Page 44 of Love Beyond Reach (Morna’s Legacy #11)
W hen Hamish stepped into my tent late that evening, he was trembling with exhaustion. I hurried to grab his arms to usher him to a seat.
“What happened? Ye doona look well.”
He half-heartedly smiled and motioned to the basin of water across from him.
“Such spells drain strength, most especially when there is much to see.” He paused and drank the water I fetched for him. “I have never looked into a future so strange. Ye will not like what I found.”
For half of the night, I sat and listened to his strange story, only half believing it but knowing I had no reason to doubt its truth.
“Elspeth will die, lass, there is no way around it, and there is nothing either of us can do to stop it. But yer death is a ruse to save yer brother from a violent clash with Henry’s clan.”
So Henry would keep his word and spread the news of my witchcraft, and my death is all that could prevent the bloodshed of others. I would gladly fake my death for such a cause.
“Has Henry already threatened action?”
Wearily, Hamish shook his head.
“Not yet, but by the time we arrive, yer brother will have received word of the rumors about ye. His own people willna turn, but there are clans around him that will only allow Henry’s claims to be ignored once they believe ye dead.”
I stood, no longer worried about leaving Jerry.
I couldn’t help him here anyway. The spell was something only someone far more practiced in magic than I could break.
Even then, Hamish’s uncle didn’t know if he would be successful.
My clan was my priority, and it would be until I knew they were safe.
“We should leave in the morning so we have time to arrange everything with Alasdair.”
He nodded. “Aye, we shall. Ye do know what this means though, aye?”
Until he asked the question, I’d not stopped to think about the ramifications of faking my own death. I would never be able to see all those I loved. For them, it would seem as if I truly were dead. It would be my last time to see my home, my nephew, my brother.
“Is there not some way for them to know of the ruse? For me to return home once things have settled?”
His gaze was apologetic.
“Yer brother is the only one who may know the truth. And ye willna return home again, at least not for a verra long time. There is more that I saw that I must tell ye.”
The reality of how painful such a loss would be for me slowly sunk in. It would tear me in two to leave everyone I knew and loved. But if it kept them safe, I would gladly do it.
“What else?”
He shifted in his seat and rested his arms on his legs. “Grier tricked ye, lass.”
“O’course she did. Had I known she would spell him, I would have kept Jerry from her.”
“No, ’tis not what I mean. I’ve said nothing to ye until now because I wanted to be certain I was correct, but my spell this night confirmed it.
Ye could have searched for years and never found a spell that would see Jerry home to his own time.
There is no spell for such travel. The power to move through time lies with ye and ye alone. ”
“No.” I was insistent in my denial. I knew it couldn’t be true. “Grier possesses such a gift, not I. ’Twas she who pulled Jerry from his time and placed him in ours.”
“Aye, she too can move others through time but only because she stole part of yer gift from ye. That is what she did to ye that day. She looked inside yer mind for yer talent and took part of it for herself.”
I remembered so little from that day, but Alasdair’s description came to mind.
“Alasdair said it looked as if power poured from me, as if she were pulling something from inside me.”
Hamish nodded. “Aye, she was and ’twas an egregious crime for her to do so. ’Tis why the gift has not presented itself to ye before now—she weakened it. With time, I can help ye restore it.”
“I thought our skills were meant to be tied to our destiny. What destiny would require me to move through time?”
Jerry was the obvious choice, but I’d learned enough from Hamish to know that magic wasn’t so self-serving. My destiny would lie in aiding others.
“Every person with magic holds two responsibilities. The first is to care and protect their kin and those they love. The second is unique to their ability. That destiny has spoken to you through whispers your entire life. Think, lass, what has always come easily to you? What brings you more joy than just about anything?”
I sat with my memories for a long moment.
Over and over again, I noticed a pattern.
I could see inside others’ hearts and match them with their mate with perfect ease.
Countless villagers, Mary and Kip, Mae and Hew, even Alasdair and Elspeth wouldn’t have met had it not been for my insistence.
While I’d not always possessed such discernment in matters of my own heart, I was skilled at bringing others together.
“Does it have to do with love?”
Smiling, Hamish answered me. “Aye. I told ye I saw verra strange things. It seems the men in yer family are destined to prefer lassies of another century, and yer gift shall bring them together.”
“And what of helping my family? Will my death be enough?”
Standing, Hamish walked to the tent’s opening.
“For a time, but in several decades another evil shall threaten yer family. We shall see that all is prepared for such a time when we arrive at yer home. I’ll explain everything to ye on the way tomorrow. For now, I am weary and need to rest.”
I walked to the edge of the tent to see Hamish off. Just as expected, Jerry stood not too far away watching outside his own tent. It was the same every night. I would wave to him, and he would turn his back to me.
I was in no mood to be ignored. Stomping over toward him, I poked him hard in the chest.
“No one is going to be able to break this spell on ye if ye are so intent on remaining miserable. Fight for yerself, Jerry. Fight to be happy.”
His jaw tight, Jerry turned away.
“I was happy with Grier, lass. Even if the spell is lifted, I shall never forgive ye for keeping me hostage. I could never love someone so damned foolish.”