At least at first.
The warlock’s strength began to lose traction as she sauntered up to him and ran her fingers lovingly over his chest. As she did, she tried to get information as she murmured, “Who are you? Where did you come from?”
“Dinnae ye already know?” he sneered, his eyes all-knowing. “Yer wee witch.”
Though tempted to frown, she kept her expression soft and tempting. “What wee witch?”
His grin was dark and foreboding but gleeful at the same time. “The same that saw to the archwizard so well, aye?” He chuckled, evidently knowing full well he was caught in an enchantment and they were harnessing the power of the ring. “Ye may see an end to me but know well, my kind will see an end to Scotland. If not for ye enchanting me and drawing me ever closer, Robert the Bruce would already be discovered, and history changed.”
“Och, but ‘tis not,” Conall growled as the gem flared and the warlock’s powers began to dwindle. As Conall's chants warred with the warlock’s, and harsh wind whipped down the hallway, Lindsay did her best to keep the dark creature enchanted.
Pressure built.
The building shook.
The warlock glared at her in defiance, his body tossed about by the air being manipulated, before she and Conall truly got the upper hand and the monster fell to its knees. Air pressed in around it, locking it in place. Yet it continued chuckling, its words garbled as Conall came up behind it, yanked its head back and ran his dagger across its neck.
Yet they both heard what it said first.
Beware the Bruce’s new Queen. She is promised, and she will ruin ye.
Conall didn’t just settle for opening the warlock’s throat but drove a sword through its heart as well. He pulled her into his arms and away from the creature as it never wailed in pain once but died what appeared to be an awful death as it liquefied then turned to ashes. She never looked away. Not once. She had not turned from horror in the past, and never would.
Just as the last ashes floated to the floor, something or better yet, someone, began to materialize.
Lindsay blinked back tears as Darach’s grateful eyes met hers.
“Da?” Conall whispered.
“Aye.” Darach was sitting on the floor where the last of the warlock had vanished. He wasn’t transparent but whole as his eyes went to Conall. “Aye, Son, ‘tis me.”
“Da,” Conall repeated, stunned, before he fell to his knees and embraced his father. “I didnae think...ye vanished for so long...”
“Aye.” Darach hugged his son tightly. “I’ve missed ye and yer ma something fierce. I’ve missed all of ye.”
“And we’ve missed ye, Son,” came Grant’s soft voice.
Lindsay had never been so grateful to see Conall’s cousins when they appeared as well. All wore amazed but grateful expressions as Conall helped his father up then Grant embraced Darach. After that, everyone was hugging him and laughing with happiness.
“I cannae tell you how grateful I am, lass,” Darach murmured as he turned her way and took her hands. “Thank you, Lindsay.”
“I’m not entirely sure what I did,” she confessed. “Though I am confused why you wanted your family to stay away yet you came to me several times. Wasn't that a little risky?”
“Aye, there is much to talk about.” He embraced her before his eyes turned fondly to his family. “Mayhap over a wee dram? ‘Twould taste better than ye know.”
“None are up yet and ‘tis verra quiet downstairs,” Graham said. So that’s where they went, including Grant who refused to return to bed when he had just been reunited with his son. Still, they settled him in front of a warm fire with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders.
“’Twas great power that awoke me from my slumber,” Grant began as they all joined him and Darach was given his whisky. “Dark magic, indeed.”
“Aye.” Conall’s eyes met Lindsay’s with pride before they went to Grant. “We’ve defeated our warlock, Grandfather. That is why Da has returned.”
His cousins, who apparently had not sensed a thing, listened as Conall explained what had happened from their glimpse of the future to battling the warlock upstairs.
“’Twas verra difficult seeing you all like that...” Conall left off, his words soft and his eyes grateful as he looked at each and every one of them.
“I didnae sense a thing,” Rona murmured, truly troubled. “I didnae sense that so much death was coming.”
“Because it didnae in the end, lassie,” Grant murmured. “History, or should I say our immediate future, was changed, and it sounds like we have both the ring and Adlin to thank for that.”
“But where is he?” Lindsay asked, looking around for Adlin and hopefully Milly as well.
“My guess is that he will show up closer to the time you had your vision,” Grant informed.
Ah, well that made sense she supposed.
“So tell us what happened to ye, Son,” Grant said to Darach, his eyes troubled. “Then we will try to make sense of the warlock’s last words.”
Darach took a deep swig from his mug then nodded, his eyes a little haunted. “I was still there that day in the village when I went missing, Da.” He shook his head. “I could see ye, talk to ye, yet ye couldnae see me anymore. ‘Twas verra troubling.”
“Troubling,” Bryce muttered. “It sounds terrifying.”
“Aye,” Darach said softly. “’Twas as if I had crossed over into another dimension. I was unable to use my magic or communicate in any way.”
Grant frowned. “Why does it almost sound like ye’ve been by our side all along?”
“Because I have.” Darach’s eyes went to Conall. “I watched ye become laird, and I couldnae be prouder.”
“’Tis yours again,” Conall started, but Darach shook his head and said, “Nay, lad. Clan Hamilton is yours to lead now. I’ve done my part.”
When Conall frowned, Darach clasped his shoulder and met his eyes. “I know ‘twas not a mantle ye wanted to wear, but ye’ve done well by our clan. And ye did well despite your grief over losing not just Fraser but me. That is telling.” He nodded, pride again in his eyes. “You’re a born leader, Son.” His eyes flickered to Lindsay then back. “And mayhap soon enough you’ll have a wife to share it with, aye?”
“Here’s hoping,” Grant murmured, a twinkle in his eyes as they went to Lindsay.
Meanwhile, she tried not to blush.
“So all this time ye’ve been right here with us, Uncle Darach,” Rona said, coming to Lindsay's rescue as she winked at her then turned her attention to Darach. “What was it like in this other dimension ye found yerself?”
“Verra lonely,” Darach whispered, his eyes a little lost before he refocused. “’Twas devoid of color and scent. Even the temperature was never right. ‘Twas cold when it was clearly hot out and hot when ‘twas cold.” He frowned. “The only good thing was, for the most part, I never saw a warlock. Not until more recently when Milly first traveled back in time, and her ring started to act up. I think ‘twas that, the magic attached to these rings, that started to change my environment.”
Grant frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I began to see glimpses of color here and there and then...” His eyes went to Lindsay. “I saw you precisely as you are except your hair shined as did your eyes. You truly are verra beautiful, lass, not just in this world but all worlds I imagine.”
“Thank you,” she murmured as Conall squeezed her hand in what she suspected was agreement.
“’Twas verra difficult, Lindsay,” Darach confessed. “While I was drawn to you because I knew you could connect me with home, I also knew I didnae want my kin anywhere near where I was. I worried that at any moment, the warlock might get to one of you because I had somehow led it to you.” He frowned, clearly ashamed. “’Tis no easy thing being separated from your loved ones such as I was. To be right there yet not there at all.”
“You might be a great wizard, Son, but you are also a man.” Grant rested his hand on
Darach’s shoulder. “You did as any of us would have so dinnae be so harsh on yourself.” He sighed. “What worries me most is that you were right there the whole time and none of us sensed it. Most especially me or Adlin.” His troubled eyes went to the fire. “I knew we were dealing with powerful magic, but this is truly concerning.”
“Yet Conall and Lindsay defeated it,” Darach reminded. “As did Adlin and Milly.” Optimism lit his eyes. “Is there not hope in that?”
“There is,” Grant conceded. “But what I sensed before I woke only proves mine and Adlin’s theory is correct. Each warlock that comes is more powerful than the last.” His eyes went to Darach. “Because I suspect you only ever came across your warlock, aye?”
“Aye,” Darach said.
Grant nodded. “Which tells me ‘twas your warlock alone that kept you imprisoned.”
Lindsay shook her head. “So there are stronger warlocks still coming?”
“While we can hope not,” Grant murmured as his eyes flickered over Graham and Bryce. “I think ‘twould be prudent to expect as much.”
Graham’s eyes narrowed. “So ye and Adlin, the most powerful wizards born to Scotland, couldnae sense the magic this last warlock used on Darach for years and there might be more powerful beasties on their way?”
Bryce crossed his arms over his chest, a determined, heavy scowl on his face. “Let them come. Let them face my dragon.”
“A dragon ye havenae embraced since ye were a bairn,” Graham reminded. “Do ye even know how to become one anymore?”
“Och.” Bryce narrowed his eyes at Graham, his brogue so thick she barely caught a word. “Ye dinnae forget such a thing, ye bloody fool.” He shrugged. “But then ye havenae been around as much as usual these past few years to know I did shift at least once.”
Graham crossed his arms over his chest as well, met Bryce’s frown and was about to speak when Grant cut him off.
“You two can bicker later.” He shook his head at them. “Right now, we must remain focused on the warlock that was just defeated.” His eyes went to Conall and Lindsay. “More so, his last words to you.”
“Beware the Bruce’s new Queen,” Lindsay said softly. “She is promised, and she will ruin ye.”
“’Tis alarming that, aye?” Graham frowned. “Because did Robert the Bruce not claim yer friend Christina was promised to him and did she not say she dreamt the same, Lindsay?”
Not for the first time since she had heard the ominous words, a chill raced through her.
“So if we’re to go off the warlock’s words,” Bryce said, clearly confused. “Then we’re to assume we are to be wary of Christina then? Would she not be the one who is going to ruin us?”
“Warlock’s can turn words into riddles as swiftly as wizards can,” Grant muttered. “Best to simply keep a close eye on Christina and the sooner, the better.” A frown settled on his face. “Mayhap your other friend too, aye, Lindsay?” His wise eyes met hers. “Is she not the smallest of you and your friends?”
Lindsay didn’t follow where he was going with that. Not at first anyway.
“You can’t be serious.” Her eyes widened. “You can’t possibly think that the wee witch the warlock referred to is Jessie?” She shook her head. “I was in your room last night and saw the healer who took care of you and it certainly wasn’t her!”
Yet even as she said it, she recalled feeling a strong sense of familiarity.
“That’s impossible,” she whispered without meaning to. “Downright ridiculous.” Before anyone could get a word in edgewise, she continued. “The warlock said he came from her.” Lindsay narrowed her eyes at Grant. “Are you telling me my sweet little country bumpkin friend from upstate Maine, is sending warlocks after all of us to ultimately not only kill us, but to ruin Scotland’s history?”
“I dinnae know, lass,” he said softly. “All I do know is after we get Wallace out of here safely, ‘twould behoove us to keep a verra close eye on both Christina and Jessie.”
“What’s this about Christina and Jessie?” Milly said from the doorway as she and Adlin entered. Lindsay’s eyes whipped to the window. It was, in fact, as light out now as it had been when they saw everyone slaughtered. She swallowed hard and met Conall’s eyes.
It had been that close to happening.
Lindsay hugged Milly then caught them up on everything that had happened as Adlin and Darach reunited.
“I’m just so glad everyone’s okay,” Milly murmured as she gave Lindsay another big hug. “And that Adlin helped out even though we weren’t here.”
“Aye, ‘twas really just a premonition on my end,” Adlin said, clearly grateful as he eyed them all. “But one, it seems, that worked in everyone's favor.”
“And where were you guys again?” Lindsay asked.
“With Aðísla caught in some kind of limbo I guess.” Milly shook her head. “It seems the MacLomain’s Viking Ancestors are starting to connect with her and its messing everything up. Most specifically Adlin’s ability to time travel.”
“That isnae welcome news.” Grant frowned and shook his head. “Not with what lies ahead.”
“It is what it is,” Adlin said. “Nothing to overly worry about right now, old friend.” He smiled at Darach, Conall, and Lindsay, pleased. “Not when so much has been accomplished thus far, aye?”
“Aye,” Grant managed, a renewed gleam of pleasure in his eyes as they went to Darach though he spoke to Adlin. “Ye always were good at keeping me focused on the positive, Adlin.”
Adlin was about to respond when a child ducked in the front door, her eyes wide on all of them before she peeked out the window and whispered, “The Sassenach are coming.” Her eyes went wider still, and she started trembling. “Lots and lots of Sassenach!”
Chapter Twenty
“I CAN DO THIS.” LINDSAY looked from man to man. “Let me do this.”
Though tempted to forbid it, Conall knew better at this point. Lindsay could do this, and he had faith in her. “I have seen my lass enchant the Sassenach before. Let her do it again so we can buy William time to escape.”
“Speaking of Wallace.” Bryce frowned. “Has anyone seen him since last night?”
“Aye,” the little girl said before none other than William entered, still wearing his wig.
“They are entering town now,” he said softly. “There is no way out.”
“Mayhap,” Grant murmured. “Or mayhap not.” His eyes went to Lindsay. “Are you up to the task then, lass?”
She nodded with determination. “Absolutely.”
Proud of her, Conall squeezed her hand and nodded. “I willnae go far.”
And he meant that.
When Grant ordered everyone upstairs to wait with weapons ready, Conall shook his head, already anticipating his grandfather’s next move.
“I know you intend to stay in front of the fire looking feeble with Lindsay by your side,” he informed as he pointed to a table in the corner. “I will be passed out drunk over there.”
Grant shook his head. “They will take one look at your size and see a problem.”
“Not if I sit by his foot,” the little girl volunteered. “And say he’s my passed out da, aye? Would that not make him appear less threatening?”
Everyone looked at her with surprise. A ragged thing with a stubborn chin and defiant eyes, Conall already knew Lindsay liked her. She probably reminded her of herself at that age.
“’Twill be verra dangerous,” William said as he crouched in front of her. “Are ye sure, lassie?”
The little girl offered a shy smile. “’Tis no more dangerous than all the battling ye do for us, aye, Sir William Wallace?”
“It’s okay.” Lindsay looked at the girl fondly. “I’ll keep everyone safe. She can stay.”
“Yer verra brave, lassie,” William said to the girl. “What’s yer name, wee one?”
She leaned over and whispered in his ear.
When he murmured, “Is that right?” she nodded.
&nb
sp; “They’re nearly here,” Adlin said softly, looking out the window. “Let us go hide then.”
As everyone vanished upstairs, Conall cupped Lindsay’s shoulders and searched her eyes. “Stay safe, lass. If you think for a moment your enchantment isnae working give me a signal. Tap my shoulder to try and wake me, aye?”
“I will,” she assured, confident in her gift.
It was hard to allow her to put her life on the line like this, but he knew he had to do it. That she could handle it. He brushed his lips across hers and nodded before he patted Grant on his shoulder in passing then plunked down at a table in the corner. He tucked his weapons behind him out of sight and sprawled his upper half across the table, hiding the majority of his face behind his hair. The little girl sat at his feet as promised.
Less than a minute later the door opened, and men entered.
“Who goes there?” called out the first soldier as he scanned the tavern.
Lindsay, who had been sitting beside Grant, stood, her eyes warm and flirtatious as they met the man’s eyes. “Just my granda and I trying to keep warm on a cold winter’s morn, good sir.” She sauntered over, hiding behind her lashes, her accent very convincing. “Would ye and yer men like something to drink?”
“Aye,” he murmured, eying her up and down with appreciation. “And something more, woman.”
“Of course,” she said softly. “In due time.”
Their eyes held for a moment before he nodded and whispered obediently, “Yes, in due time.”
“We’re here in search of the rebel William Wallace,” said the man behind him as he looked around. “Have you seen him?”
“Och, nay.” She scrunched her nose and caught the eye of the other man as well. “If I had, you would know it right away.”
The man’s eyes lingered on hers, and his voice grew soft. “I would, wouldn’t I?”
“Oh, aye,” she assured as more and more men entered.
It didn’t take Conall long to figure out the only problem she was running into was that someone in charge hadn’t come in yet. That was the key. To control he who controlled the others.
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