Page 42 of A Matter of Time
“I usually order takeout, so the refrigerator is nae verra well-stocked, although I think Angelina did bring some food over with her this morning.”
“Let me see what I can rustle up.” Jayson headed to the refrigerator and started pulling items out. Next, he opened the cabinets and retrieved a few more jars and cans. “You’ve got plenty here to cook something. “You wanna give me a hand Zeke?”
“Sure.” Zeke headed into the kitchen and between the two of them, they found managed to prepare what Jayson called “breakfast for dinner.”
“I’m guessing Angelina was planning to make you guys breakfast tomorrow, so that’s now become tonight’s dinner.”
“I’ve got it!” Wade announced. “I’m in. I’ll log onto the internet and we’ll have the info we need in no time.” Nick came to stand behind Wade and peeked over his shoulder while he retrieved an image of the castle on Angelina’s computer. “I’ll bet I can get the building plans. When Granger remodeled, he would’ve had to file for permits with the city.”
Nick was beginning to think he might be the luckiest man in San Francisco. He wouldnae be able to do any of this, without this group of men. His team. They were proving to be so much more than that. “I’m grateful to each and every one of ye fer yer help. Zeke, I’ve been wantin’ to speak with ye about becoming a partner in the martial arts school.”
Zeke appeared stunned at this announcement.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a while and even took the liberty of having papers drawn up. I’ve been holding onto them, waiting for the appropriate time to speak with ye about it. Now, with all that’s happening, I’m nae too sure I’ll be here after tomorrow. I may be able to return home and so I’d like to have a plan in place that would put ye in charge of the school. First thing tomorrow morning, I’ll take the prize check to the bank, it’s to be used for all the repair work that needs to be done.”
Zeke seemed humbled by Nick’s announcement. “You’d really do that for me?” Zeke asked, his voice choked with emotion. “No one’s ever given me a chance like this before. I won’t let you down.” He threw his arms around Nick and crushed him in a hug.
“I’ll be counting on the rest of ye as well, to help him as best ye can.” Nick gently disentangled himself from Zeke. The warmth he felt for these four men was not easy for him to put into words, but he hoped they knew he respected each of them and valued their friendship.
“Foods up!” Jayson called. They all grabbed a plate and helped themselves to eggs, bacon and hash browns. “I made coffee, too. I thought we might need to stay awake a while longer, so we can make a plan.”
“Good thinking,” Nick said in acknowledgement. “And good food.”
As they ate, Wade found the information he’d been searching for and before long, had the blue prints to the castle on the computer screen.
“Eat, Wade. We’ll look at those in a minute.” Zeke shoved a plate at Wade. “Get some food and sit down with us.”
Nick was reminded of his brothers, Rory and Duncan, who were always ready to help at a moment’s notice. These men were not brothers by blood, but they were brothers just the same and he was proud of them. They had won their battles today and they were determined to help him win the freedom of his friends. That was, if in fact, they were with Malcolm. He hadnae stopped to think of any other scenario, but as the thought popped into his head, he quickly dismissed it, knowing intuitively exactly where they were. He just prayed nae harm had come to them.
Chapter 21
Aknockat the door had Nick leaping to his feet. The sun hadn’t even risen yet, and already it had begun. Zeke, who was also awakened by the loud knocking, held his hand up to Nick, signaling that he would get the door. Nick positioned himself to one side, where he wouldn’t be seen when Zeke opened the door.
“Give this to Nick Mackall.” Dane Smith, one of Malcolm’s henchmen, thrust an envelope in Zeke’s face. “I’ll wait for his answer.”
“Then you’ll wait out there,” Zeke announced, slamming the door in Smith’s face.
He handed the envelope to Nick, who tore it open and read the note.
“What’s it say?” Zeke asked.
“It’s as I expected. He wants me to take him back to the sixteenth century, help him find the Twin Sword and then return him safely to his own time.”
“Twin Sword? What’s that?” Wade questioned. The others had woken and crowded around Nick as he stared at the note.
“There’s a tradition – or perhaps I should say – therewasa tradition. When a new Catholic monarch was crowned, one who showed deference to the Catholic Church, they received the gift of a sword that had been blessed by the Pope. King James the fourth received just such a sword from Pope Julius the second, along with another that the Pope knew nothing about. This second sword came to be known as the Twin Sword because it was identical to the first in every way but one – ’twas not blessed by the Pope, but infused with dark magick by an unknown sorcerer. It is said that the man or woman who possesses the Twin Sword will unleash unbelievable powers - powers that will allow them to rule the world. King James was verra wary of the power of this second sword. Fearing its dark magick, he chose to lock it away until he found a way to destroy it. He wanted nothing to do with it, as he believed anyone using it would become a slave to its power and to the sorcerer who created it.”
“The Pope sent him both swords and didn’t know it?” Jayson sounded as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Nae. Somewhere between Rome and Edinburgh, the Twin Sword appeared in the same box containing the Pope’s gift along with an unsigned note from its creator,” Nick explained.
“What happened to the Twin Sword, after James decided he didn’t want it?” Zeke asked.
“King James hid it away in a rock vault, somewhere on the Campbell Clan’s land. Before he could find a way to destroy it, James himself died and his infant son, James the fifth, ascended to the throne. Regents ruled in the bairn’s place, until the boy was old enough to rule himself, but by that time, everyone involved in hiding the sword had died and since no one knew where it was, it was soon forgotten. I’m surprised Malcolm even knows of its existence.”
“I’m not. He has a reputation for searching out and acquiring very rare treasures,” Wade said.
“We cannae let him get his hands on it.” Nick began to pace back and forth across the living room. “Open the door,” he suddenly announced.
