“As well as for my superior swordplay.”
“That, too,” Nathaniel agreed.
Jamie only laughed. Nathaniel spared a wish that he had known Jamie in the past. He wasn’t unfond of Malcolm MacLeod—heaven knew he had slain enough Fergussonclansmen to satisfy the man—but there was something about Jamie that he supposed might never be repeated. He had certainly been legend enough in 13...
Well, whatever date that was. He didn’t dare even think it lest it decide to call for him.
“More whisky,” Jamie said, rising. “You’ll need it.”
Nathaniel imagined he would. He took the opportunity to look about the chamber where he currently sat. It was Malcolm’s private chamber, but he supposed that shouldn’t have surprised him. What did surprise him, however, was that he hadn’t noticed what was over Jamie’s desk.
It was a map.
Jamie was standing at that desk, filling glasses. “Come have a look.”
Nathaniel didn’t mind if he did. He rose and walked over to join his host. He studied the map for a moment or two, noting all the Xs scattered over what he was assuming were Jamie’s lands. He considered, then looked at the lord of the hall.
“And?”
“Gates,” Jamie said succinctly.
“To the past?” Nathaniel asked in surprise.
“Some are,” Jamie conceded. “Some are to other places.”
Nathaniel smiled until he realized Jamie was serious. “Other places?”
“Let’s just say that Elizabeth has forbidden any more trips to Barbados, not that I can find anyone willing to go with me after what my brother-in-law Zachary revealed about our last journey there.” He considered his own map. “It was startling at first, of course, to realize what my land contained.”
“Can anyone use these?” Nathaniel ventured. “Or are they your domain exclusively?”
Jamie looked at him and shrugged. “It depends, I suppose. Others have used them with a fair amount of success, but there has always been a need. I suppose the odd tourist who trespasses on my lands runs the risk of having more holiday than they bargained for, but that isn’t my worry, is it?”
“I don’t suppose it is.”
Jamie studied him. “Is your gate in the same place every time?”
Nathaniel frowned thoughtfully. “I hadn’t plotted it out exactly, but I know the general location of two of them. There’s one in front of my cottage door. The one Emma seems to use is near your cottage, in the forest there.”
“Do you ever think about going to the past when those gates are open?”
Nathaniel looked at the man standing next to him and could hardly believe they were having their current conversation. If he hadn’t been up to his eyeballs in the madness himself, he would have thought it absolute rubbish. Unfortunately, he knew better.
“I don’t think about anything in particular,” he said, shrugging. “They seem to be out of my control. I see a certain date, I feel the world shift, and I know that I’m being called to a different time.”
“A certain date we won’t voice aloud.”
“That might be best.” He looked at Jamie seriously. “How long will this go on, do you think?”
“Until your task is done, I’d imagine,” Jamie said. “I have no experience with your present business.”
“But these wee Xs all over that damned map of yours,” Nathaniel said, feeling faintly exasperated, “those were just things you had to go back to the past to put right? Did you make that decision or was the decision made for you?”
Jamie sighed deeply. “I’m afraid that might be the one thing I can’t answer properly.” He handed Nathaniel his refilled glass, then considered for a moment or two. “I’m going to tell you something, but I’ll slay you if you noise this about.”
Nathaniel didn’t doubt he would and leave it looking like a horrible kitchen accident. He resumed his seat because he thought that might be wise. He sipped on his whisky to keep himself busy as Jamie took his seat again as well.
“In the beginning,” Jamie began, “’twas simply a bit of sport. Seeking out gates and using them, that is. There was a fair bit of purpose behind it, I’ll admit that, for I had no mind to have my wife or bairns wandering out in the garden and disappearing.” He shot Nathaniel a look. “You might understand that now, I daresay.”
