Page 58 of A Matter of Time
Angelina slept fitfully that night, her dreams haunted by images of Richard trapped in an unfamiliar place. He called to her, but she couldn’t seem to reach him. He was searching for a way to escape, but there didn’t seem to be any. When she woke, Angelina was utterly exhausted. In her dreams, she had spent the entire night trying to get to Richard. She’d ridden down paths, through forests, down more paths, up hills, across rivers and still she couldn’t find him. She’d searched everywhere, calling his name, but he’d never answered. She experienced a heightened sense of urgency when her feet hit the floor. Throwing on her dirty tournament clothes, Angelina knew she had to convince Nick that there was something very wrong. She opened the door to her chamber and headed across the passageway to Nick’s. The door opened just as she was about to knock.
“Angelina, we must leave. Something is wrong.” The usually upbeat Nick, who took nothing seriously, appeared more disturbed than she had ever seen him before. He took her by the arms and practically shouted at her. “Richard is in trouble. He needs us.” Letting go of her, he brushed past her and hurried down the stairs.
Lady Catherine was waiting for them as they descended the last few steps. “Did we all have the same dream?” She searched their faces, as if searching for some sign to ease her worry. “Something is very wrong. You must save him from whatever danger has befallen him.”
Angelina took a deep breath and tried to collect her thoughts and calm herself for Lady Catherine’s sake. “I believe we did have the same dream. Nick?”
“Aye. Richard is in trouble. I dinnae ken his whereabouts, but we must find him. We’ll leave immediately.”
“I have the stable boys preparing your horses and the kitchen staff are preparing food for your journey. Please don’t let anything happen to Richard. Please.” Lady Catherine, who had seemed so poised and calm the night before, was practically in a panic this morning.
“We’ll find him,” Angelina said, trying to reassure Richard’s mother, almost as much as she was trying to reassure herself.
Edward rushed down the stairs. “I’m going with you.”
“Edward, please stay here with me. I wish no harm to come to you.” Lady Catherine grabbed hold of her youngest son’s sleeve.
“I must go, Mother. I will take care and return to you unharmed. I promise.” Lady Catherine had latched onto his hands now and Angelina could see she wasn’t willing to let go.
“Don’t worry,” Angelina said. “We’ll take very good care of him. Something tells me we’re going to need his help.”
“Aye. The lad will be fine with us. We’ll see to it. When the situation Richard finds himself in is resolved, we’ll all return.” Nick gently kissed Lady Catherine on the cheek and squeezed her hands reassuringly.
Angelina did the same and then Edward crushed his mother to him in a fierce hug. “Don’t worry, Mother. We’ll find him and bring him home.”
The horses awaitedthem in the courtyard, and they mounted and prepared to leave. Edward had assembled his men, leaving some behind to safe guard the castle. Lady Catherine watched from the doorway, clutching a handkerchief to her lips. Angelina could see how worried Lady Catherine was and wished more than anything to ease her of that burden. The only way to accomplish that would be to ensure Richard was safely returned to her and his home.
“We’ll make this trip, much the same way we came here, Angelina,” Nick said. He seemed worried about whether Angelina could make it, and she had to admit – her thighs and back were aching from all the riding – but she shook her head resolutely.
“Don’t worry about me. I can handle anything if it means Richard will be saved.” She kicked her horse into a gallop and the men followed swiftly on her heels.
They soon left the bucolic English countryside behind and headed for the Scottish Highlands. Angelina couldn’t fathom how, but they seemed to instinctively know where they were going without question or thought. And for now, she was willing to go with her gut instincts, especially considering Nick seemed to be thinking exactly the same thing.
Sullen and irritable, Richard rode beside Malcolm Granger, who was chatting happily about finding the Twin Sword and how it would give him the power he had always deserved. “We’re getting closer. According to my map, we’ve crossed onto Campbell land and should be at the mouth of the rock vault holding the sword before sundown.” He sounded gleeful and Richard wanted to wipe that smile from his face more than anything.
“Finding the vault will do you no good, if you have no way to gain entry,” Richard observed with some satisfaction.
“Don’t you worry, Jefford, I brought a little something along that will guarantee my entrance.” Malcolm was humming cheerfully as he rode further ahead and Pierce took up his vacated position next to Richard.
“What is he talking about? Is he out of his mind?” Richard didn’t expect an answer, but Pierce gave him one anyway.
“Not at all. We brought some explosives from the twenty first century. Malcolm had everything ready and waiting when we ran after you that night. He shouldn’t have any trouble at all getting that sword. And then, you, of course, will see to it that we return home.”
“I keep telling you, returning you to San Francisco isn’t up to me. That eventuality won’t be an issue, however, as the people here will never allow you to get your hands on the Twin Sword.”
“They will. We’ve got you as a hostage, which means they’ll do whatever we tell them to do,” Pierce smirked.
Laughter bubbled up from Richard’s chest. “You fools. I’m the worst hostage you could possibly have taken! They don’t care what happens to me. I am a hated man in this time, but of course, you had no way of knowing that fact.” The surprised expression on Pierce’s face gave him some small satisfaction and he was delighted when the other man lapsed into a sullen silence.
The following morning saw Nick, Angelina, Edward and his men camouflaged by an abundant number of trees. They had gathered around a large rock outcropping, at the foot of a craggy hill. They remained as still as possible while they watched Malcolm Granger, arms flapping about, as he paced back and forth in front of what appeared to be a cave opening, which had been sealed by a rock fall. His men could be seen, scurrying back and forth between their horses and the rocks. They couldn’t see Richard, which terrified Angelina, but Arion was clearly visible.
Leaving their horses hidden amongst the trees, Nick signaled the others to follow as they carefully made their way closer to Malcolm’s position. Angelina searched the area frantically for Richard and was relieved when Nick pointed him out to her. He was sitting with his back against the rocks, with Nash Roydon, Angelina’s opponent in the tournament, standing guard over him. She suddenly felt a little better, knowing that Nash was hardly any competition with a sword.
“What are they doing?” she whispered, crawling on her belly to Nick’s position.
“I’m nae sure. Malcolm is ranting about something and the others seem to be following his orders.”
At the sound of brush breaking behind them, they turned to see the MacKenzies joining them.
