duncan figures out his relationships while strange things happen around him. Early on, we see Duncan growing up in Scotland, where he feels a strong connection to the land and can hear things that others can't. He often goes off by himself on a hill that he considers his own special place. We start to feel that something bad might happen because of his ability to see the future and the strange sounds he hears. As Duncan gets older, he meets his old caretaker, who also has second sight, and she tells him that the sounds he hears are connected to bad things that are about to happen. The stories will keep you guessing about what will happen as Duncan faces his amazing abilities and the dark forces around him.