Highland Persuasion (The MacLomain Series- Early Years) (22 page)

“Well, why not lad?”

Ferchar blinked, clearly uncomfortable.
“Because you’re already there.”

Iosbail was about to tell him what she thought of that when an old man appeared at the edge of the forest. Stunned, she watched as he made his way in their direction. It took no magic to know who he was. Though elderly he still possessed the same all-consuming, arrogant presence he always had.

Adlin.

When at last he stood before her they studied one another for several moments before he said, “I forgot how beautiful you were.”

“And I would’ve never imagined you so shriveled!” Iosbail huffed. “What is the meaning of this, Adlin? Why am I in this time?” She narrowed her eyes. “What have you done now?”

It seemed for a moment he wanted to touch her cheek but did not. “Even then we didnae have the warmest of relationships, aye?”

Iosbail was surprised by the sadness in his voice. Though it was true he drove her mad most of the time she still loved her brother. But now was not the time for such talk. “I need answers.
I dinnae travel alone.”

Adlin’s eyes went to the others fondly. “I well remember Shamus and Caitriona. Good to see you again.”

Though both nodded they were clearly confused. After all, they’d never met him.

Adlin turned to Ferchar.
“Back to the castle now.
They are here for me.”

Ferchar frowned but said nothing. It was only when he and his men had vanished back the way they’d come that Adlin said, “Your nephew will remember none of this.”

“So we’re not where we’re supposed to be, aye?” she asked.

“Nay.”
Adlin again looked at the others. “I needed this reprieve to explain things.”

“I’ve no time for this. We’ve got to get back to Alexander.”

“There is another who needs your assistance far more than him.”

Iosbail felt a chill run through her. Here she spoke to her brother far in the future. It stood to reason he knew precisely what had happened to Alexander.

“Tell me what happened to the Sinclair,” she said softly.

“’Tis not my place to tell.”

Incredulous, Iosbail said, “’Tis entirely your place. Wasn’t it you who took away my magic when I traveled to his time?”

“And wasn’t it I who asked you not to go to begin with?”

It took everything she had not to slap him. “Had I not gone to begin with it stands to reason I wouldn’t be here to help you
now.
”

“Exactly!”
Adlin grinned. “See, it all worked out quite well.” He brushed away her next words. “You will get your answers about the Sinclair laird but they willnae come from me, lass. Well, at least not this version of me.”

Iosbail was about to respond but Adlin turned away, his blue eyes cutting to Caitriona. Her eyes rounded when he took her hands and said warmly, “I’m so glad you’re here, lassie. I imagine you’ve been looking for Alan Stewart.”

“Well, I’ll be,” Shamus murmured.

“Aye!”
Caitriona’s eyes watered. “Is he here then?”

“Aye!”
Adlin said, merry. “And he’ll soon be in need of your help.”

“I need to see him. Make sure he’s well. My dreams put him in great danger.”

“Indeed.” Adlin smiled, quite pleased. “We’ve a short distance to travel then you’ll be able to see him.”

Iosbail cursed her brother. The lad was up to no good. He had a plan and she suspected that it would be trying on the poor lass. Anything to do with Adlin tended to be trying.

“Come,” Adlin said. “We’ve a small walk to the Defiance.”

Iosbail had found it curious they hadn’t traveled here through it to begin with.

“So it still works in this time?” Iosbail asked.

“Aye, but not nearly as well as it once did.”
A glint of sadness entered his eyes. “The windows of the gods have faded.”

“So you pulled us through time without it?” Iosbail narrowed her eyes. “Your powers have grown.”

“As my powers grow my body weakens. ‘Tis the way of things I suppose.”

Iosbail walked alongside him and the others followed. “Your appearance alarms me, brother. As does what I’m told of mine.”

Adlin shook his head. “Though I know you willnae believe me it saddened my heart to bring you to this time, to have you see what would become of me.”

“I dinnae ken,” she said.

“I found my true love.
A lass
named Mildred.” Adlin smiled fondly.
“Beautiful girl.
Like me she’s now old but our love is just as strong.”

What was he getting at? Then it occurred to her.

“It was finding her, your true love, that began a slow aging process,” Iosbail murmured.

“Only true love can do such to those like us,” Adlin said softly.

Iosbail’s heart skipped a few beats. “Ferchar said I am an old woman in this time.”

“Aye.”
Adlin put his arm through hers as they walked. “And does that sadden you?”

“Aye!” she replied. “Who wants to grow old?”

“So you’d rather die in battle young?” he said, a devious gleam in his eyes.

“I’d rather have had the choice.”

“Well, it seems you chose love above all else.”

“Foolish. When did I make such a choice?” Even as she said it Iosbail realized what he implied. In her long existence the choice to die in battle hadn’t been hers. She was immortal.

Except when in the Hebrides.

She stopped short, eyes wide and shook her head.
“Nay!”

“Aye,” Adlin
said,
his wise eyes compassionate.

“I dinnae love the Sinclair!”

Shamus chuckled.

“Nay!” she repeated and kept walking.

“You’re about the same age as me in this time,” Adlin said.

Iosbail scowled. She refused to believe it. “Alexander is my enemy.”

Her brother shrugged. “So you say.”

“I’ll be without me magic again. There will be another moment I’ve no magic.
Another man.”
Even as she said it Iosbail found not only the odds but the very idea unfavorable. “Or there will be another reason for my aging.” She cast a near paranoid glance Adlin’s way. “I’ve no real way of knowing I’ve aged now save the word of you and Ferchar.”

Adlin shook his head. “You’ve the gift. Was Ferchar lying?”

Iosbail knew without doubt that he hadn’t been. But that didn’t mean Adlin wasn’t up to some sort of trickery. She glanced over her shoulder at Shamus. “You’ve seen the lot of us together. Tell me brother ‘tis not possible.”

Shamus grinned. “I wouldn’t know, me lassie. Half the time I was high with fever.”

“Aye, ye’d know! There’s not but battle betwixt me and yer laird.”

The Irishman winked. “Sometimes the battle is half the fun when it comes to matters of the heart.”

“’Tis a bloody good way to turn the heart sour,” she retaliated and turned her attention back to Adlin. “This time your meddling goes too far, brother.”

Adlin ignored her discontent and nodded ahead to a jagged rock that sat in the woods. It hadn’t changed much in over a century. Scattered around the globe, the Defiance was one of many attached to the original Highland Defiance in northern Scotland. All were interconnected portals in which those with magic could travel. While the Defiance in northern Scotland was huge the other Defiances came in many forms. This one was nothing more than a weather-worn carving in the side of rock that while overgrown had once been part of the mountain hundreds of feet away.

Adlin, slightly winded, leaned against the rock and said, “We will not be able to go far through this Defiance but ‘tis better for you to travel this way.”

“Why when you brought us through with your own magic?” Iosbail asked.

“Because it will be your magic that carries us, not mine. My kin here should not sense this magic. ‘Tis not part of their journey.”

“Your kin?”
Iosbail asked. “But
I
am kin!”

Adlin shook his head. “There are too many in this time who would question.
Ferchar, Iain and William and so many more.”

“Well what of me, then?” she asked, eyes rounded. “Why has the future version of
myself
not been here all along?”

A mischievous grin lit Adlin’s face. “You decided against it. The idea of changing your past appalled you, dear sister.”

“Appalled me? I find that hard to believe.”

“Would you if it kept you from your true love?” Shamus interjected.

Iosbail scowled. “If it meant I wouldn’t age, aye!”

Adlin chuckled. “Then the battle you fight now is not with the Sinclair but with you yourself, lass.”

“I’ve a mind to have you take me to the castle now,” she said.

Caitriona shook her head.
“Nay, my lady.
Please. Alan.”

With a heavy sigh she glanced from the Norman lass to the rock. All along she’d suspected the lass had a purpose. Even if her brother had helped the pieces fall into place, Iosbail’s feelings about the girl were stronger than ever.

“You know the right of it, Iosbail,” Adlin said, so softly she barely heard. “She has a destiny.”

While they all watched her expectantly, Iosbail found herself reflecting on the last words Alexander had mouthed.
“Take care of your lady.”

As infuriated as she’d been with him for sacrificing himself, she’d been amazed at his concern for others at such a moment. She thought about the way he’d saved the Norman lass on the ledge. Aye, it’d been his decision to go that way but one he would’ve clearly died for. He would’ve never allowed Caitriona to fall without going over himself. Then there was the way he’d treated her after. Holding her and saying how sorry he was. While angry at him for putting them in the danger to begin with, Iosbail couldn’t help but admire his compassion towards the lass afterwards.

Her eyes locked with Caitriona’s as she contemplated. Emotional, the lass said, “Please, my lady. I need to know he’s well.”

Iosbail remembered the way she’d saved Shamus’s life. Could it be her gift was needed again?

When she looked at Adlin he nodded.

So that was it. Whoever Alan Stewart was he needed Caitriona’s gift of healing.

“Does she need me along then?” she asked Adlin.

“You know that better than I.”

She glanced in the direction of the castle to where she knew her elderly version resided. Shamus and Adlin would see Caitriona safely to where she needed to go. Meanwhile, Iosbail could make her way back and speak with the other Iosbail. She could find answers beyond what Adlin was willing to give, so many answers and perhaps a way to keep from aging.