Page 42 of Nyall

Making love in the morning always put Caroline in a wonderful mood. She never wanted to wake up alone again, which meant she needed to make some changes as soon as possible.

“I really like this cottage,” she told Nyall after she finished pulling on her wet suit. “It’s got everything I need to get by. Can I ask the laird if I can move in here?” When he didn’t reply she looked over at him. “I am allowed to talk to Connal directly, right?”

“You neednae.” His shoulders went rigid. “Living alone here, ’tisnae a good notion.”

Why was he acting like this now?

“Please don’t tell me I’m among friends at the castle, and it’s the only place where I’ll be protected, and the other girls from the future will be my friends,” she told him. “Last night is proof that I need my own place. I know you don’t understand this, but I’m a loner. I don’t do groups or friends or clans. You and Jamaran, you’re enough for me.”

He went to the window and looked out at the bay. “You cannae depend on us for all you want, my lady.”

The stiff way he said that suggested he might finally be having second thoughts about last night, so she went over and put an arm around him.

“You’re right. If you really want me there, then I’ll go back, I guess.” That was yet another compromise she didn’t want to make, but she could do that for his peace of mind. “I just hate being locked up in that place with everyone watching me all the time. Plus I think smuggling Jamaran in and out past the guards will be a pain. The only place with some privacy is the cottage here. You two also promised to train me, remember?”

Now he gave her an impatient look. “You speak of remaining with us. Yet you’ve said your greatest wish, ’tis returning to your time so you may seek vengeance against the lover who betrayed you. The laird shall hear any day from those who may help you go back. When the time comes, which shall you choose?”

Being reminded of Richard Ellis ruined her mood. She also didn’t appreciate being cornered on something she had yet to decide. “When I have to make a decision about that, you’ll be the first to know, okay?”

“Jamaran’s falling in love with you,” Nyall said as she walked away. “He denies such in his heart, but the affection, ’tis strong. I cannae give you that. Nor shall I take you as wife, and you’ve refused wed him.”

It hurt her to hear him say that, and that made her even angrier. “I only care about what’s happening right here, right now. Everything else doesn’t matter to me.”

“Indeed, ’tis plain what you wish.” He turned around to face her, his expression aloof. “Yet what life shall you live here should you stay, Caroline? We may fack in secret, the three of us, but ’tis no future for you. We shallnae grow old with you. We cannae give you bairns. You refuse make a place for yourself among the clan. You shall end alone and unprotected as you age and grow bitter. Must you continue deceive yourself that all you wish ’tis the here and now?”

“Okay. I get it.” She marched up to him. “You’re scared, and you’re trying to hide it by dumping all this crap on me. That’s fine. Take notes now, so you don’t forget what I say. If I stay in this time, I’ll live however I want. If Jamaran falls in love with me, that’s a problem he and I will handle. I don’t care if the two of you have to watch me turn into an old lady. I really don’t want kids. If you want to break up with me, that’s fine, too. I’ve been alone since I was a teenager, and I never expected that would change. Your clan doesn’t need me.” She finally met his gaze. “I thought you might.”

Nyall flinched. “No.”

“Okay, that’s settled.” She spread her hands. “See? All the problems of my future on your enchanted island are solved. Now, don’t you have a bunch of men waiting for you to order them around so you can tell yourself you’re worth something?”

He grabbed her, dragging her up against him as if he meant to kiss her breathless. He even bent his head as if that was the next way he wanted to hurt her. Then he released her and strode out of the cottage.

Caroline went back to the window and watched him wade out into the shallows and then disappear under the waves. “Guess I’m sailing the skiff back by myself.”

She dumped some water on the embers still glowing in the fireplace before she looked around and sighed. Nyall’s tough love talk hadn’t put her off the idea of living in this place. Walking out through the back door she saw what looked like an overgrown garden. She crouched down to pick some wild raspberries from an overgrown bush, and popped them in her mouth. The warm sweetness reminded her of her grandmother’s rice pudding, which she had always topped with berries.

I’ll be fine if I live here alone.

As a kid she’d helped her grandparents with their garden; she could clean up this one and plant some veggies. The bay was full of seafood for the taking, and no doubt Brochan would be happy to barter for whatever she couldn’t cook herself. In time she could probably work out similar deals with the villagers and get eggs, milk and maybe even some meat. Something plopped onto her hand, but when she glanced down her eyes went blurry.

Didn’t you realize you were crying, Parish?

“Damn it.” Caroline stood up and scrubbed the tears from her eyes with the heels of her hands. “I am not doing this, not with him. I’m fine. Better than fine.”

As she walked out to the dock she almost believed that.

After sharing the morning meal with his wife, Connal retreated to the laird’s chamber, where the clan’s scribe delivered a handful of message scrolls that had newly arrived. One, made of rendered bark rather than parchment, had been sealed with a triskelion, a triple spiral symbol indicating it came from the druid council on the mainland. He opened that one first and read the brief message inside, which contained the offer he’d hoped to receive, but also a condition.

Greetings to the most serene Laird MacMar,

Under the sweetness of peace and fairness of mind, the Council of Druids gathered and spoke on the matter of the visitor you related. We’ve no doubt the lady came from the future by Fae magic to your island, although we possess no means to reverse the spell. Our humility and earnest desire for peace, balanced by our thoughtful efforts in preserving the lineage of time, compels us agree with your request. As the female didnae choose come, she should return so she may again abide in her proper place in time, and we may provide assistance with such.

Before such efforts, we ask the Clan MacMar first capture and deliver the Cait Sith halfling whose portrait we’ve sent with our response. While the smallest of her kind, the halfling without remorse or hesitation tortured and slew our brothers and sisters and their bairns. Once you bring the killer, we shall return your visitor by our gateway. If such arrangements please you, send word when we may meet on the mainland.

Written at Montrose, the Kalends of May in the four thousand nine hundredth year of our rule.

“Fack me.” He rose from his desk and walked over to pitch the message into the hearth, where it caught fire with a small burst of magic and the scent of golden mistletoe; likely the druids had enchanted the scroll to burn itself had anyone but a MacMar attempted to read the message. He then regarded the detailed sketch of the halfling, who appeared nothing more than a young and innocent maiden.