“Let us leave this place and start for home. We’ll sort it all out on the morrow.”
“Home?” She started to cry again. “Your father doesn’t want me there. I heard him. He suggested I become your whore while he marries you off to some bimbo with a dowry. I don’t want to see that man ever again.” She turned away. The sight of all the bodies made her gag.
Robley slipped quietly into camp. “I had no idea you had such a rich and varied vocabulary, Cousin True.” He chuckled. “You dinna look so good, lass.”
“I know.” Her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground in a heap, clutching her cloak around her. “I don’t feel so good either.”
Malcolm lifted his wife into his arms as Galen joined them in the clearing. He knew his men well and had no doubt they’d done what they’d set out to do. “Come, let us return to the horses. Hunter must be worried sick by now, and we need to get home.”
“Is your lady well enough to travel?” Galen peered at True’s swollen and abraded face. “Mayhap ’twould be better to camp and return on the morrow. Half the garrison is here with your father, and we’d be safe. ’Twould be best to let her rest a bit.”
“Nay, Galen. I have no healing teas or salves with me to ease her pain. The sooner we are home the better.” He tried to communicate his thoughts to Galen without speaking. True’s eyes were shut, but this was another of her tricks he’d learned well. Nodding his head toward her violin, he looked at it, then gave Galen a long look. Thankfully, Galen caught on and quietly began to retrieve the pieces, putting them back into the case. He would see if one of their craftsmen could repair it, or use what was left as a model to make her a new one.
“I believe her, Malcolm.” Robley cleaned the blade of his sword against another Comyn and put it back into its scabbard.
“You overheard our conversation?” Malcolm pinned him with a look.
“Aye. I thought it prudent to stay nearby lest our enemies circle back to have another go at you.”
Malcolm snorted. “She says men have walked on the moon, Robley. ’Tis no’ possible. She’s suffered a blow and talks out of her head.”
“Hmm, I wonder. If the son of God could be born to a virgin, die on the cross, and rise from the dead three days later, surely anything under the heavens is possible.” He grinned at him.
“Mmm. I dinna—”
“Think, man. You believed her visions well enough, did you no’?”
“Aye.” Malcolm gave him a skeptical look.
“She traveled through time to see things that had already happened, and to the future to see things that had no’ yet occurred. ’Tis but a small step to believe the rest. I wonder what electricity is, or an astronaut?” Robley’s gaze went to True.
“I dinna ken. I only caught a portion of what she spoke of.”
“And tamp-ons, I do hope she has some of those to show us…and move ease,” Robley continued. “Wonders from the future, what think you of that, Malcolm?”
“She says she has proof. I will see it before my mind is made up.”
“I do have proof,” she muttered with her eyes still closed. “And thank you, Robley. Malcolm should listen to you more often.”
“I’ll no’ argue the point.” Robley raised a brow and switched to sign. “True left because she could not bear to see you give up your place in our clan, Malcolm. Her feelings will not have changed on the matter.” Robley grinned at him. “You will have a fight on your hands, cousin.”
Malcolm smiled back. The fear for his wife’s life and his anger toward her for leaving had left him. His braw lass had the heart of a lion, and she loved him. Nothing else mattered. They would find their way together. “Aye, I expect I will. My feelings have no’ changed on the matter. If my father continues to dishonor my wife, we will leave. If Alethia’s home and family lie in the future, then we will confront Giselle together. I will take my family to the twenty-first century.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Alethia’s entire body ached. She stretched each limb to assess the damage, and realized she was once again in her own bed. She touched her face gingerly. The skin around her left eye was tender and swollen. The abrasions on her right cheek had begun to scab. Hunger and thirst added to her misery, and she felt the presence of others in the chamber with her.
“Oh, my dear,” Lydia cried. “We have been worried sick.”
A cool, wet cloth came to rest against her eye. “Where is Malcolm?”
A man’s throat being cleared caused her to open her good eye. William stood at the foot of the bed. Alethia didn’t want him there, and she struggled to gain control of her emotions.