He didn’t stay long. Kes estimated it took less than one second for the sharp blade of Nicholas’ dagger to slice a thin line down the traveler’s cheekbone, and then Simeon was gone.
“Nicholas, no!” Kes shouted and held out her arms to stop him. She looked around—and then she looked at the man she’d realized she was falling in love with a minute ago. He appeared horrified, wide-eyed. His hands were shaking.
“What kind of magic is at work here?” He looked around also, but his eyes were searching for witnesses, not his victim.
“He’s—”
Mr. Simeon appeared again, holding a white cloth to his cheek. “You cut me,” he said, sounding more mystified than angry.
“He didn’t mean—”
“I meant it,” Nicholas corrected her. “He is fortunate I did not kill him.”
“Um, Nicholas,” she turned her face away from Simeon and said on a whisper that grew louder as she spoke, “I would use caution. He can disappear and reappear behind you an instant later with an axe and bash your brains in.”
“’Tis all right,” Simeon told them, hearing her. “I wouldn’t kill a man with such skill, especially one who is so generous with my payment.”
“Ah,” Nicholas frowned. “Walter hired you to help take her home.”
The traveler nodded and wiped the blood from his wound. “I am Roldan Simeon, a colleague of Walter’s. No one has cut me before.”
“Sir Nicholas de Marre, Earl of Scarborough, Commander of the king’s army.”
“You are very quick, Commander.”
“As are you,” Nicholas allowed. “Now tell me what you are. A witch?”
He said the last word as if it were poison on his tongue.
“I’m not a witch, but I was cursed by one to travel through time for the remainder of my existence. To never settle down or enjoy relationships.”
Nicholas shifted his gaze to her while Simeon spoke. She wanted to look away from the fear she saw in his eyes. Fear for her. And from the sadness that he was going to lose her to the future.
“You can move through time,” Nicholas asked him.
“Yes. As I said, ’tis a curse. Thank you for your sympathy.”
Nicholas ignored his jab. “Are you going to take her back?”
“You mean forward, don’t you?” Simeon flashed him a toothy grin.
Still paying no attention to him, Nicholas gazed at her. “Am I too late? Is he taking you home, Kes?”
“He’s trying,” she told him and turned to Simeon. “Is there any news?”
“Yes,” said the traveler, making her heart accelerate again. “As I suspected, the brooch is impossible to get. It has been returned to the Lady of the Lake. And as skilled and adept at thieving as I am, I’m afraid no one has ever gotten into Avalon who was not invited.”
So, that was it then? She was never going home?
“As discussed,” he continued, “I cannot take you. You need a conduit, an instrument like the brooch. Rest assured, I am searching for one.”
“You have our thanks,” Nicholas told him. “If you must speak to us again, we will be at Scarborough Castle. You will use every caution not to let anyone see you appear or disappear and think you a witch. If you are careless, I will not be. I will kill you before you can escape. Understand?”
“Maybe I should just stay here,” Kes interceded on Simeon’s behalf.
“No.” Nicholas softened his tone when he took her hand. “Come back with me. A little bit of time spent with you is better than none.”
She agreed. Was it a mistake?