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“Thank you,” Taran replied, indicating Paige should take the bench, before sitting beside her.
Their host settled easily on the furs despite appearing to be well advanced in age. “How may I be of service?”
Taran hesitated, unsure where to begin his explanation of how and why they were here. “I’m Taran Fleming and this is Paige Williams. We’ve just arrived and we’re—”
“We’re looking for my brother,” Paige burst out, literally wringing her hands from nervousness. “Austin Williams? Tall. Blonde. Pale blue eyes.” She watched the man expectantly, but he merely blinked at her.
“Forgive me,” she muttered contritely, sitting back a little. “I’m forgetting my manners. But I’m desperate to find him. He disappeared some months ago, and we’ve recently discovered it’s possible he might have, uhh, ended up here.”
“Here?” Old Man tipped his wizened head and watched her curiously. “You traveledhere,on purpose, to find him?”
“Yes. Have you seen him?” she asked eagerly.
“How?” The man inquired; eyes fixed on her. “How did you come?”
“Well,” she glanced at Taran, “we…uh…were sort of…broughthere? By…” She turned to Taran, eyes pleading for help. “I don’t know how to explain.”
He laid his hand over hers to still their trembling and turned to Old Man, wondering if their explanation would sound as preposterous as it felt. “We discovered her brother had been campin’ in a cave. While we were there, examining it for somethin’ that might lead us tae him, there was—” he swallowed and forged ahead, hoping they wouldn’t be tossed out on their ears. “Suddenly, there was an…irregularityin a section of the cave wall, and—”
“No moon,” the man nodded, knowingly.
“Pardon?” Taran said. “I dinnae understand.”
“Last night.” Old Man blinked. “There was no moon.”
“Aye,” Taran said slowly, “but what—”
“It was the same for them,” Old Man stated matter-of-factly.
“Them?” Taran queried, sensing Old Man was conveying something significant. “Ye mean, the people? Out there?” He nodded toward the door.
“The same for them,” the old man repeated, before turning to Paige. “And your brother.”
“Then he’s here?” she leaned forward. “Where?”
Old Man shrugged. “He chose to leave.”
Paige slumped and Taran slipped an arm around her shoulders, tugging her close. “We’ll find him, lass. Ye should be happy. Yer instincts were right about where he went. We’re closer than ever, now. ’Tis good.”
Paige nodded miserably and swiped a tear from her cheek. “It’s just that I thought,finally, I’d see him, touch him, hear his voice.”
“Dinnae fash. I promise ye, we’ll find him,” Taran assured her. He pressed a kiss to her temple and turned back to Old Man, wanting to fully understand his message. “The others, they all…uhh…traveled, as well? From where?” His heartbeat kicked up a notch, anticipating the answer. “From…when?”
“From where they were,” Old Man stated as if it was obvious. “Fromwhenthey were.”
Taran felt the puzzle pieces coming together. “What year is this?”
“Where?” Old Man asked, drawing a soft grunt from Paige.
“Here. Now,” Taran stated, not taking his eyes from him.
Old Man blinked once and looked at Taran as if he were slow. “It is now.”
“I dinnae understand,” Taran continued. “Whatcalendaryear is this?”
Sounds of people working and moving about the village, drifted through the window, along with one ambitious fly buzzing around the small room, as Old Man took his time pondering something.
At first, Taran thought he must be trying to remember, then realized he was probably deciding something. When he raised his gaze to Taran—eyes dark as ebony, but as clear and bright as a baby’s—Taran knew he’d hear the truth.
