Chapter 22 #2
Malcolm couldn’t believe his luck. He had watched the fog swallow Nick and his companions, never believing that he’d reach it in time to follow them, but he had, as had his men.
He had made it to the year 1514! He knew he was in the right year, because as they emerged from the fog he spied Nick, Angelina and Richard riding away with two others.
Their friends had apparently stayed behind in San Francisco, which suited Malcolm just fine.
“We’re here! We did it,” he said to Pierce, who was looking suitably amazed.
“Where are we?” Gabe asked. “What just happened?”
“We’re in sixteenth century Scotland. The year 1514, to be exact. Gentlemen, we have just experienced time travel.”
Dane and Nash appeared completely dumbfounded by this announcement, turning in slow circles to study their surroundings.
“We’ll need to find the site where I’ve been told the sword was hidden, and then we’ll need to find our friends.
They’re our ticket home.” Malcolm glanced around, trying to figure out what time of day it was.
The sun was attempting to peek through the clouds to the east, which made him think it was early morning, perhaps around eight a.m. “We’ll have plenty of time to locate a campsite for tonight.
Perhaps we’ll run across a village, and we can find some food.
” Malcolm was exhilarated and it showed in his voice.
“Isn’t this exciting?” When his men didn’t respond, he set off in the direction Nick and the others had gone.
He’d follow their horses’ tracks, in hopes of getting his bearings.
He had a map tucked away in his pocket and he’d need time to study it before they could set off in earnest on their search for the sword.
“First things first. We need food, water, shelter and …” he glanced down at what he was wearing, “…appropriate clothing.” Again, none of the men answered him, apparently still too stunned by what had just happened.
Malcolm bristled angrily. Just because they weren’t in San Francisco any longer, was no reason for his men to cease doing his bidding.
“Come on! Get your asses in gear and let’s go.
” Malcolm started marching through the trees, not bothering to check if they followed.
Naturally, they would follow him, he thought smugly. What choice did they have?
***
Richard and the others rode hard through the whole day, until they were forced to stop for the night when darkness fell.
Richard wasn’t particularly worried about Malcolm catching up with them, because he knew they had no horses.
Setting up camp was easily accomplished with everyone’s help and when he had a moment, he stopped to speak with Edna.
“Thank you for getting us back safely, I wasn’t sure if you’d hear me when I called your name. ”
“Never fear, laddie. I’ve been keeping track of ye since I sent ye on yer way, always waiting to hear my name called if ye needed me.”
Nick joined them. “Edna, I’m Nick Mackall. I’m pleased to make yer acquaintance.”
Edna took his hand in greeting. “And who is this lovely young woman ye’ve brought back with ye, Richard?”
“Angelina Lawson, this is Edna Campbell.”
“Edna, I have so many questions, I don’t even know where to begin.” Angelina reached out and grasped Edna’s hand in hers.
“Well, I’m sure I can answer them all, but first, let’s get some food in our bellies, shall we?” Edna kept hold of Angelina’s hand and drew her towards the fire.
The fire was blazing and Angus pulled more food from his saddlebags than Richard thought seemed possible.
Edna smiled happily while she watched him.
Richard had the distinct impression that every time Angus put his hand in the bags, Edna was manifesting another item for him to reveal.
If she was capable of transporting him through time to a distant land, he had no doubt she could feed them with little effort.
He shook his head at the things he’d once considered unbelievable, which he now accepted without question.
“Are you alright, Angelina?” Richard sat down next to her, concerned about how she was handling this transition.
Her eyes were wide with wonder as she observed the goings on of the camp.
She clung to Richard’s arm tightly, a sensation he was enjoying.
As she had told him on more than one occasion, she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, so the fact that she was leaning on him to get her through this situation warmed his heart.
“I’m fine. Just a little shocked, I guess. I’m happy to be here with you, though.” She smiled up at him, and his heart skipped a beat.
Richard glanced over Angelina’s head, to discover Edna appeared quite happy and proud as she observed the two of them. “Where do we go from here?” he asked.
“We’ll head to Castle Fionn. After a good night’s sleep, Angus will guide us on our way. He tells me it’s only a few short hours from here.”
“Can you tell if Malcolm followed us here?” Richard asked.
“Let me see.” Edna spent a minute or two staring into the flames of the fire and then shook her head in dismay.
“It appears that he did indeed come through the mist and he brought four others with him. He is on foot though, so that is in our favour. The fact that he’s here for the Twin Sword frightens me. We cannae allow him to get to it.”
“We won’t,” Angelina stated confidently.
“I like you,” Edna said, cocking her head and gazing at Angelina. “You’re a good strong woman and that will come in verra handy.”
Handy for what? Richard wondered. He was hoping to get Angelina back to his home in England without further incident.
As far as he was concerned, there was no need for her to be a part of whatever was going to happen with Malcolm.
He was more than willing to help but wanted Angelina safely away from the danger.
“I would like to take Angelina back to my home as soon as possible.”
“Of course, of course,” Edna said. She rose, and went to sit with Angus, but Richard had the uneasy sensation that there was something else Edna wasn’t telling them.
***
Angelina awoke with a smile on her face, despite the fact that she was shivering with cold.
She had spent the entire night snuggled in Richard’s warm embrace, but now that he wasn’t there beside her, she was a bit cold.
She wrapped herself in the blanket she’d been given the night before and sat up.
The others were already up and moving about the campsite.
She smiled again—this was better than the best Ren Faire she had been to.
She rose and moved closer to the fire to get warm.
“Make no mistake, Angelina, this is nae a Renaissance Faire. This is verra, verra real.” Edna’s voice came from behind her and Angelina turned to discover the older woman carrying a bowl of food towards her.
Had Edna just read her thoughts? “Ye’ll need to eat a good breakfast. We’ll be leaving soon.
” Edna handed her a steaming bowl of stew left over from the night before, along with a thick piece of bread.
“Eat. And Angelina, if ye ever decide that ye don’t want to be here, just tell me.
I’ll see to it that ye get safely returned to San Francisco.
” Edna turned and walked away, leaving Angelina thinking about what she’d said.
At this very moment, Angelina couldn’t think of one reason why she’d want to leave.
She’d imagined a world like this for so long, and now she was actually going to experience it.
How could there possibly be any reason she’d want to leave?
Angelina held the bowl between her hands, enjoying the warmth. Gazing around the camp, she located Richard as he returned from the forest with an armload of wood for the fire.
“Good morning,” he called cheerily. “You were sleeping so soundly this morning, I hope I didn’t disturb you when I rose.” He placed some of the wood he had brought on the fire and placed the rest nearby, before he came to sit beside her. “I see Edna got you some food.”
She took a spoonful of the stew and nodded in acknowledgement, chewing and swallowing before she spoke. “Did you sleep well?” she asked.
“Very well,” came his happy response. “In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever had a better night’s sleep.
” He leaned in and kissed her temple, lingering to brush an errant lock of hair from her face with his fingers and leaving her speechless.
Angelina wasn’t exactly certain when she had come to love Richard—perhaps it had been right from the very first moment she’d seen him at the Marina.
No matter when it had happened, she was over the moon to be here with him and couldn’t wait to see his home and meet his family.
She didn’t know a lot about Richard’s life in medieval England, but she knew him to be a kind, gentle and honourable man. She was excited to learn more.
***
Riding through the Scottish countryside on MacKenzie lands brought back some memories for Richard that left him ill at ease.
He should really have a conversation with Angelina about his past, but the right time had simply not presented itself.
What he needed was some time alone with her and then he’d tell her.
He felt guilty for not telling her before they found themselves fleeing from Malcolm Granger.
If he’d told her the truth, he worried that there was every possibility she would have stayed behind and he would have been the most miserable man on earth.
He knew he had to tell her the truth about his past, but at the same time, he very much feared her reaction.
Angelina had spent the morning chatting with Edna about time travel and witchcraft and as one would expect, she was utterly fascinated.
Richard rode alongside Nick and Angus, who were deep in conversation, and he quietly contemplated his future and hoped that Angelina would still be a part of it, after she found out what kind of man he had been for most of his life.
He was comfortable with his own thoughts, having spent a good deal of time on his own.
Even when he was with his men, he rarely took the time to join in on their conversations.
The dark cloud that had always hung over him, got in the way of enjoying himself.
So, no one, other than Nick, knew him to be anything other than a man who should not be provoked.
They were rapidly approaching Castle Fionn, Ewan and Lena MacKenzie’s home.
Richard had no idea what his welcome would be, if they welcomed him at all and he suffered a pang of anxiety in his gut.
Gazing back at Angelina, he saw her smile and wave to him before turning back to Edna.
He worried that this might be the last time she gazed on him with such loving eyes, the last time he’d hear her sweet voice.
Worst of all, perhaps this was the last time he’d see her.