“I want ye wi’ me, Noah. I do. But we cannae ken what’s out there. If I dinnae return, I need tae ken ye’ll be here tae look after the family.”
“We could all go.”
Taran and Noah turned as one toward Paige’s voice.
“I thought ye were inside, Love,” Taran muttered. “Nae. I’m afraid we cannae all go. No’ yet, at least. No’ until we assess the danger we’ll be facin’. Until we do, we cannae risk the physical strain on Emily if this doesnae turn out as we hope. ’Twould be too much for her. And I cannae focus on what I need tae do tae find The Keeper if I’m worried about the safety and well-being of my family. Emily and Brody need ye here, Paige. And Noah, I need tae ken ye’re watching over all o’them.”
“You can’t go alone,” Noah pressed.
“Aye. I willnae. Finn is going wi’ me.”
“Finn?”Noah gasped.He’s taking the blacksmith?
“Aye. Like ye, he was ripped from his family when he landed here. He’s been alone since, yearning, mourning for them. If no’ for Finn, Paige and I wouldnae have survived our first year. He’s been a loyal friend tae us. If the stories are true, if portals exist, I owe him this chance to reunite wi’ his family. And I’ll welcome the added protection along the way.”
“That changes nothing,” Noah said through gritted teeth. “He’s welcome to come or stay. I don’t care. But I’m going. As I said before, with you or by myself. That part, I suppose, is up to you.”
Paige laid a hand on Taran’s arm. “With you, please. I need to know you’ll both be safe. Finn, as well. You’ll be stronger together. I want to go with you, desperately, but I have to agree that Emily’s safety comes first. I’ll ask Wilma to come and stay with us while you’re gone. She’ll be a help to me, a comfort to Emily, and Brody adores her. And she can go to the village for help if we need it. Aiesha will help, too. She’s been coming by regularly to check on Emily and bring her teas she thinks might help.”
Taran glanced from Paige to Noah. “It seems I’ve no choice. ’Tis settled then. Gather what ye’ll need, Noah. Finn will be here by full sun.”
Noah tightenedthe strap across his chest that secured his pack, glad the arguments were over and they were finally taking action. He wished they had more to go on than hearsay and rumors to discover if The Keeper was more than just a myth. It was hard to gamble Emily’s life on something so insubstantial. But his hopes that she might recover on her own dwindled more every time he looked at her.
He’d knelt beside her just minutes ago, brushed the damp curls from her forehead and spoke softly to her, trying to explain that he’d be gone for a few days, but she’d barely responded.
Speaking, focusing, engaging, seemed to rob her of what little energy she had. He’d come away more determined than ever to do whatever it took to find The Keeper and convince him to grant them access to a portal. “I’ll be back for you,” he’d promised Emily. “And take you to a place and people that can help you feel better.”
He’d kissed her forehead, grateful to find it cooler this morning, and whispered, “I love you. I’ll be back before you know it.”
She’d opened her eyes, her beautiful blue eyes, now a shocking contrast to the paleness of her skin. “…love you,” she mouthed.
He knew he’d carry those words in his heart every moment he was away from her, using them to harden his resolve to do whatever was required to get her the help she needed.
Whatever it took!He vowed. He would not lose Emily, too.
“Ready?”
Noah turned to see Taran tuck his dirk into his boot. He’d heard the story of Taran’s friend, Will, sneaking the coveted dirk into his pack when Taran parted from what remained of The 79 Jacobites at Wickham’s ranch. He’d heard Taran recount tales of his fellow ghosts on Culloden Moor, the centuries trapped there, and the wee witch Soncerae’s sacrifice to give them all a second chance. He’d heard the tales so often he couldn’t question them, or the existence of magic in the coexisting worlds, familiar and unfamiliar. How could he question it, when he and Emily had been swept away by it themselves?
He only wished he knew if the particular magic they’d been caught up in was good or evil. And even more, which of those realms The Keeper’s magic, and his purported daughter, adhered to.
“Yes. I’m ready.” He gestured toward his small collection of weapons. The bow and arrows he hunted with. The finely crafted knife Taran and Paige had given him for his birthday the second year he was here. The snares he used for small game. His flints for starting a fire.
“’Tis good,” Taran nodded. “Paige is putting together a small pack of food. We’ll hunt for what else we need. And we?—”
“Top of the mornin’ to ya,” Finn called as he came around the corner of the house, his Irish brogue as crisp as the morning air.
“Welcome,” Taran called, eyes shifting to the long fur-wrapped bundle Finn carried.
When he came close enough, Finn shoved the bundle at Taran. “For you, as thanks for this opportunity. And mayhap a bit of self-preservation. We should avail ourselves of all the helpful tools we can, aye?” he winked.
Puzzled, Taran unwrapped the bundle, gasping at the prize inside. Noah’s reaction echoed Taran’s when he pulled the gleaming sword from its leather sheath.
“What?” Taran exclaimed. “How?”
Noah didn’t miss the admiration gleaming from Taran’s eyes as he examined the blade and tested its balance. “’Tis magnificent. But...”
“I’ve been collecting bits of steel for a fair while now, as ye well know,” Finn remarked, a twinkle in his eye. “I couldn’t imagine a finer use for it. Besides,” he flashed a grin, “it gives me peace of mind knowing ye’ve got somethin’ handy to keep my backside safe.”
