“We will reach MacIntyre’s old hall by morning if we dinnae encounter any of them on the way.”
“Any of whom?”
“The MacIntyres. They aren’t fond of MacCleods.”
“Do any of the clans get on?”
“Only when fighting the English.”
They did not stop once through the night. Kerry managed to doze off on a couple of occasions but the movement of the horse brought her out of sleep all too soon and by the time the sun rose she was exhausted. “It’s there,” Callum said, pointing past her to the stone building in the distance.
“Where is everyone? The place looks deserted.”
“Remember what Fenella said? They’re all at the castle which is good news for us.”
Within a few minutes they were standing outside the hall. “This way,” Callum said, pulling open the door. “She said north corner on the left. I will bid you farewell here.”
“You’re not coming in with me?”
“The MacIntyres would start war if they found out I set foot in there.” Something flashed across his eyes but Kerry could not work out what it was.
“Oh. Then I guess this is goodbye.”
“Aye, lass. I thank you for your company and I wish you well in your own time.” He looked like he was about to say something else but then he turned and walked away, leading the horse by the reins, not looking back.
Kerry had wanted to say so much more to him before she went but it was as if her lips had become glued shut. There was too much trying to get out and it meant nothing managed it other than a sad sigh as she turned and walked into the hall.
She could tell which doorway it was. There was the same strange energy in the air that she’d felt when she awoke on the earthworks by the castle. The door was open. All she had to do was step through and she would be back in her own time.
She thought about what Fenella had said. This was her choice to make. Stay and risk something bad but also something good. Or go back home and risk Edward. She stood looking at the door and as she did so Callum’s face appeared in her mind, the way he had treated her in comparison to Edward. She took a deep breath and then made her decision.
