Dreams of Stardust

  Jake could hardly believe his eyes. "That?" he managed. "That thing there?"

  "Aye," Robin said in surprise. "My father keeps his gold in it."

  "But I could get into that in a manner of minutes!" Jake exclaimed.

  "Are you a thief, then, as well as a seller of goods?" Nicholas asked.

  Jake turned and looked at him with as neutral an expression as he could manage. "Being able to open a lock is a very useful skill. If we were both tossed in a dungeon, could you free us?"

  Nicholas pursed his lips. "I would never find myself thrown into a dungeon."

  "Then I'll always stick close to you. I have many skills that are less than savory, and I suppose opening locks is one of them." He looked at Robin as he put his backpack down on the table under the window. "My entire future is in this," he said quietly. "If I lose it, I am lost. I'm sorry, but I don't trust a simple trunk to hold what I have in here."

  "Short of sinking it in the cesspit, I fear I've no other alternative for you," Robin said. Then he looked with interest at Jake's gear. "What do you have in there? Gold?"

  "As well as a few other things."

  "Then let's have a look," Robin said, rubbing his hands together. "Amanda can wait a few more minutes."

  Jake sighed and put his backpack on Rhys's table. He pulled out bags of gold and gems from inside the sack, then pulled other things out of his boots—where they had been digging into his ankles and shins quite uncomfortably. Robin picked up one of the bags and spilled the gold out into his hand. He was silent for so long that Jake began to worry.

  "Not enough?"

  "How many do you have?"

  "Eight."

  Robin considered. "Add this to Amanda's dowry," he said thoughtfully, "and you might come close to a small part of my own wealth." He looked at Jake from under his eyebrows and his eyes twinkled.

  Jake couldn't help but smile. It was Kendrick, all over again.

  "Have anything else?" Robin asked, nosing through Jake's things with interest.

  "I brought something for your mother," Jake said. "And Anne." He paused for several moments, then looked at Nicholas. "In fact, I brought something for all of Artane's ladies."

  "You were wise to have brought something for Isabelle, else you would have regretted it far into your dotage," Robin warned. "Let me see what you have for Anne."

  Jake dug around in one of the bags and pulled out a brooch set in white gold with peridots and diamonds. An odd choice together, he had to admit, but at the time he'd liked the combination. Robin whistled softly.

  "I'd best pay you for this. She'll love you far more than me if I don't."

  "I wouldn't take it," Jake said.

  Robin grunted. "You will and be grateful for it. But if you think wooing my lady with gems will make me easier on you in the lists, you're mistaken."

  Jake laughed. "I'm only hoping Anne might see her way clear to repair the odd tunic for me now and again."

  " 'Tis a certainty you don't want Amanda doing it for you," Robin said with a snort. He handed the brooch back to Jake. "Put this away. We'll put one bag of gold in the treasury, and I'll hide the rest in the stones."

  "In the stones?"

  "Loose stones in the walls," Robin said. "Don't fear; I'll remember where I put them."

  "I'd keep them myself," Nicholas muttered. "Rob has lost more than one thing of value thusly."

  Robin tapped his forehead. "I've a mind that makes other men quail and cower, feeling their lack against my superior intelligence."

  "As I said, put them in the trunk," Nicholas suggested. "Or keep them on you. They'll be safer that way."

  Jake gave it serious thought, then, in the end, he handed Robin most of his gold and all the gems. He kept what he thought might serve him in his search. Then he looked at Nicholas. "I did bring something for y—"

  Nicholas shook his head sharply. "Many thanks, but nay. I'll see to my own bride."

  Robin shook his head. "You should accept Jake's offer. He has far better taste than you do."

  "Mind your own affairs," Nicholas snarled.

  "I will, when you've the wit to see to your own."

  Jake leaped out of the way as Nicholas launched himself at Robin. He barely managed to rescue his gems and gold before they were taken down to floor and pummeled like Amanda's elder brothers.

  As Jake stood there and watched the two men try to kill each other, he wondered how old they were. He realized with a start that he had no idea how old Amanda was. Age was relative, he supposed, and to look at Robin and Nicholas was to see them as grown men with a medieval toughness that probably belied their age.

  He reached out and stepped on Robin's sleeve that was close enough to the ground for that kind of stepping on. Robin glared up at him.

  "What?" he growled.

  "How old is Amanda?"

  Robin looked at him as if he'd lost his mind. "A score and one. Why?"

  Jake released his sleeve, watched the brothers go at it for a few more minutes. Well, if Amanda was twenty-one, it was a safe bet that Nicholas and Robin were at least two, maybe three or four years older than she. Odd as it was to be in the position of elder statesman, if ever there were a time to take on the role, this was probably it. He unbuckled his sword and set it aside in a safe place, then he reached in and hauled a de Piaget brother to his feet, not worrying overmuch about which one he had until he had him by the tunic.

  It turned out, unsurprisingly, to be Nicholas.

  Nicholas twisted like a snake and would have landed a perfect shot to Jake's chin if Jake hadn't been expecting something like it. He feinted to the left, then grabbed Nicholas and spun him back around, wrenching his arm up behind him and placing his hand oh-so-lovingly on a pressure point guaranteed to produce immediate cooperation.

  "Damn you," Nicholas gasped.

  "Stop it, the both of you," Jake said.

  "Who are you to tell me what to do?" Nicholas managed, followed by a grunt of pain that Jake was quite sure had been very unwillingly given.

  "I'm older than you are."

  "Think you?" Nicholas grunted.

  "Well, how old are you?"

  Nicholas swore furiously. "What could that possibly matter?"

  "Just satisfy my curiosity."

  "A score and six and when I have you within reach, I will use all the skill I've gained in those score and six years to grind you into dust."

  "I'm a score and twelve, and since I'm older than you both, I say we stop fighting and start worrying about Amanda."

  "He has that aright," Robin said, gingerly touching his cut lip with a knuckle. "Besides, you can kill Jake later if your feelings still smart."

  Nicholas went quite still. "Release me."

  "Do I dare?"

  "Release me, damn you to hell," Nicholas growled.

  Jake looked at Robin, who grinned at him. He released Nicholas abruptly; Nicholas wrenched away. Jake supposed he could have held him and taken him down to the ground and taught him a very great lesson in humility, but perhaps now wasn't the time.

  After he and Amanda were married, maybe.

  Nicholas glared at him and rubbed his shoulder. "You will regret this."

  "I'm sure I will," Jake said, reaching for his sword. "But later, if you don't mind."

  Robin gathered up some of Jake's goods. "I'll take these; you keep the rest. Nick, don't hurt him quite yet. He might prove useful in hunting down that witless wench. Besides," Robin said with a very straight face, "he's older than you are. Show him some respect."

  Nicholas looked at Jake with undisguised dislike. "I'll respect him when he can best me on the field." He stalked toward the door. "No sooner."

  "He bested you in Father's solar," Robin called after him cheerfully, then shrugged and looked at Jake. "He isn't usually so sour. Of the two of us, he is definitely the more pleasant soul. I can't imagine what eats at him."

  "Can't you?" Jake asked simply.

  Robin paused for quite a long while. He sighed, fin
ally. "I thought I was imagining it."

  "They aren't related by blood."

  "How is it you know so much?" Robin asked.

  "Montgomery."

  Robin dragged a hand through his hair. "That one is better than anyone I know in keeping sec—" He looked at Jake, startled. "I was nigh onto saying that he keeps secrets very well."

  "Damn it," Jake said curtly. "Hide my gold for me; I'll dump the rest of this stuff, then go find him."

  Robin nodded and they left the solar together. Jake ran upstairs to stash his gear in the boys' room only to find his mail shirt lying just where he'd left it.

  And that, for some reason, was possibly the most heartwarming thing he'd ever seen in his life.

  He smiled to himself, then went on his search.

  Montgomery was milling about the lists. Apparently he was no dummy; the moment he saw Jake striding toward him purposefully, he turned tail and ran.

  Jake caught him easily and turned him around by the arm.

  "Whoa, little one," he said with an easy smile. "I think you might know something I need to."

  "I don't know anything," Montgomery said nervously.

  "Montgomery," Jake chided, "a knight doesn't lie."

  "Montgomery!" Robin bellowed from a great distance. "Damn you, you witless girl, when I catch you…"

  Montgomery gasped and tried to pull away. Jake looked over his shoulder to find both Robin and Nicholas running toward them. He was momentarily tempted to let Montgomery go, but the boy had answers. Montgomery continued to try to get free.

  "Please, Jake," he pleaded. "Let me go. They'll thrash me if they catch me."

  "You'll never outrun them. Best you stay with me and answer a few questions." He took Montgomery by the shoulders in a grip that was guaranteed to prevent any escape. "Now, let's talk. Why is it your memory seems to fail you at this point?"

  Robin and Nicholas had stopped in front of them, with Miles and John running up within moments. Robin and Nicholas folded their arms over their chests and put on stern looks. Miles and John did the same. Jake might have laughed if he hadn't been so sick at heart. Anything could have happened to her. Anything.

  "Speak," Robin demanded.

  Montgomery shook like a leaf.

  "We're not going to thrash you," Jake said, still holding Montgomery firmly, "but we do need some answers."

  "I swore I wouldn't say anything," Montgomery said, looking as fierce as circumstances allowed. "I gave my word as a knight."

  "You aren't a knight yet," Nicholas growled.

  "But he will be," Jake said easily. "All right, Montgomery, surely you see the problem. If you know something about where Amanda went and you don't tell us, you are putting her in danger. Don't you think?"

  Montgomery considered. "But my vow…"

  "Or your sister's safety." Jake looked at him with a smile. "But you choose, Montgomery. We can't force you."

  "Aye, we can," Nicholas said, putting his hand on the hilt of his sword.

  Montgomery looked at Robin. "What think you?"

  "I think you're a—"

  Robin held up his hand to interrupt Nicholas's growl. He looked very seriously at his brother.

  "Breaking a vow is not something to do lightly," Robin said. "A knight has his word, his arm, and his character. But in this instance, I daresay your character has been amply demonstrated in your willingness to honor the vow you made to Amanda. But part of being a man is knowing when to…" he considered, then spoke again, "when to sacrifice yourself and perhaps even your honor for the welfare of someone you love."

  "She's at Seakirk Abbey," Montgomery blurted out. His eyes filled with tears. "She's going to become a nun."

  Jake wouldn't have been more shocked if Montgomery had told him Amanda had followed him back to the future. "A what?" he asked incredulously.

  "A nun," Montgomery said, looking up at him. "I couldn't dissuade her." He swallowed with difficulty. "She feared you had forgotten her. And—" he looked at Nicholas.

  "Damnation," Nicholas growled.

  "Let's be off," Robin said. "Jake?"

  "I'm there," Jake said. "If I might borrow a horse?"

  "Of course." Robin hesitated, then slid Jake a sideways look. "A nun."

  "I'm unsurprised," Jake said with a snort. "And how long has she been gone?"

  "Over a fortnight," Robin said.

  "And you didn't look for her?" Jake asked incredulously.

  "We've been looking for over a fortnight!" Nicholas exploded. "We simply had no idea where to look. Something that might have been solved if someone had opened his mouth."

  Montgomery wrenched away and scuttled behind Jake.

  Jake looked over his shoulder. "I think you should stay here, don't you?"

  Montgomery nodded, wide-eyed.

  "I agree," Robin said. "But I think I should leave one of us behind as well." He looked at Nicholas. "Perhaps you should stay."

  "I will not," Nicholas said. "Kilchurn and I will go. You remain behind."

  "Oh, nay," Robin said, shaking his head with a small laugh. "I want Amanda rescued by someone still breathing. If I leave you two alone, you'll likely do each other in before you reach Seakirk."

  "I will stay," Miles said. "You won't need me."

  Robin nodded. "Aye, likely not. And Amanda's guard is here, and those lads are fierce enough." He looked around Jake at Montgomery. "I want you at Anne's side continually. If it comes to a choice between her life and yours, I hope you understand which you will choose."

  Montgomery nodded vigorously. "I will give mine gladly, brother." He paused. "Forgive me. I tried to honor Amanda's wishes."

  Robin pulled Montgomery forward and ruffled his hair. "You did right, Montgomery. No harm will come of it."

  Montgomery smiled gratefully. "I'll go see to Anne."

  "You do that," Robin said.

  Jake watched Montgomery hurry off the field, followed closely by his brother and less closely by Miles, who sauntered in his usual fashion. Jake listened with half an ear as Robin and Nicholas considered supplies and gear, then followed them when they walked off the field.

  A nun?

  What in the hell was she thinking?

  He parted company with the brothers when they reached the keep, then ran up the stairs to fetch his gear. Seakirk was a good three hours by car, so who knew how long it would take to reach it on horseback. Well, the sooner they started, the sooner they would be there.

  And hopefully they wouldn't be too late.

  * * *

  Chapter 30

  Genevieve stood at the doorway to Artane's great hall and watched her husband walk with his nephew. By now, she was accustomed to the sight. She wasn't sure Lord Edward was, but apparently Kendrick had given him some irrefutable proof of his identity by means of holes in the walls that even Edward had had no idea about. Genevieve had smiled as she listened to her husband relate to his, well, nephew all the things around that castle that he had taken apart in his youth and somehow put back together. Gideon and Kendrick had become fast friends and Genevieve felt as if she'd found a sister in Megan. There was something to be said for extended family and the pleasures of their association.

  She sincerely hoped Jake would enjoy that pleasure.

  She spent the rest of the day chasing her children all over her husband's ancestral home, or watching Lord Edward, Gideon, or a very pregnant Megan chase them as well. It made her smile to see it, but she had the feeling it touched her husband far more deeply. He was happy in a way she hadn't seen him in years.

  If ever.

  Perhaps it had something to do with being home.

  Early that evening, she corralled her boys and put them to bed in one large bedroom, then collapsed in a chair next to the crib holding her sleeping daughter. She looked up at the ceiling and wondered about the passage of time. Had Jake made it back to Amanda's time? Had he lived out his life, loved Amanda, fathered children, then passed on peacefully?

  Odd to think she had seen
him that morning at breakfast and now it was entirely possible that his life had been over for well over seven hundred years.

  She sat up when the door opened. Kendrick smiled and put his finger to his lips.

  " 'Tis only me. Is the wee one asleep?"

  "Finally," she said with a yawn.

  He padded across the room and sat down nearby on a bench. "I feel as if I haven't seen you all day."

  "You haven't," she said with a smile, "but I've been watching you."

  "Have you? Doing what?"

  "Roaming," she said. "Reliving glorious moments in the lists. Showing your boys around while making it look like Gideon was pointing out the highlights."

  Kendrick laughed and took her hand. "I will have to give the triplets the truth soon enough. Perhaps tomorrow I might steal you away for a bit and show you the locations of some of my more memorable exploits."

  "I can hardly wait," she said dryly.

  "No doubt."

  He fell silent and so did she. Until she saw the little box Jake had left them sitting on the table next to the bed.

  "Have you looked in that?"

  He shook his head. "Nay, not yet."

  "Why not? Do you have any idea what's in it? He left it for you."

  "Likely something smelly, foul, or vile, just as repayment for my treatment of him in the lists."

  She laughed. "Seriously, Kendrick, why don't you look? It might be something that tells us if he made it."

  "Now, where is the sport in that?" he asked with a wink.

  "I say we let him season for a week or two, then check. Perhaps he's lost in Elizabethan England. I would hate to deprive him of all those ruffles and lace."

  "You haven't got a curious bone in your body," she grumbled.

  "Ah, but you know I do."

  "Then you know something I don't," she said, wagging her finger at him. "Do you remember him? Did he get his title? Did he marry Amanda?"

  Kendrick yawned widely. "I feel suddenly quite sleepy. Perhaps we had best snatch what little slumber we may before our wee babe wakes us again."

  "Kendrick," she warned.

  "A fortnight," Kendrick said, leaning over to kiss her. "Let us make our home here for a fortnight and think on nothing but the strand, our children, and all things pleasant. Then we will look."