A Bridge Through The Mist

by Denise A. Agnew

  "I must find a way back to my time," Alenna said, a spike of fear tightening her throat. God forbid, what if she stayed stuck here forever? Every time she thought of it, her heart would pound and panic threatened on the edges.

  Elizabet stared at her for several moments. "I dinna ken if ye can go back, lass."

  "You didn’t see that in your vision?"

  "Nay. I saw only how ye save Tynan."

  Alenna recalled the raw power of Tynan’s arms. "How could I save Tynan from anything? He’s a strong man."

  "There are more things to be saved from than those which endanger the body."

  Alenna didn’t have a chance to ask more. The door burst open and Tynan strode in with Clandon. Clandon held a bundle of clothes under one arm.

  Elizabet smiled at them, then rose from the chair and glared at Tynan. "Ye fair scared the life out of us. Have ye no mind to comin’ in a bit gentle?"

  Tynan’s answering smile landed on Elizabet, and then Alenna. "Why should I? Have ye somethin’ to hide from me?"

  Elizabet patted his arm, tilting her head back to look up at him. "Women’s talk. Have ye brought clothes for Alenna, Clandon?"

  Clandon nodded and handed the bundle to Alenna with a reverence he might have given a queen. "From Caithleen."

  Wondering if Caithleen’s clothes could possibly fit her, Alenna said, "Thank you."

  He nodded and hurried back to Tynan’s side. "I have chores aplenty waitin’ for me."

  Tynan inclined his head. "Aye, boy. Off with ye." When the boy left, Tynan turned to them and put his hands on his hips. "We saw no ring outside the tower. Mayhap it has already been taken by someone passin’ by."

  An odd tremor of fear stirred in Alenna’s stomach at the thought of never getting the jewelry back.

  Before she could comment, Tynan said, "So now ye can tell me what ye’ve been talkin’ about."

  "I explained the visions I have had," Elizabet said.

  "And I believe her," Alenna said, bunching the plaid in her hands, feeling the roughness of the material as it scraped her skin. "She’s seen things that are in my time that she couldn’t have known about otherwise."

  "Yer time?" he asked.

  Elizabet cleared her throat. "When I said she would come to you through a mist, I left out one thing."

  Tynan narrowed his eyes. "What is it?"

  "Alenna is from the future."

  His mouth opened, then closed. Total disbelief covered his face like a heavy blanket. "Nay. She canna be."

  "When have ye ever known me to be wrong, Tynan of MacBrahin?" Elizabet asked, crossing her arms.

  "Never mind, Elizabet. He’s too stubborn to see the truth," Alenna said.

  His mouth opened again. "Why, ye little clootie. How dare ye call me—"

  "Tynan," Elizabet said, her voice as stern as a mother chastising a recalcitrant child.

  A frown marred his good looks as he gazed down at the tiny woman next to him. "Clishmaclaver. ‘Tis not possible. She is a spy."

  "Nay." Elizabet reached for his arm and pressed gently. "You must listen to me. She is from the future."

  "How far?" he asked cautiously. "How far in the future?"

  "Nineteen ninety-seven," Alenna said.

  His jaw tightened, and she could imagine his teeth grinding. "‘Tis against nature to travel through time."

  The petite woman glared at him. "Tynan, ye canna believe I’d lie about it."

  He crossed his arms and glared back. "Why dinna ye tell me before? What dinna ye want me to ken?"

  "I feared this from ye. Ye dinna believe at first that she would even come to ye."

  Alenna watched in fascination as Tynan’s fierce expression eased, until his dark glare melted to warmth. She felt a twinge of something dark and uncomfortable twist her heart. Tynan cared a great deal about Elizabet, and somehow that unsettled Alenna. Maybe their relationship went deeper than she’d at first realized.

  "If any outside this chamber hear of this, ye’ll be branded a spaewife," he said to Elizabet.

  Letting forth a small laugh, Elizabet put her small, pale hand on his forearm. "People already think that now."

  Johanna cleared her throat daintily. "People shun us for witches."

  Tynan turned his attention to Johanna, favoring her with the same warm look he’d given her mother. "Ye are fine women with nothin’ to fear. Not as long as I live."

  For the first time Alenna saw the crystal ice of Johanna’s expression thaw. She favored Tynan with a smile destined to bring a man to his knees in supplication. His answering grin brought a blush to Johanna’s young face.

  What the hell did he think he was doing, flirting with such a young girl? Alenna gritted her teeth and reminded herself, in this time women often married by the time they reached fourteen. Johanna was probably hunting for a husband, and Tynan made excellent prey.

  Maybe Tynan was searching for a wife. She tried to imagine what sort of woman could handle a man this barbaric. This … raw.

  "We should go now. Good day, Alenna." Elizabet said, starting for the door. Johanna followed.

  When they’d gone, Alenna felt vulnerable, as if the women had shielded her from the impossibly masculine presence in front of her. She knew they’d kept his devouring gaze at bay, and prevented Alenna from giving in to feelings she had no business having for a fourteenth century knight.

  * * *

  CHAPTER 5

  "Stay by the fire where ‘tis warm," Tynan said to Alenna as he put on his cloak and headed for the door.

  Alenna bristled. This was the last straw. Staying cloistered in this cold tower for another day would give her cabin fever. "I need some fresh air. I can’t stay in here any longer."

  "Ye have been here but two days. Ye’ll stay here because I say ye will." His brows knitted together. "Dougald and I are goin’ out today. If ye venture out, I wadna be here to protect ye."

  "I can take care of myself."

  He walked toward her, a flicker of anger hardening his mouth. She resolved not to move a muscle.

  Stopping within a few inches of her, he said, "Ye’ll not go out. I told ye of the dangers."

  She sighed and put her hands on her hips. "What do you expect me to do, stay here the rest of my life?"

  "If that’s what it takes to keep ye safe."

  "What about the assembly at the great hall you told me about?"

  "Nay," he said, stamping on the idea like he was squishing a bug. "Ye no have the proper clothes for the assembly."

  Damn the man. For an entire day she had endured his coolness. Silent and surly, he made little conversation. Since his heated kiss he’d become cool, distant and difficult.

  "That’s lame," she said.

  "Eh?"

  Alenna looked down at her shabby garments, then perused his less than dapper outfit. "And I suppose you are properly attired?"

  Tynan puffed up to his full height. "I will no be there. I have duties this night ‘twill keep me away."

  He leaned in closer to her, and as the warm musk scent of him tickled her nostrils, she wished he stood on the other side of the room. Every time he came near Alenna, her world spun a little on its axis.

  Anger surged within her. "This is crazy. Other women traipse about this castle without escorts."

  He lifted a finger and shook it in her face. "If ye dare leave this tower without me, I will skin yer taet doup."

  "My what?"

  Before she could move a fraction, he swatted her behind.

  "Ow! What the hell—"

  "Yer little arse, lassie," he said, a wide, wicked grin spreading across his face.

  Skin her ass.

  She had no doubt he could do it, too.

  Fuming, she tried to think of a suitable retort, but nothing came to mind. Pent up fury spilled over. "You are such a bastard, you know that?"

  His smile widened and he leaned toward her. Her breath caught in her throat, and she leaned back until her rear bumped the table behind her.

&nbs
p; "I’ve got ways of punishin’ ye," he whispered, his voice going soft and husky. "Or have ye forgotten?"

  Half afraid she knew exactly what he intended, she said nothing. She shouldn’t trust him … didn’t want to trust him. Yet every time this man came close, inexplicable excitement coursed through her body and electrified her senses. She prickled with a sense of life she’d never experienced before.

  "Don’t tempt me, Alenna."

  His deep, liquid voice went straight to her middle and filled her stomach with tendrils of heat. Determined to let him see her strength, she straightened. This movement put her even closer to him. His eyes seemed to darken, as if cloaking secrets he’d kept for centuries.

  She sensed he was on the edge of doing something he didn’t want to do, or that he wanted to do more than anything. Part of her wanted to discover what was underneath all that simmering heat and unpredictable exterior. She’d never been driven to tease, test, or torment a man until she’d met Tynan; she never would have pushed a man to do something unexpected and dangerous. Exhilaration rushed over her like a strong wind.

  "Tempt you to do what?" she asked, breaking the long silence.

  Without answering Tynan leaned down and kissed her. Touching her nowhere else, he plundered her lips ravenously, thrusting his tongue inside her mouth. Sparks of sweet arousal slammed through her as he took her mouth with heated attention. Before she could think, move, or respond, he released her lips, stepping away. His face reflected a myriad of feelings from surprise to satisfaction.

  Taking a deep breath, he said, "Sweet Jesu, do ye have no feelin’ for what ye do to me?"

  For a moment Alenna was emboldened by the effect she had on him. Startled by feelings of arousal mixed with consternation, she didn’t hesitate to answer. "If you think kissing me is going to stop me from doing what I want—"

  "Nay!" He made a chopping motion with one hand and then proceeded to spear his fingers through his hair. "I dinna ask ye to stay in the tower to imprison ye, Alenna. I do it to keep ye safe. Why can ye no see that?"

  "Because I’m not a fragile woman. I can take care of myself, if you just give me a chance."

  "God, ye’ll be the death of me for certain," he grumbled, turning to the door and opening it with an agitated movement. "Damn silly wench."

  Tossing her a disdainful look, he left, slamming the door.

  Alenna decided right then that she was going out. Maybe not to the gathering at the great hall, wherever that was, but she would go outside and see for herself what the fourteenth century was really like. Did the man honestly believe he could make her stay here without placing a guard on her? He must figure his intimidation would be enough. Silly man.

  She had to look for the garnet ring and she couldn’t do it standing here. The jewelry might have something to do with her travel through time. If so, she must get it back.

  Also, she needed to explore and make certain the past had claimed her. Despite the evidence she’d seen so far, a part of her still believed she would awaken and find this all a nightmare.

  After waiting for several minutes to make sure Tynan didn’t lurk about the area, she left the tower. Outside, a cold wind whipped at her hair. Glad for her warm cloak, she walked into the crowds milling about doing their daily business.

  Immediately Alenna noted a conglomeration of new scents, sights, and sounds. Smoke from fires tainted the crisp air. She heard a horse clopping, a cow lowing, the occasional human laugh or shout. Pungent odors, many from unwashed human bodies and cesspools, attacked her nose at every turn. Despite the unpleasantness of the aromas, she wouldn’t have missed it for the world. How many other people had the opportunity to view the past in living color?

  She passed a ragged man stumping along on a crudely made crutch, and he glared at her like she’d done something reprehensible. Embarrassed by his hostile scrutiny, she headed toward the barbican, hoping she might glimpse a little of the world outside the castle.

  Caution kept her alert, but she didn’t believe Tynan’s assertion that danger lurked in every corner. As time passed, and she walked on unmolested, excitement overcame all inhibitions and she enjoyed her freedom. MacAulay Castle had changed considerably.

  As she reached the barbican, a guard gave her a curious look, but she ignored him. Compelled by curiosity, she stepped through the arch of the gatehouse and onto the drawbridge.

  Wind whipped her hair about Alenna’s face. When she saw the countryside outside the castle, she drew in a startled breath. If she hadn’t believed in time travel before, what she saw now would have cemented it for her.

  She looked down and the muddy brown of the wide moat seemed to jump up at her. In nineteen ninety-seven the castle didn’t have a moat. She swayed a little, grasping onto the rock wall to her left. The drawbridge had no railing. Another stiff, cold wind blasted through her hair and cleansed her lungs with the fresh scent of rain. Just beyond the moat the land rolled gently green, thick woodland rising at the top of the hill. To the right she saw many hut-like structures scattered over a field. She could see a few people moving about, but from this distance they looked like tiny bugs.

  "I’d stay back from there, mistress," a gruff male voice said just behind her. Two heavy hands pulled her back against a hard body, and she stiffened with fear. She wrinkled her nose. The man stank to high heaven.

  "Please," she said, turning her head to see who stood so close behind her. "Release me at once."

  The man stepped back, and she retreated into the gatehouse a few steps. She watched the man carefully. Tall and powerfully built, he looked to be in his twenties. His face was covered with a dark beard, his collar-length hair black, tangled and greasy looking.

  Smiling as if he’d made some great joke, the scruffy man leered. "What’s the matter, ye silly wench? Is that the thanks I get for savin’ ye from a watery grave?"

  Feeling disoriented, Alenna stood her ground and summoned a frown to cover the hard thump of fear in her breast. "Thank you, but I can save myself."

  While the sneer didn’t leave his large lips, his dark eyes hardened with malice.

  Before he could speak, she turned and hurried back through the gatehouse and into the castle. Uncomfortable and certain he would come after her, she continued on at a quicker pace. After a few seconds she realized he hadn’t followed her and relief flowed through her body.

  As she passed a small group of people listening to minstrels, she recognized one of the instruments as a lute. One man clanged together something like cymbals, and another played a small device he held like a flute.

  Alenna paused and enjoyed the lilting sounds and wondered if they would play at the gathering at the great hall this evening. Could she slip out this evening without Tynan noticing? It was a tempting thought, but not likely to succeed.

  She turned away from the minstrels and wandered over to a group of people huddled among a few tables, which held special wares upon them. As she approached, a few of the people looked over at her and stared. Almost all gave her odd looks, either of curiosity or hostility. Did they somehow sense she didn’t come from their time? Feeling distinctly uneasy, she veered away. She contemplated what to do.

  Staying cloistered in Tynan’s chambers wasn’t an option. She couldn’t huddle by the fire and drink ale all day. She must to do something to get back to her own time.

  Her own time.

  What if she never made it back?

  What did she miss in her own time? All the modern conveniences, certainly. Her friend Demi and the few other people she considered friends. Otherwise, who would even miss her? Her mother and father had become so distant from her, they might consider themselves strangers. She couldn’t compare her life here yet. After two days there were so many other things to learn.

  Alenna had noted something within her had altered since she arrived in the past. Her focus had shifted, and she hadn’t suffered a panic attack in the entire time she had been in this new world. Certainly, when she’d first been dumped back in time
there had been a solid, tangible reason to be frightened. Now, with a host of new challenges, her attention turned to survival and to finding a solution for her predicament.

  She tried to be grateful. She could have been plunked down in this time with no one to help her, without food or water, or the comfort of at least a garderobe. She’d convinced Tynan she wanted to clean up this morning, and he’d brought her water and Elizabet had provided her with a bar of awful smelling soap. She’d skipped the soap and accomplished what she could with the water.

  Her attention jerked back to the present as a trio of knights completely garbed in chain mail, gauntlets and helms rode by her. Looking at them reminded her of Tynan’s occupation.

  She thought about the yeoman’s tale. Tynan would die fighting the baron for a woman. But who could that woman be?

  Elizabet?

  Alenna had seen gentleness and sincere affection in his hooded eyes when he looked at Elizabet. Maybe a man as brawny and uncivilized as Tynan did have a soft spot.

  The concept stuck in her craw.

  She remembered his kisses and heat flushed her cheeks. Despite his affection for Elizabet, he had no qualms about tasting another woman. Damn his hide anyway.

  He’d winked and flirted with Johanna, too. Could Johanna possibly be his love? The idea didn’t sit well with her for more than one reason … none of it to do with the girl’s age. Johanna didn’t seem like the right woman for a man like him. She snorted. Whoever tamed Tynan would have to be strong.

  At least she knew Tynan was a real person, and he had lived in … did live in the Black Tower. Tynan was destined to die in the year 1318. Alenna winced. Simply the idea of him being harmed or killed sent a deep unease into her heart.

  A bleating sound alerted her that something was going on behind her. Turning around, she saw a young boy pulling a goat on a crude rope leash. Wearing ragged, threadbare clothes, the boy barely glanced at her, no curiosity gleaming from his pale eyes. He was like a dozen other boys who roamed this gloomy fortress. She watched him, realizing that soon her own eyes might look like his. If she were in this place long enough, would she forget what her world was like?