“They are the ones we have waited for. Their time has finally arrived.” The door to Tamhas’s cave slammed open with a thud and bounced against the wall. The old man stood with both hands folded atop the polished knob of a twisted cane that stood nearly to his shoulders. A quivering smile split his grizzled beard as he looked past Gray’s shoulder. “My Nia,” he tenderly crooned. “I feared I would not live to see yer lovely face in this time ever again.”
Granny pressed a hand to the base of her throat and softly sobbed. A tear trailed down her wrinkled cheeks as she stood in place shaking her head. “My Tamhas,” she finally choked out with a trembling smile.
“Ye know these women?” Gray struggled to keep his voice tempered to a low roar. He turned his back to the irritated huff from Trulie. He did not relish the role of fool, and from where he stood, he was being well-fitted with that title. He wanted to know what the devil was going on and he wanted to know now. “Explain. Now.”
“Well, aren’t you the little moment killer?” Trulie’s vacant gaze snapped toward Gray. Her scowl reinforced her reprimanding tone as she groped for Karma’s collar. “I am freakin’ blind and I could tell they needed a private minute or two to reconnect. Would it have killed you to keep your mouth shut that long?” She finally latched onto the worn leather strap around Karma’s neck and leaned toward the dog. “Take me to Granny. I don’t like this guy.”
Gray promptly forgot all questions for Tamhas as he watched Trulie cross the clearing. He did not know where the woman had come from and at this very moment, he didn’t truly care. The way those trews molded themselves to the sightless beauty’s fine round arse chased all reason from his head. He widened his stance to accommodate the hardening ache in his crotch.
Tamhas’s quiet chuckle brought him back to reality.
Gray spun around and faced the grinning old man. “Explain this. Now.” He forced the words through his gritted teeth to keep from roaring them across the hillside. He did not appreciate the amusement dancing in the old man’s eyes. Tamhas had never been this happy. It was not natural.
Tamhas stepped out of the doorway with a graceful swing of his walking stick. He pointed a gnarled finger at a small stone cairn as he smiled tenderly at Granny. “The marker worked, me fine lass, just as ye said it would.” Then he tucked his chin and playfully waggled a finger. “Ye surprised me, love. Ye said she would come alone.”
Gray grabbed hold of Tamhas’s staff, stopping the old man in his tracks. “Do not err by continuing to ignore me, old demon.”
Tamhas faced Gray and bowed his head. “Forgive me, my chieftain. The excitement of reuniting with my love from so long ago has muddled my brain.” He tipped his head toward the pair of women standing behind the great black dog and the growling cat. “The answer to yer problems lies with that one there.” He aimed his staff at Trulie. “I assure ye, I hadna dared hope my love would join us at this time.” Tamhas’s smile widened and his beard trembled as a soft chuckle underscored his words. “But then again, who can predict all that Destiny has planned?”
Destiny.The word sent a chill down Gray’s spine, especially when Tamhas used it. He motioned to Colum. “Fetch the wagon to carry our guests to the keep. I prefer the safety of my own walls to learn of thisdestiny.”
CHAPTER7
Trulie kept her fingers buried in the depths of Karma’s thick ruff. The sweet dog’s presence comforted her. Helped her keep a firm grip on her wits. How could she have been so stupid? She knew better than to dive across the web with her eyes wide open. But the glowing stars streaming by like rivers of white lava always tempted her. Usually, she settled for a few quick peeks as they leaped across time. This time, she had watched the entire trip. She blew out a disgusted snort. Temporary blindness was her punishment for being greedy. She rubbed her cheek against Karma’s velvety ears. The dog leaned against her and responded with a sympathetic grumble.
After a heavy sigh, she straightened and ran her hand down the canine’s broad back. Granny might have sucked them into one of her biggest schemes of all times, but Trulie had to admit she had never heard so much emotion jammed in one word than when Granny had said, “Tamhas.” Years had fallen away from her grandmother’s voice. She had sounded like a young woman again. A young woman totally consumed by love.
Trulie shifted on the bench and leaned back against the cold stone wall. What kind of love lasted over so many years of separation? She counted backward. Almost fifteen years, to be exact. She trailed her hand across the wooden bench, taking in its texture. How could a love last across centuries? A twinge of jealousy nipped at her. She had never known a love like that.
A shuffling sound across the room pulled Trulie from her thoughts. “Who is there?” She squinted all around but saw nothing but a flannel-like mist. Holding her breath, she strained to pick up on every sound. She didn’t like this place. It smelled odd and there was too much of ... something ... permeating the very atmosphere. She shifted on the bench and smoothed her clammy palms up and down the gooseflesh prickling her arms.
As soon as they had helped her from the wagon and led her up the stone steps, an off the charts sizzling had filled her senses with—some. Hatred, maybe. Or betrayal. Definitely some jealousy. There was so much negative energy, she couldn’t nail all the emotions down. The place reeked with it.
She ran her fingers along the wall at her back. Stone. Rough chiseled edges fitted together with no discernible mortar. She curled her toes into the carpet. It felt…furry. A sense of revulsion filled her. This room’s decorator liked killing things and spreading their pelts on the floor.
A throat cleared.
She jumped and turned toward the sound. “It’s rude to sneak up on someone who can’t see.” Reaching for Karma, she rose from the bench and lifted her chin. Never. Show. Fear. Even when your innards felt like jelly.
“Ye have nothing to fear from me, young one. I would never cause ye harm.”
Tamhas. She relaxed somewhat and scanned the room until she found the bright cloud of undulating colors. There he was. The old man had the strangest aura she had ever seen. She wasn’t quite sure about him just yet. But if Granny trusted him, he had to be safe. She just wished her sight would hurry and return. She could always tell a person’s true spirit by reading their eyes. “Why aren’t you with Granny and Kismet? I thought you were going to help her get settled. I am sure a lot has changed after fifteen years.”
A calloused hand pressed up into hers. He led her gently across the room and settled her on a cushioned seat. This part of the room seemed warmer. She must be closer to the fire.
“Ye know yer grandmother, lass.” His chuckle filled the room, sounding like the deep ring of large brass wind chimes. “That woman needs aid from no one when her mind is set. She only needs my love.” A rough palm lightly patted the top of Trulie’s hand. “And this place is not so unknown to her. The fire portal has been her window to this world through the years.”
Trulie relaxed even more, allowing herself to trust him. It sounded like the man knew Granny to a tee. “Where are we? Or maybe I should say ‘when’ are we?”
“Ye dinna ken?” He sounded surprised.
“Well ...” She swept her hair back from her face and edged closer to the warmth coming from her right. That had to be the hearth. She wouldn’t mind getting closer to the fire. A damp chill filled the room. “I know where I was aiming, but I just wanted to make sure I hit the right year. I have never led a leap across so many centuries.”
“The twentieth of February in the year 1247.” Tamhas patted her hand again. “And I dare say the earthquake ye caused was felt from shore to shore and will be recorded by every monk possessing a quill.”
“Sorry.” She reached toward the heat of the fire, rose from the cushions, and edged closer. Stone floor now. And it was warmer. “For some reason, I have never been able to control my entry like Granny does.” She turned and backed up until the blaze warmed her nicely through her jeans. “I think it’s because she rarely lets me jump as the beacon.” In fact, she could count on one hand the times Granny had allowed her to lead any leaps across the continuum’s web.
“Hmm,” was Tamhas’s only reply.
