Page 33 of Time of the Warlord (Stones of Scotland #5)

C iaran knew that he should get back to ordinary life. He had his island to return to - Niamh was capable, but even she could use some help. Besides, it was his responsibility. His duty.

But he lingered in Dunadd, finding himself constantly drawn towards the gates.

“Ciaran, she’s not about to ride in through there,” Comgall said softly when he caught him there one day. “If you’re that worried, you need to do something.”

What could Ciaran do, though? He knew everything there was to know about battles and fighting, but he knew very little about time travel, and perhaps even less about women. Sadie was lost to him.

After three days of moping, he finally accepted that Sadie was not about to reappear in Dunadd. She was no doubt already settled back into her old life. Things must be very different there, based on what little Ciaran had seen. She would be enjoying her fancy futuristic machines, and spending time with her family. There was no place for Ciaran in her life, and he needed to accept that. After all, they’d never even really liked each other.

So, he loaded his things onto a boat and prepared to leave. All his people came with him, although they were rather more subdued than when they’d set out from Arran. After all, Prince Matthew was still missing. What a disaster of a journey this had been, from start to finish.

Thankfully, the return sailing passed without incident. No one jumped - or was pushed - into the sea, there was no fighting, and there was no Matthew to argue whenever he was given an order. Ciaran found it all rather sadly quiet. They spent the night aboard the ship, with the sailors working in shifts, and then Ciaran’s home port finally appeared up ahead of them.

Word of their arrival must have spread; Niamh was already waiting to greet them by the dock. And there beside her was… Matthew?

Ciaran almost threw himself from the ship in his haste to find out what was going on. It was indeed Matthew standing beside Niamh, although the boy was a good few inches taller than Ciaran remembered, and looked a lot older than he should. What on earth was happening?

“Matthew, where have you been?” he demanded.

Matthew laughed, the sound oddly hollow.

“The question, perhaps, is where haven’t I been. Suffice to say, time has not passed in the same way for me as it has for you. I hope I am not too late.”

“Too late for what?” Ciaran asked, confused. Had Matthew somehow been away for years ?

“To save Norah and Sadie,” Matthew said impatiently. “They are in terrible danger, and I believe you are the man needed to rescue them.”

“But they went home,” Ciaran said, feeling as if his brain had turned to quicksand. “They’re safe.”

“They are certainly not safe,” Matthew snapped. “I would have come back sooner if I could, but I had other missions to complete. Come with me. Now. ”

When Ciaran hesitated, Matthew reached out to grasp him by the arm. There was a new iron in his grip, and Ciaran realized with a jolt that this was most certainly not the same boy who had set sail for Dunadd. Matthew had changed in more than his appearance.

“Very well,” he said. “To the stone circle?”

Matthew nodded.

“You will need to remain here a little longer,” Ciaran said to Niamh, who looked wide-eyed but determined. She nodded. “And with any luck,” he continued. “I will be bringing back a wife as well.”

He rushed past her before he could see the change in her expression. He was not ready to deal with his sister just yet.

“Hurry,” Matthew urged him. “We don’t have long.”

Ciaran wanted to ask more questions, but he focused on speed, pushing his sea-weary body into a run, even though his lungs burned at the steepness of the hill. Matthew loped along beside him without visibly expending any effort. What had happened to him?

At last, they reached the stone circle - the place where it had all begun. This was where Ciaran had come in search of the missing Matthew, and instead found Sadie. He hadn’t known it at the time, but that was the moment when his whole life changed.

“I’m afraid we’re going back to the laboratory,” Matthew said. “Are you ready?”

He didn’t even give Ciaran time to nod. He reached out and grasped his arm, and the ground flew out from beneath Ciaran’s feet.

To his surprise, he landed again in just a second, his feet steady on a smooth, white floor. He didn’t even feel dizzy or nauseous, and he looked at Matthew with even more respect.

But Matthew was not looking at him. Instead, he was frowning up at a round object on the wall. Two long lines ticked their way around it in a steady motion.

“We’ve only got ten minutes,” he said. “We’re cutting this far too close.”

“What do you mean?” Ciaran asked. Did that object tell the time? “Ten minutes until what?”

“Ten minutes until they kill Norah and Sadie,” Matthew said impatiently. “Try to keep up. Now, follow me. I don’t yet know why I need you, but I know that I do. Stay close.”

Without providing any more useful information, he marched out into the corridor beyond, leaving Ciaran to trail behind him.

The soulless white corridors of the laboratory were as empty as when Ciaran had last seen them. It felt strange to be back so soon, returned to this sterile landscape of gleaming smoothness.

Matthew stopped abruptly and pulled open a door. Ciaran almost walked straight into it, and stopped only just in time.

“Here we are,” Matthew announced loudly. “Hello, Sadie and Norah. And hello, Father.”