Chapter 21
Aknock at the door had Nick leaping to his feet.
The sun hadn’t even risen yet, and already it had begun.
Zeke, who was also awakened by the loud knocking, held his hand up to Nick, signalling that he would get the door.
Nick positioned himself to one side, where he wouldn’t be seen when Zeke opened the door.
“Give this to Nick Mackall.” Dane Smith, one of Malcolm’s henchmen, thrust an envelope in Zeke’s face. “I’ll wait for his answer.”
“Then you’ll wait out there,” Zeke announced, slamming the door in Smith’s face.
He handed the envelope to Nick, who tore it open and read the note.
“What’s it say?” Zeke asked.
“It’s as I expected. He wants me to take him back to the sixteenth century, help him find the Twin Sword and then return him safely to his own time.”
“Twin Sword? What’s that?” Wade questioned. The others had woken and crowded around Nick as he stared at the note.
“There’s a tradition—or perhaps I should say—there was a tradition.
When a new Catholic monarch was crowned, one who showed deference to the Catholic Church, they received the gift of a sword that had been blessed by the Pope.
King James the fourth received just such a sword from Pope Julius the second, along with another that the Pope knew nothing about.
This second sword came to be known as the Twin Sword because it was identical to the first in every way but one—’twas not blessed by the Pope, but infused with dark magick by an unknown sorcerer.
It is said that the man or woman who possesses the Twin Sword will unleash unbelievable powers—powers that will allow them to rule the world.
King James was verra wary of the power of this second sword.
Fearing its dark magick, he chose to lock it away until he found a way to destroy it.
He wanted nothing to do with it, as he believed anyone using it would become a slave to its power and to the sorcerer who created it. ”
“The Pope sent him both swords and didn’t know it?” Jayson sounded as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Nae. Somewhere between Rome and Edinburgh, the Twin Sword appeared in the same box containing the Pope’s gift along with an unsigned note from its creator,” Nick explained.
“What happened to the Twin Sword, after James decided he didn’t want it?” Zeke asked.
“King James hid it away in a rock vault, somewhere on the Campbell Clan’s land.
Before he could find a way to destroy it, James himself died and his infant son, James the fifth, ascended to the throne.
Regents ruled in the bairn’s place, until the boy was old enough to rule himself, but by that time, everyone involved in hiding the sword had died and since no one knew where it was, it was soon forgotten.
I’m surprised Malcolm even knows of its existence. ”
“I’m not. He has a reputation for searching out and acquiring very rare treasures,” Wade said.
“We cannae let him get his hands on it.” Nick began to pace back and forth across the living room. “Open the door,” he suddenly announced.
Zeke did as he was directed and Smith, who had been sitting on the stairs, rose to his full height.
“Tell Granger I cannae help him. I dinnae ken how to get back to the past. If I did, do you nae think I would have already gone home?”
“Mr. Granger thought that might be your answer, and he doesn’t believe you. He said to tell you that if you won’t help him, he’ll be forced to kill your friends. You have twenty-four hours to make up your mind.” With that, Smith turned and headed down the stairs to the street below.
Zeke closed the door and leaned against it with a worried frown.
“We willnae need twenty-four hours,” Nick stated confidently. “We’ll get them out before the deadline. Richard will be working from the inside to secure their escape, and we’ll be doing our best from the outside.”
***
“Good morning,” Malcolm Granger greeted Richard and Angelina from the dining table in the great hall.
They both remained stubbornly silent and their captor waved towards two empty chairs.
“Please, sit down. Have some breakfast. I do hope you slept well last night?” Malcolm placed a forkful of food into his mouth and casually watched them as he chewed.
Richard pulled out a chair for Angelina and then sat in the vacant chair beside her.
“I’ve sent word to your friend, Nick. He knows of your predicament, but he is choosing not to help you.”
Angelina glanced Richard’s way and gave him a meaningful look and then helped herself to some of the food. He did the same.
“You two aren’t very talkative. Not morning people?” An unpleasant smirk crossed Granger’s lips. “Fortunately, I’m a generous fellow. I’ve given him twenty-four hours to change his mind.”
“What happens then?” Richard poured himself some coffee.
“I’m afraid I’ll have to follow through with my threat to kill you both. It’s nothing personal, of course.”
Richard grasped Angelina’s hand under the table to reassure her. “What did you ask of him?”
“I told him I need him to take me back to the sixteenth century, retrieve the Twin Sword, and then return us safely back to the twenty first century.”
“And if he does this, you promised to let us go?” Richard didn’t believe they’d be getting out of this alive, but he wanted to hear confirmation from Malcolm.
“I haven’t made a decision about that yet. If Nick continues to refuse his help, however, the matter will be moot.” Granger stared at Richard triumphantly.
Richard ignored him, but the mounting tension in Angelina’s body was obvious and once again, Richard gripped her hand, hoping to prevent her from taking any action they might regret. She responded by nodding infinitesimally, ensuring that Malcolm didn’t notice the movement.
“You know, Angelina, after we had dinner the other night and then our little chat at the coffee shop, I had hoped you’d be more willing to help me.
I’m sure by now you’ve reached the conclusion that everything I told you was true.
It’s a shame you didn’t believe me then, perhaps if you had, you wouldn’t be sitting here today.
” Malcolm barked out a menacing laugh. “You could have shared in the power I will attain, once I get my hands on the sword. You still could.” His lascivious leer had Richard bristling with anger, and this time, it was Angelina who was comforting him with a gentle squeeze of his thigh.
“Malcolm, you don’t know me very well if you think for even one moment that I would betray Nick or Richard.” Angelina’s gaze never wavered, and she stared at Malcolm with cool disdain.
“Well, if you change your mind, you can tell the guard at your door. He’ll be certain to get the message to me. Just remember, if you assist in this project, you could have everything your heart desires.”
Richard was pleased when she didn’t engage in argument with Malcolm. It would do no good at this point, but Malcolm had given him an idea—one that might just get them out of this predicament.
Malcolm stood up, placing his napkin on the table.
“I have things to see to. When you’re finished here, my men will escort you back to your room.
Don’t even think about trying to overcome them, they have orders to run you through if necessary.
You would be smart to remember that and behave accordingly. ”
“No guns?” Angelina questioned.
“I like to keep things authentically medieval.” With that announcement, he left the room.
Angelina glanced Richard’s way and he reassured her with a smile. A finger to his lips warned her to remain silent.
***
The door to their room was locked behind them and Angelina immediately turned to Richard and whispered, “What’s the plan?”
“We’ll wait a short while, to give the illusion you’ve been thinking about Malcolm’s proposition, and then you’ll ask the guard to send word that you’ve changed your mind.”
“But I haven’t! I’m not going to save myself at your expense.”
Richard held up a hand. “I know. Hear me out. When the guard leaves, we’ll go through the bathroom and break into the adjoining room, leaving this door locked.
I had a look on the way upstairs, and I believe the room next door to this one is vacant.
By the time the guard gets back, hopefully we’ll have found a way out of this place. ”
“It could work.” Angelina furrowed her brow as she worked through the plan in her head. “It’s worth a try.”
“I’m sure Nick is on his way by now. If our plan fails, I’m certain he’ll have something up his sleeve.” Richard placed his hands on her shoulders. “It’s going to be alright, Angelina. Trust in me. I’ll not let any harm come to you.”
“I know you won’t, and I won’t let any harm come to you.
” She winked at him and he couldn’t help but laugh.
It was just like Angelina to be more concerned about him than herself.
“Come here,” she beckoned. “I need a kiss.” Her lips curved in a seductive smile that drew Richard right to her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and gently kissed his lips.
Richard wanted her so badly it hurt, but for now, it would have to wait.
“Not the right time or the right place. I know,” Angelina laughed, as if she’d read his mind.