Sean and Rory lapped the story up and Maddy couldn’t help smiling at their rapt expressions. When she’d been their age, she’d loved make-believe stories just as much, although she’d never heard this particular folktale before.
“That story is stupid,” Lily pronounced with all the wisdom of a seven-year-old. “Father Arnold says that fairies aren’t real.”
“Oh, does he now?” Deryn said. “And how does he know that?”
Lily lifted her chin airily. “Because God told him. And when his church is finished and we can all go to mass, we’ll all be able to hear God too.”
Deryn nodded sagely. “I see. Well, we’d best hope he gets on and finishes it then hadnae we? When did he lay the foundation stone? 1439? We’ve been waiting ten years already. At this rate I’ll be too old to hear God say anything by the time it’s finished.”
Maddy had been daydreaming, letting her thoughts drift, but at Deryn’s words she suddenly came alert.
“I’m sorry? What was that?”
Deryn smiled. “I said I’ll be too old and deaf to hear anything—”
“No. About that church. The year the foundation stone was laid.”
“It isnae a church really, more of a chapel. Father Arnold came to minister to his flock out here and decided we needed something more formal than the barn we’d been using over in one of the valleys. 1439 is carved into the foundation stone but the Lord alone knows when it will be finished.”
Maddy felt the color drain from her face and a prickling sensation crawl across her skin. “And that was, that was...ten years ago?” she stammered.
“Aye. From what I’ve been told, although I wasnae living in this valley then.”
Maddy shook her head, struggling to make sense of this. “Hang on. Let me get this straight. The year 1439 was ten years ago. So that would make this...1449?” She could barely believe those words had just come out of her mouth.
“Of course, lass,” Deryn replied with a bemused smile.
He said something else, but Maddy didn’t hear him. A rushing sound filled her ears. The prickling along her skin grew stronger, like ants marching up and down her arms.
1449.
Do ye believe what I told ye now?
Oh God. Rodrichadtold her. Right from the very beginning he’d told her.I’m a time-traveler.And right from the beginning, Maddy had refused to believe him.
She swallowed thickly, trying to still the sudden thumping of her heart. She glanced around at this rustic room. At the lack of electricity or anything modern. She glanced at Deryn and Darla and Craig, all dressed in medieval clothes.
It had been there all along, the truth staring her in the face, even though she’d been too afraid to look at it. Everything since she’d come here had been pointing to that truth, a truth that she’d refused to acknowledge, living in denial instead.
1449.
Now that truth roared through her with the force of an avalanche, and she could no longer deny it.
I’ve traveled back in time.
“Are ye all right, lass?” Darla asked her.
She realized she was gripping the edge of the table so hard her fingers had gone white. She forced herself to release her grip.
“I...I...I’m fine.”
That was a lie, of course. She most definitely wasnotfine.This is the fifteenth century. I’ve traveled through time. Oh no. Oh God.
She was on the verge of panic and forced herself to breathe deeply, to focus on the room and the people around her instead of on her swirling, panicked thoughts.
“See?” Lily said triumphantly to her brother. “Told ye the Fae weren’t real!”
“Yes they are!” Sean cried back. “Uncle Deryn has seen one, havenae ye, Uncle Deryn?”
