Even Emmy was content to let Scarlett do the talking.
“First, you didn’t want us here, then you clearly hadn’t planned on us meeting Hugh and Claire. Now you don’t tell us about Jameson before the threat is all too real.” She ticked off the points on her fingers. “So, what else is there? Because I’m willing to bet there is something more.”
Donell pursed his lips, disgruntled by her direct assault, but only scratched his balding pate irritably. No words, but the action spoke volumes. She was right. There was something else.
“Well?” she demanded. “What’s coming for us next? The Libyans and a bazooka?”
The old man sighed. “Jameson is the threat ye need to worry yerself wi’ and ye’d best be on yer toes wi’ him.”
Hugh shook his head in disgust. That dollop of information did nothing to appease him more than it did Scarlett. “That’s it?” he asked. “Nothing more? Not when he’s coming or how?”
Emmy snorted. “Since he’s apparently all-seeing and all-knowing. How does that work, by the way?”
Donell descended into stubborn silence once more and Scarlett’s frustrations grew. Perhaps Emmy had been on point that Donell and thehowsandwhysof his power were the issues they should have been addressing all the while.
“How about at least telling us how you know of him?”
“It willnae help ye, lass,” he groused. “Just steer clear of him for one more day and I’ll see ye home.”
“But what of Hugh and Claire?” Laird pushed, as unsatisfied by his vague reassurances as she. “What awaits them once we’re gone?”
“I will make sure they’re safe,” Donell swore though he offered no such guarantees for the rest of them.
Why would he, Scarlett wondered. When there was obviously much more than Donell was telling them. Was Jameson like Donell? The old wizard had claimed Jameson no longer had the power to move through time, so perhaps. But where did that power come from? How did it work? Why was Jameson so set on destroying them?
Was he destined to succeed?
Those were the questions needing answers. Everyone else must have agreed, they were all closing in on him.
As if he knew they were about to bombard him with more questions, Donell spoke up. “All will be revealed.”
Great, now he was quoting The Bible.
Before, she could hound him some more, Donell was gone. Scarlett turned to Laird.
“I will ne’er get used to that,” he sighed, running his fingers through his hair. “In my time, he’d be burned at the stake.”
“Ha, if you could catch him,” Emmy pointed out.
Claire looked up at Hugh. “What do you think he’s hiding?”
“Because clearly he’s hiding something,” Scarlett added. Hugh flattened his lips together, looking for all the world like Donell in that moment. God, did he know something more, too? “Hugh?”
“I dinnae ken,” Hugh said though his denial was unconvincing. “Everything? Nothing? We may ne’er ken.”
“I wish I at least knew how Donell knows this Jameson,” Claire frowned. “That might at least answer a few questions.”
“Will it?” he countered. “We ken we’ve all met Donell in our own lifetimes. Some of us for years, yet none of us kens how he could be everywhere through time.”
Connor nodded. “I get the feeling he’s…how hae ye put it before? Playing us?”
Yes, he was. Scarlett only wished she knew his endgame. Screw knowing too much about the future.
“Ugh,” she ground out. “I hate this.”
“One more day, lass.”
Laird took her in his arms, hugging her close. Scarlett pressed her cheek against his chest. Listened to the strong beat of his heart, drawing on his strength. On the patience she didn’t possess herself.
