“Ye know pacing the halls isn’t going to bring my nephew here any sooner,” Uncle Finlay’s voice booms through the hall as I pace back and forth through the second floor.
I stop and turn to find him leaning up against the wall with his shoulder, his arms folded across his chest. Those golden eyes fixed on me.
Finlay Black is a handsome man, but I wouldn’t try him. He’s likely to knock your head off. I’ve seen his temper flare.
“I didn’t see ya there. Am I making too much noise?”
“Not at all. I came to find ye to see if ye’ve eaten.”
“No, I haven’t. Have ya heard from Cole?”
“Not yet. I’m sure he’ll turn up soon. The lad has a lot on his plate. Give him time.”
“Maybe I should head back home,” I murmur.
“Och, not at all. Ye are welcome here. I believe Cole was right in having ye come here.”
“Is there anything I can help ya with to keep me mind busy?”
“Come have a sit with me,” he says with a smile.
I stand, wringing my hands. It dawns on me this man might be one of the only people who can give me real answers right now. Nodding to myself, I follow him downstairs.
“What’s on ye mind, Deja. I can hear the wheels turning,” he says as we get to the study, and he sits in front of the chessboard.
I take the seat across from him and think of what I want to ask first. He sets the board for a new match as he waits me out. I don’t want to ask the wrong thing and have him shut me down before I can get any answers at all.
“How about this? I will fill in some blanks and ye can go from there,” he says with a warm smile as he gestures for me to take the first move.
I make a move and listen as he begins. “Yer mother asked me to bring ye to Scotland to yer great-gran. She didn’t tell me where she was going or when she would send for ye.
“I got the feeling she wouldn’t be returning to Scotland herself. Yer mum was a special woman. She wanted ye safe.”
“From what?” I cut him off.
“There are some bad people out there who would love to hurt yer mum. They would just as soon hurt ye to get to her. Yer great-gran and uncles are powerful people in our world, and they wouldn’t allow anything to happen to ye.
“I believe that’s why she left ye in their charge. That and Ewan has certain skills that I ken have come in handy for ye,” he says.
“All the training.”
“Aye.”
“What does any of that have to do with Cole? Why didn’t he know where to find me? Why did he think I was missing?”
“Ye play a way bigger role than ye ken in something that hasn’t been revealed to ye yet. Yer importance to Cole has shaped a lot over the years.
“It was best he didn’t know where ye were. He has Da’s temperament. Things wouldn’t have gone as they should had Cole known where to find ye.”
“Okay, say I follow ya and all yer saying. What has changed?”
“A lot. Da’s death made a lot of people bold. The plan was coming into alignment. The time was already nearing for him to find ye.”
“Does anyone around here give straight answers anymore?”
“Ye will have all the answers ye need when the time is right,” he says and smiles. “Checkmate.”
I groan and shake my head. I can’t focus on the game and deciphering his words. My heart sinks as I think of my next question.
