Chapter 7

Caroline had expected the guys to say they were too busy to have fun, but as soon as she asked, they looked at each other as if she'd touched on some kind of in-joke. They did that a little too long, too, as if they were trying to signal each other by batting their eyelashes in code or something.

"'Tisnae for a lady ken such," Nyall finally said.

"Good thing I'm not a lady, then." She nudged his side with her elbow. "Come on, tell me. Is there a bar near here? What would you guys call them...a tavern? Or do you ride those horses I saw in that huge barn outside the castle?" When neither of them replied she splashed them. "You can't be all work and no play. What about those circle mazes by the woods? What do you do in those, play hide and seek? Chase squirrels? Or girls?"

Jamaran laughed out loud.

"We save our horses for our forest and shore patrollers, for they must cover too much ground to go on foot," Nyall told her, folding his arms and looking very disapproving now. "The walking labyrinth, 'tis a sacred place used by the laird and the king or others when they wish parlay."

"Oh, sacred, huh?" She glanced around. "Not like this place, then. Where do you drink?"

"We rarely indulge in spirits," Jamaran said, "but when we do, 'tis at a quiet spot after we finish our duties."

"You mean, like right now?" When he nodded, she grinned. "It just so happens I have nothing to do, and I'm dying for a drink. Want to take me to this quiet spot?"

The men exchanged another over-long look before they waded out of the cove. Caroline followed, intrigued now, but all they did was walk down a stone-covered path to a small, shimmering pool set further back in the trees. The scent of salt told her it was a sea-fed spring, and the steam rising from the surface suggested it was thermal-heated. She crouched down at the edge and gingerly tested the water, discovering it was very warm but not too hot for a dip.

"Why don't you build one of these at the castle?" she asked as she sat down to put her feet and lower legs in the spring. "Ah, that's so good. I'd love one in my room."

"'Twas created by my sire, Prince Mar," Nyall said as he went to some rocks and retrieved a pair of jugs. Handing one to Jamaran, he brought the other over to her, uncorked it and offered it to her before he sat down on her left side. "Whiskey."

Caroline took the jug, and had a sip. The alcohol proved so strong it seemed to burn a new path from her tongue to her belly, and made tears prick her eyes. She suppressed a gasp as she handed it back to him.

"Yowser. You could clean some barnacles off a boat with that." She cleared her throat and looked at the commander, who had perched on her right side. "What's in yours?"

"A Selseus spirit called Sleepfast." As she stretched out her hand he gave her a doubtful look. "'Tis made with kelp fermented with sea snails."

"I'm not squeamish. In my time I drink tequila, which is made from fermented plants called agave. The one I like best is nicknamed ‘temporary amnesia.'" As he handed her the jug she gave him a serene smile. "Good man."

Sleepfast tasted at first weirdly like cooking sherry, but ended with a sinus-clearing bang that actually did make Caroline gasp.

"That just scalded my tonsils, I think. Maybe I'll stick to the captain's whiskey tonight, Commander," she told him as she passed the jug back to him, and blinked until her watery eyes cleared. "Do a lot of the fish people drink that stuff?"

"We're no' fish. The clan speak of us as Finfolk, but we call ourselves the Selseus." Jamaran took a swallow and sighed. "My people eat pearls, for they bestow bliss on the blood-born of my kind. 'Tis why the Selseus covet them, and use them as currency."

"But it doesn't make you drunk?" When he shook his head she wondered what else set him apart from the other immortal aquatics, but decided against asking. "Probably best. I bet the nacre gets caught in their teeth a lot. I could never drink mezcal because of the worm in the bottle."

Nyall looked appalled. "Your people brew spirits from worms?"

"Not from them, far as I know, just added. Hey, don't look at me like that. He's drinking homebrew made from seaweed and snails." She took the whiskey from him. "I met and talked to your laird today while I was gathering stuff for your cook, by the way."

"Indeed." The captain eyed her. "On what did you speak?"

"I just set him straight on what I want and don't want. He's got a great laugh for someone who looks like he got rode hard and put away wet." She saw the way Nyall scowled over that and added, "Like a horse, not what you're thinking."

"He didnae much laugh, until Lady Valerie came," Jamaran said.

The captain didn't look like he was going to volunteer any information, so she asked, "At night you two come here to soak in the spring, drink, and do what else? Anything naughty?"

"I told you, lass, we're no' lovers," the commander chided, and then leaned over and said to the captain, "She asked, I answered."

"We speak of serious matters concerning our people and the island," Nyall told her, looking even sterner now.

Caroline grinned. "Sure, you do. While you drink that rotgut and soak in the hot water, which is the perfect time to talk about serious matters. Girls never do that, by the way. We're usually gossiping about you guys." She lifted one leg, which seemed pleasantly limp from the heat, and saw both men looking at it. "Am I the first girl you've brought here?"

"We've encountered some lasses bathing on their own at the spring," the commander said, a slightly mischievous note in his voice.

"Aye, and left them alone." The captain gave her a decidedly disgruntled look before he said, "Now, shall you answer a question for me?"

"Since I'm not under subpoena, I might, or I might not." She took a sip from the jug and swallowed it slowly, enjoying the burn now. "You have to ask to find out."

"When you first saw Shaw, did your eyes seem much improved than in your time?" At her frown he added, "Could you see more here than you could before you came?"

"No, I still have twenty-twenty vision, just like I did back home. I can see perfectly fine," she tacked on so he'd understand the term. "Why would you think my eyes were working differently when I saw your guy Shaw go dark and creepy?"

"The ring bestows abilities on those brought through time," Jamaran said.

Yet another weird thing the ring did, which was starting to seem normal to her. "Abilities like what?"

Nyall told her about Valerie's ability to read the minds of those she touched, and Lark's power to lift objects with a thought. "We wondered if you acquired a boon of better sight."

"I didn't. He just reminded me of something seriously scary." Caroline thought of the way time had stopped in the great hall and at the tide pool just after the commander had left her. "I think I might be able to do something else, but I don't know if I can make it happen, or if you'll be able to see it."

"Try," the commander said.

She cupped a handful of water, and tossed it up in the air before she thought of stopping them. Both men made a startled sound as the droplets hung suspended overhead, glimmering as if they'd turned to glass. She expected to see them go motionless as well, but for some reason neither of them did.

"Look at the torches," Jamaran murmured.

Nyall saw how the flames had frozen in time as well, and regarded her. "How long may you halt time thus?"

"I'm not controlling that. It just seems to go longer every time I do it." She started counting the seconds in her head, reaching sixty by the time the water splashed back down into the spring. "That was about a minute, right? The length of time stopping is doubling, so the next time I try, it'll probably take two minutes." She wiped some drops from her cheek. "When it happened in the hall, it froze Lady Valerie, the maid and the guards. I think it might have affected the laird when I tried it the second time, but I didn't see him until after. Why didn't it freeze you two tonight?"

"Mayhap my sire's magic." Nyall gestured at the water. "He enchanted this spring as a trysting pool."

"Do I want to know what that means?" she asked Jamaran, who smiled a little. "Well, anyway, stopping the clock is my new talent."

"You mustnae use the boon unless you're in danger," Nyall said. "'Tis a gift that shall grow only more dangerous."

"I just realized that, too." She looked at the commander, who still seemed mystified. "If the length of the freeze doubles each time I use it, then pretty soon the world will stop for minutes, then hours, then days. If I use it too much I could halt time for months, years, even decades."

"Or eternity, if you dinnae age when you freeze the mortal realm," Jamaran murmured.

"I'm not immortal, so unlike you guys I'll always age." That suddenly depressed her, and made her wonder something, too. "How old were you when Merrick changed you?"

"Old," he said, his mouth hitching. "Twenty-four."

"Watch it, youngster. I'm twenty-five." She glanced at the captain. "You probably stopped aging at eighteen, so technically you're both younger than me. Why aren't you out chasing girls or maidens or whatever?"

"We prefer women," Jamaran said, bumping his shoulder against hers. "'Tisnae wise chasing any female on an island where my kind forever desire them as mates."

"Good point, although you don't have to get married to have fun, you know." The whiskey had Caroline decidedly more relaxed, so she leaned close and whispered, "Just how adventurous are you two?"

His eyes narrowed as he shifted, almost pressing his cheek against hers as he murmured, "What adventure wish you take with us, lovely one?"

Oh, the suggestions that popped into her head. "Well, if you really want to know–"

"'Tis growing late." Nyall abruptly rose to his feet. "The commander cannae remain out of the sea much longer. Permit me escort you back, my lady."

Caroline figured she'd pushed him hard enough for one night, but as the captain returned the jugs to the niche she couldn't resist touching Jamaran's arm as he got up. "We will continue this conversation another time. Thanks for the drink."

"Fair night, my lady." He nodded to Nyall before he followed the stone path back toward the cove.

As she walked with the captain she sensed his tension, and wondered how the three of them were going to play out in the long run. She also had some ideas about that, but she wasn't sure she wanted to get romantically involved with either man. Captain No-Kissing-Women also seemed remarkably uptight about her flirting with Jamaran. Maybe that was why he'd insisted on ending their medieval hot tub interlude.

You need to find out what Nyall is thinking first.

"I like your friend," she said, looking over at the cove. "I always appreciate men with a sense of humor. He's a very decent guy, isn't he?"

He inclined his head. Time to move on to the one serious topic she had yet to discuss.

"This chieftain, Shaw, he's dangerous," Caroline told him. "Working underwater, you develop an instinct for predators that like to attack without warning or even provocation. Bull sharks, great whites, tiger sharks, they're all like that, and Shaw's one step away from them. I know, I only saw him for a few minutes a couple times, and he didn't do anything to deserve a punch in the face. Plus he's your half-brother. But I'm not wrong about him."

Nyall gave her a sideways look. "I shallnae ignore your warning, Caroline."

"Good." She stretched her arms over her head. "I really loved getting out of the castle today. I hope Brochan needs lots of shellfish."

"You neednae serve the cook like some kitchen maid." His tone changed as he said, "You've a chance for a better life than that if you stay. The commander would make you a good husband and protector. He's much favored among the Finfolk."

Why was he pushing her to make Jamaran her ball and chain? And why did he sound so upset?

"Yeah. My mother would have loved him." She suspected Gina would have made a play for the aquatic herself, as she'd shared Caroline's penchant for fair-haired blue-eyed men. "I'm the real problem here. Even if I wanted to live underwater for the rest of forever, I'm not cut out to be a wife. I'm more like the girl you go out drinking and carousing with late at night. Like we did in a very nice way just now. It's a shame you haven't invented billiards yet. I'd teach you both how to—hey."

Lightning crackled overhead as he pulled her to a stop, his fingers curling into the sides of her wet suit. "Say that again."

"Say what?" Why did he look like she'd just kicked him in the balls? "That I'm not the wife type? You already picked up on that, didn't you?"

Nyall put his arms around her, holding her tightly for a moment as his chest heaved against her breasts, and his fingernails scraped the neoprene.

"You don't want me to marry your friend." She liked being this close to him, and wondered if he would make his own move now.

"'Tisnae a choice I may make for you." He released her. "My apologies. I drank too much whiskey."

"You barely touched that hooch." Why would he hug her? The captain was definitely not a hugger. "You really thought I was going to choose him, didn't you? That wouldn't work, you know, not when you and I are like this with each other."

He took a step back. "'Tis naught between us."

"Yet." Caroline might be a little drunk now, but not from the whiskey. "You want me as much as he does, but there's something else. Something you don't want to tell me. What?"

"You imagine such." He started to walk away from her, and then came back and put his hands on her arms. "I shallnae match his offer. I cannae wed you, ever."

"Same here." She tilted her head back, and saw the taut desire on his face. It had an even stronger effect on her than Jamaran's slow, caressing kiss at the tide pool. "What else can we do? I have suggestions, if you want them."

For a moment Nyall looked as if he was going to show rather than tell her, but then he shook his head and walked through the castle gate. When Caroline looked over at the stronghold, she saw Connal standing by one of the big windows in the great hall, watching them both.

"Man, I really need to get my own place," she muttered as she headed that way.

Lark finished workearly so she could spend time with Fletcher, who had finally returned from his trip to the other side of the island. Yet as much as she wanted to jump in her husband's arms and cover him with kisses, she became distracted by what had been bothering her ever since Caroline Parish had arrived. As he finished washing up and changing in their bed chamber she found herself hovering by the windows, watching the people coming and going through the stronghold gates.

"You seem determined to ignore me," Fletcher said as he came up behind Lark, and folded his arms around her. "I reckoned the moment I returned to Dun Ard you'd chain me to our bed and ravish me."

"I could, but you can't touch me when you're in manacles. I like your hands on me too much." She leaned back against his hard, strong body, drawing comfort from his strength and warmth. "How is Meg settling in at the farm?"

"The Mackays, they're good folk," he said, and then sighed. "She may take her pick of their sons, but I reckon 'twill take time for her to forget her first love."

"Merrick is pretty unforgettable." She'd seen the king a few times since the chambermaid who loved him had left Caladh, and he'd seemed very subdued. "Maybe I'll go with you on the next trip so I can visit her."

"You dinnae brood on Meg tonight," Fletcher said.

He could read her like an open book, Lark thought, loving him just a little more for that. "I just noticed Nyall coming through the gates with Caroline Parish, and they had a moment. Like, a hugging moment. Do you think our captain will end up with her?"

"'Tis unlikely," her husband said. "Nyall's no' fond of females, and he avoids all entanglements since his màthair went mad and ended herself."

Lark turned around to face him. "Are you serious? Why would she do that?"

"'Twas much to do with her nature. Her name, 'twas Tiree, and she came from a powerful highland clan ruled by her sire," Fletcher told her. "She set her sights on the prince from the moment they met. I heard talk as a lad that she even seduced him so she might get with child and force him wed her. Nyall's heard such whispers since his boyhood."

She winced. "I see why he's not terribly fond of women. Wasn't his mother happy she got to marry the prince?"

"Mayhap for a time. My sire buried his heart with his woodland princess long ago, but Tiree couldnae accept such. She hated his loving memories of Eilonwy, and demanded all his affections." He curled his hand over her nape, rubbing his thumb over her sensitive skin there. "As you might expect, Mar soon lost all interest and avoided her. 'Twas then she began drinking, and turned her anger against Nyall. I reckon she tormented him day and night until she died."

"He's probably worried he might do the same thing," Lark guessed. "I forgot to tell you, Shaw left right after our diver arrived. He said he'd be gone for a week searching the shorelines for Fae stuff, but I don't believe that. He wanted to get away from Caroline for some reason."

He kissed her brow. "With Shaw one may never ken his true intentions. Come to bed, my uiseag."

What followed were many hours of pleasure, made all the more intense and enjoyable by their brief separation. Yet as her husband fell asleep beside her, Lark couldn't shake the sense that she should go and check on Caroline. At last she slipped out of Fletcher's arms, pulled on her robe and left their chamber to make her way to the guest room.

Flickering light showed through the bottom gap of the door, so Lark gently knocked, hoping she wouldn't wake the other woman.

The door swung open, and Caroline frowned at her. "Kind of late for a fitting, isn't it?"

"I'm not here for that." She realized she had no excuse to be here. "I wondered if you were able to find some abalone shells while you were out diving."

"You're an awful liar." As Lark grimaced she chuckled and opened the door wider. "Come on in, Red."

Inside the chamber Caroline put another chair by the fire and sat down with her. She'd dressed only in a leine, which showed off her long, tanned legs. Lark noticed some faint scars on her calves and thighs, and a small tattoo of something like a three-pronged pitchfork on her ankle.

Caroline followed the direction of her gaze. "It's Poseidon's trident. My mom was Greek and loved the stories about the old Gods. She had the same ink on her ankle, and so did my grandfather. They believed it protected them, so after they died I carried on the tradition."

"What a lovely way to remember your family." She wondered if she should just go back to Fletcher, but then recalled seeing Nyall's expression as he'd walked away from Caroline. "Earlier I saw you with the captain as you came back to the stronghold. Is everything, ah, okay with you two?"

"You mean, you saw him grab me, and are we in love and planning to get married?" The other woman laughed with delight. "That's a hard no and no. I don't fall in love that quick, and he's not interested. I'm passing on getting hitched with Jamaran and joining the Finfolk, too, and I told your laird that. Once I find another place to live, I'm out of here."

"You don't have to do that." Lark grimaced. "I'm sorry, I'm not usually this nosy. I just keep remembering how difficult it was for me when I first got here. I've always been an introvert with bad luck, and stayed away from getting involved with people. If it wasn't for Fletcher, I'd probably still be hiding in here."

"I actually have pretty good luck, especially in the water, and I can't think of anyone who would call me an introvert." Caroline's expression softened. "It's nice that you're worried about me, but I can take care of myself—even in the twelfth century."

"It's not really that, either." She glanced at the wet suit hanging on the drying rack by the window. "Okay, here goes: do you ever wonder if the three of us coming here—you, me, and Valerie—was a completely random thing?"

"According to the captain, the ring has a thing for women in trouble in the water," Caroline said. "How and where it shows up seems to be the big question mark."

"No, I mean, you, me and Valerie all coming here at the same time the clan's enemies are getting closer," she said. "I know all three of us were on the verge of drowning in our time, but I don't think the ring brought us back solely to save our lives. What's strange is who it picked to save. Lots of people drown every day in our time, right?"

"Unfortunately I do know those statistics. In the U.S., it averages to about eleven every day. In the world, it's close to seven hundred." The other woman frowned. "So, what you're saying is, why would the ring save a teacher, a seamstress and a diver when it could just as easily grab some Marines or Special Ops guys?"

"Yes. Also, it didn't just save us, it gave us all special abilities—you'll find out what yours is soon enough, I expect—as well as our modern skill sets." Lark told her how she had used her lifting power to save herself and Fletcher from the Cait Sith.

Caroline nodded slowly. "That makes more sense. But if you believe we were brought here for a specific purpose, like helping the clan fight this bitch of an enchantress in some way, wouldn't it be obvious what the plan is?"

"Fae magic doesn't seem to be straight forward," Lark admitted. "Over the last couple of weeks I've had the sense that something is coming for the clan. There's the problem with Derdrui and the Cait Sith, definitely, but this thing is something else. Something that has to do with these shark attacks, and the people who have gone missing from the Finfolk settlement. Nothing like that has ever happened before here." She bit her lip before she added, "The men don't want us to worry about it, but I think the ring brought us to help them fight the battle that's coming—the one that they can't win without us. Only I don't know how."

"You're not psychic like Lady Val, right?" Caroline asked. When she shook her head she leaned forward. "All right, I'll just tell you straight out. I can stop time, and freeze everything around me. I don't know if I'm affecting all time everywhere on the planet, or just here on the island, but it's a scary power. Unless I can learn to control the length of time it happens, I won't be able to use it."

As the diver explained how she had discovered her ability, Lark understood. She'd gone through a lot learning to control her own ability to move objects, especially when she learned there was no limit to what she could do with it. If Lark really wanted to, she could rip Caladh itself out of the ocean and fling it to the other side of the world.

When Caroline finished Lark asked, "Nyall knows about your ability, right?"

"I showed it to him and Jamaran tonight," she said. "It didn't affect them the way it did Valerie in the great hall, either. Neither of them froze with the time stop."

The other woman's expression and tone softened whenever she spoke of the two men, Lark noted later as she went back to Fletcher. That fit with the body language she'd displayed earlier tonight when she'd come through the gate with the captain. Nyall also seemed unusually intent on her, too, and from what she'd said Jamaran was just as interested. Caroline might not want to marry anyone, but if she instigated a love triangle with Jamaran and Nyall, that would likely cause no end of complications for Connal and Merrick.

Lark suspected the friendship between the captain and the commander had also protected the truce between the clan and the Finfolk for centuries. What would happen if they now became enemies?