There was still one piece missing from the keystone. One vital piece that, when the stone finally came together, would allow the bearer to become powerful and control all of Time.
Unfortunately, Bruce was unable to secure the pieces in his own time and now he was stuck in the past with his war-mongering clan.
He’d walked for miles over the course of several days. He had had no food and only found water from nearby streams. He had spent the nights sleeping on the ground or in a farmer’s barn, making sure to be gone at the first light of day. When he had arrived at the keep, he was bone weary, dirty, hungry, and not in the best of moods.
But heading to MacDonald’s stronghold was the only idea he had had after landing in the fourteenth century. They took him in, albeit reluctantly.
It had taken some convincing that he was from the future. When he told them of the Night of Shadows and the Shattering, they started to believe. When he told them he knew what power the ancient great axe held, they were convinced. When he told them he knew where to find two of the pieces of the keystone, they allowed him to live. Rory’s son, Rufus, was the one whoaccepted him fully, proclaiming the Descendance Prophecy had finally come to fruition. It stated a man from the future, a descendent, would arrive to help them in their quest to find and acquire all three pieces of the ancient keystone.
These medieval warriors believed Bruce was the one.
He accepted that because he wanted revenge on the man who stood between him and Chloe. Most of all, he wanted that keystone. He understood the power it held, even if it wasn’t fully intact. He suspected Chloe’s sister was also here in the past with her piece. He also suspected Chloe was hiding in Dundale Castle with the MacLeod brothers and her sister.
If he got his hands on the two pieces, he could put them together. Granted, the magic within the stone wouldn’t work fully without the third piece, but at least his ancestors would see the true beginning of its power.
“We cannae march upon Dundale. MacLeod will be expecting that,” one of the men shouted.
“Our forces are weakened. We havna the numbers we did,” another added.
“Aye, we dinnae, but we have something else. We have him.” Rory pointed to Bruce.
It was unsettling, seeing the piercing gaze of the man who would murder innocents in their beds and raze villages.
All turned to him, staring at him and waiting for him to say something. While he listened to the men argue over who was going to do what and when, he formulated a plan while drinking their watered-down ale. He was remembering his history. He had a passing interest in great tales of medieval kings and knew a thing or two about them.
“Och, how can he help us?” one of his men asked.
Bruce may not be a military man or a strategist, but he could fake it. “I have an idea. And I think it will work.”
When he paused too long, Rory barked, “Out with it then.”
“You can use that great axe of yours to split the fabric of Time. Then we march the army through the portal to Dundale,” he began.
Rory huffed. “We cannae attack that castle. MacLeod has it well-fortified.”
“We aren’t going to attack,” Bruce said, his voice calm and sure. “We’re going to be a distraction. You only need half your army for that.”
The laird’s gaze narrowed. “Aye? Go on.”
“Surely you have mercenaries you can hire for a fair sum,” Bruce said, clutching his tankard tighter. Gambling. He was gambling with his life and others.
“Aye,” he agreed slowly. “And?”
“Dundale sits on a loch. The back of the castle faces that loch. Send the mercenaries to swim through the loch, then use siege ladders or ropes or whatever means you have necessary to scale the castle walls. With the men busy at the front trying to defend their walls, it is a prime opportunity to find and take the women,” Bruce said. Then, he added, “And the pieces of the keystone you seek.”
“How do ye ken it will work?” His eyes narrowed with suspicion.
“I don’t. You’ll have to trust me.” And, he prayed itwouldwork.
Silence descended on the great hall as they all gaped at him, likely thinking he was some sort of mastermind. He hoped they accepted that ruse because he didn’t want to lose his head over something that might not work.
Finally, Rory nodded. “Rufus, hire the mercenaries. Pay them whatever they want.”
“Aye, Da. It will be done.”
As Bruce sipped his watered-down ale, the men went back to planning their ruse. All he had to do was keep his head on his shoulders and in the good graces of these barbarians. When they had captured Evie and Chloe and the two pieces of the keystone, then he’d return to the future. Then he’d be the powerful one.
CHAPTER 21
