The Dark Highlander

Page 57

Gwen gaped. “That’s not possible. According to the laws of physics, one of you would have to cease to exist”
“You’d think after all she experienced with me, she wouldn’t be so hasty labeling things possible or impossible,” Drustan said dryly.
“How could it be possible?” Gwen demanded.
“Because I am no longer the same man I was. I’m different enough now with these ancient beings inside me, on some elemental level, that my past self did not conflict with who or what I’ve become.”
“Oh, God,” Gwen breathed. “So even if we sent someone back, and they changed the past . . .”
“I doubt it would have any effect on me at all. What I am now, seems to exist beyond the natural order of things. ’Tis possible it may cause some negative effect we can’t even imagine. There’s too much we doona understand here. I fear creating multiple moments in time for no good purpose. Nay, my only hope is the old lore.”
Drustan and Gwen exchanged an uneasy look.
“ ’Twas a clever idea,” Dageus reassured them. “I can see why you considered it. But I’ve given this matter endless thought and my only hope is to discover how they were imprisoned in the first place, and reimprison them. ’Tis why I came. I need to use the Keltar library. I need to examine the ancient texts that deal with the Tuatha Dé Danaan.”
Drustan sighed gustily and raked a hand through his hair.
“What?” Dageus’s eyes narrowed.
“It’s just that we were so certain our idea would work,” Gwen said miserably.
“And?” Dageus pressed warily.
Drustan rose and began pacing. “Dageus, we no longer have those texts,” he said in a low voice.
Dageus lunged to his feet so swiftly that the chair clattered to the floor. Nay—it couldn’t be so! “What? What say you? How can we not have them?” he thundered.
“We doona know. But they’re not here. After reading Da’s letter, I decided to research the Tuatha Dé Danaan to discover aught I could about the mythic race, in hopes of discovering a way to cast them out. That’s when Christopher and I found that we’re missing a great many tomes.”
“But surely some of the volumes I need are here.” He began naming the ones he was specifically seeking, but at each title, Drustan shook his head.
“That’s inconceivable, Drustan!”
“Aye, and it nigh seems deliberate. Christopher and I suspect someone intentionally removed them, though we cannot discern how it might have been done.”
“I need those texts, damn it!” He slammed his fist against the paneled wall.
There was a moment of silence, then Drustan said slowly, “There is a place—or should I say a time—they can be found. A time both you and I know our clan’s library was fully extant.”
Dageus smiled bitterly. Right. And just how was he going to explain that to Chloe? Ahem, lass, the tomes I needed aren’t here, so we’re going to have to go back in time and get them? He snorted. Would nothing be simple? It seemed she’d be learning more about him, whether he was ready to tell her or not.
“I could go for you,” Drustan offered. “Just long enough to get what we need.”
“Then I’m going too,” Gwen said instantly.
“Nay!” Drustan and Dageus both snapped at the same time.
Gwen glared. “I will not be left behind.”
“Neither of you will be going.” Dageus halted that argument before it built steam. “We have no guarantee that the Tuatha Dé Danaan didn’t plant other dangers in the in-between. Any Keltar who opens a bridge for personal reasons is at risk. No Keltar but I will be opening any bridges to another time. I’m already dark. Besides, what one brings into the stones at one end doesn’t always show up on the other end. I lost several heirlooms when I came through last time.”
Gwen nodded slowly. “That’s true. I lost my backpack. It went spiraling off into the quantum foam somewhere. We can’t risk trying to bring the books through.”
“Can you open the stones safely? What will the use of magic do to you?” Drustan asked cautiously. To Gwen, who hadn’t been privy to their earlier conversation, he explained, “When he uses magic, it makes the … er, ancient ones stronger.”
“Then maybe you shouldn’t go,” Gwen worried.
Dageus exhaled dismally. All his hopes were pinned on those Keltar texts, and he’d wasted as much time as he dare. “If what you say is true, and the tomes aren’t here, I doona have a choice. As for the magic, I’m more concerned about what Da might do to me. I’ll deal with the darkness somehow.”