“No awho,”Connor explained. “Coryell Enterprises. It’s the company we work with, owned by Cate’s family. We’ve called on their services to help us determine how Miss Porter fits into all of this.”
Regardless of their intent, the idea of strangers watching Abby’s every move didn’t set well at all with Colin. “Leave her be. She’s nothing to do with any of this.”
“She’s everything to do with this,” Pol corrected, turning his attention back to Colin at last. “We simply don’t know how or why. At least not yet.”
“Ridiculous,” Colin grumbled, leaning forward in his seat. “Yer saying she’s the key to my returning to my own time? What? You think her a witch? You believe she magicked me here with her evil powers? No. It was Faerie Magic what brought me here. I ken enough about the way it feels to say that much for a fact.”
Abby was naught but an innocent victim who had nothing to do with this. She’d been more confused than he had by his appearance in her life that morning. Her reaction had been too honest to be an act. There was no way she was responsible for his being ripped from his own time and deposited into this one. He simply couldn’t accept that. Wouldn’t accept it.
“Of course it was Faerie Magic,” Pol agreed. “But the Magic does nothing without purpose. Granted, it is the Magic’s own purpose, but never doubt for a moment, purpose it is. It brought you to this time for a reason and it dropped you into that woman’s home for a reason. Until we can determine what that reason is, you’ll remain here. Until you fulfill the Magic’s purpose for you, you’ll not be allowed to return to your own time. The Porter woman is the key to what’s happened to you.”
For the second time today, Colin felt as if the breath had been knocked from his lungs.
“You speak of the Magic as if it’s a living, thinking creature.”
Pol steepled his fingers in front of him, obviously taking his time to carefully consider his words. “In a way, my son, that’s exactly what it is. Not a creature perhaps, not a thing, but a living entity nonetheless. Magic is the life force of Wyddecol, flowing from the Earth Mother herself.”
“And from personal experience, Colin, I can assure you the Magic does not bend to our will.” Ramos clasped his wife’s hand between his own two. “We bend to the will of the Magic. No matter how well we might think we understand a thing, no matter how we might struggle to reach our own goals, once invoked, the Magic will have its way.”
As if he, of all people, needed to be told that little fact. He’d experienced firsthand thewillof Faerie Magic for ten long years, ever since that day when as a brash youth he’d offended the Faerie Queen.
But this? This was a thousand times worse.
“Then what shall I do? You say I canna force the Magic to my own will, but how am I to stay here? I dinna belong in this place. I ken nothing of the ways of this time. I’m but a simple warrior.” A warrior with no hope. A warrior whose comrades had been left behind to fight and die without him.
Silence greeted his question, until at last Pol spoke up. “Come home with me, my son. Home to Wyddecol. Our generals always have use for a good warrior. We’ll teach you the ways and the dangers of this time even as we train you to combat them.”
“And while yer learning those things, we’ll search for the reason yer here and how Abigail is connected to it.” Mairi reached across the empty space between them, placing her hand over his. “We won’t give up until we find out something for you, Colin. You have my word on it.”
What choice did he have?
“So be it.”
Colin agreed to their proposal, leaving those around him to work out the details. He’d go to the Faerie homeworld. He’d learn whatever they asked of him, do whatever was necessary to make it possible for him to return to his own time.
Most especially, he’d learn if it was at all possible that Abby could be connected with his being here. And if it turned out these people were all correct in their accusation of Abby’s involvement? Then he’d find Abigail Porter and demand to go home.
For now, though, he simply needed to see her again.
Five
Just you dinna forget that all this is yer idea.”
As if his harpy cousin would let him forget. Colin unfolded himself from the passenger seat of Mairi’s automobile, quietly making his way around to her side of the vehicle.
“Dinna fash yer bonny head, Cousin. Yer husband will never have cause to ken what we’ve done this night. And if he does, I’d no allow you to take the blame for it. Just you sit tight until I return.”
“Yeah, well, just you remember to own up to it if he does find out,” she grumbled behind him. “And hurry up. It’s cold out here.”
He didn’t bother to respond now any more than he had the other twenty times she’d muttered the same on their late-night journey to this quiet location. Aneighborhood,Mairi had called it.
Abby’s neighborhood.
Keeping to the shadows was no problem on a moonless night such as this. Nor was the light snow that had started to fall a short time ago. Distinguishing between the seemingly endless number of buildings was another matter. It was all so very different from what he was used to, the homes of the masses so very much larger. So very much nicer than those of his time.
Life had certainly changed in the past seven hundred years.
Rounding the corner, he spotted Abby’s home immediately, the tidy house framed by two large trees in the front, light streaming from the large windows.