Page 31 of Love Beyond Words
“A documentary?”
“Nothing. I just want to know the real story, then I’ll tell you my suspicions about Marcus.”
It was such a long story—one that would take him far more energy to tell than he had now. And it would be easier to show her anyway. He needed sleep and to speak to all of the men alone. They’d yet to grieve Timothy together, and they needed to form a plan on how they would begin the search for the next druid.
“I’ll happily tell ye, lass, but not just now. Might I find ye later? I promise ye I’ll tell ye all of it then.”
She stood and smiled. She had the prettiest smile—warm and friendly—and it had a slightly mischievous look to it that made her even more alluring.
“Okay. I’ll hold you to that. You need to rest anyway. It was lovely to meet you, Raudrich.”
As she left him, he couldn’t help but think about how unexpectedly lovely it was to meet her, as well.
His life suddenly felt very different, like with one simple introduction, things would never be the same.
Good or bad, he didn’t yet know.
Chapter 17
I’d wanted to speak to Raudrich alone in the hopes of getting the real story about this castle and the interesting men within it without Marcus being present. If even part of the story I’d watched with Kate was true, if the book was to be believed, Marcus’ reason for being here would have a lasting impact on the history of this castle and territory. I knew Marcus well enough to know that he wouldn’t be receptive to such news.
He loved his life back in Boston—even with the recent downturn in his freelance photography business. While I was his best friend, he had many others, as well. And he was even closer to his family than I was to Kate. He was a modern man. He didn’t share my same passion for all things old. Scotland didn’t seem to call to his soul like it did mine.
Was it possible that Marcus was indeed a druid? Did he have powers just waiting to be brought to life inside of him? If so, I knew he was entirely unaware of it.
I found myself wishing that I’d taken the time to actually read the book that had fallen from my shelf. In the surprising turn of events that occurred that night, I’d not thought much of the book as we packed to leave. I regretted being so thoughtless now.
At some point in history, the supposed curse on this land must have been broken. For if not, I imagined the Eight Lairds would still split the land equally in my own time. From what I’d read online about visiting the castle in modern times, this wasn’t the case. What I didn’t know was at what point in history the curse was broken. Was it soon—as in the following weeks while Marcus and I would be here? If so, perhaps it was possible that Marcus could become one of The Eight, help to break the curse, and then return home. But, what if the curse was to live on in this land for another generation or two? If that was the case, and Marcus was destined to be one of The Eight, did that mean he would have to stay here forever?
I’d said nothing to Marcus about any of it, and I had no plans to until I had more information at my disposal. To do so would only make him more eager to find a way to return home. Something I seriously doubted would be possible until we’d fulfilled whatever Morna believed we were meant to.
Besides, so far I’d seen no indication that any of The Eight were capable of magic. I knew it was very likely that once Raudrich was rested enough to tell me the truth, I would learn that much of what had become legend in my own time was untrue.
Since I knew I would be waiting around impatiently for Raudrich unless I found something to occupy my mind and time, I decided to go in search of some writing materials. While no clear story was yet in mind, I could at least start taking some notes and see where my brainstorming might lead.
Most of the castle corridors were quiet, much like the day before. The men of this castle worked hard, and it didn’t surprise me that I had difficulty finding one of them about.
After searching most of the second floor, I made my way downstairs where I could hear the faint sound of voices from a dark corridor I’d yet to explore.
Remembering Harry’s directive that we were free to roam as we pleased, I followed the noise to the top of another stairwell. Two voices—one I recognized as Calder’s—were speaking down below.
Not wishing to eavesdrop, I called out to them right away.
“Hello? Is it all right if I come down?”
The voice that wasn’t Calder’s answered back. “Aye, o’course. Calder and I were just trying to find the source of the foul smell down here. Mayhap ye could help us?”
I could smell nothing from where I stood, but as I made my way down into the dank storage room, the scent of rot reached me. I pinched my nostrils closed to block it.
“Wow. That is rather bad, isn’t it?”
Maddock stood at the entryway to the small storage room and held up the lantern so I would have some light as I descended the last few steps.
“Aye, lass. I keep telling Calder ’tis likely that moisture got into one of our barrels and ruined food, but his imagination has run away from him. He believes something more nefarious is at work.”
I looked over at Calder to see him staring at Maddock with annoyance before turning angry eyes toward me.
“This is yer fault, lass. Ye have no business here. ’Twas clear enough from the moment I met ye that ye were a liar. Now ye have placed us all in danger. Ye and yer brother—if he truly is that—need to leave. Now.”
