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‘Thank you, Emrick,’ they said in unison.
Hector nodded at Blaise. ‘It’s all up to you now,’ he told him. ‘You have your magic back. What you choose to do with it is in your hands. Make wise choices, Blaise. You’ve been given a second chance. Don’t mess it up this time.’
‘I won’t,’ Blaise assured him. ‘Will I lose my memory, the way I did when I first came here?’
Hector considered. ‘I think you might have some slight memory issues, but nothing like you had the first time you time travelled. I think the shock of landing in the Hrafn on a freezing cold December night probably did the most damage there. However,’ he added, ‘I can’t promise there’ll be no other side effects. It might affect you physically. It’s a huge shock to your body. It goes against all the laws of nature, and you might suffer for a while, especially as this is the second time you’ve put yourself through this.’
‘And Romy?’ he asked anxiously. ‘Will she be okay?’
‘She’ll be fine. Now she has no magic in her, time travel won’t affect her at all. Wulfram, I should warn you that you might feel drained the first few times you travel through time, but once you get used to it that will wear off. Just try to rest when you arrive. Oh, and don’t worry about setting off any alarm for yourself. This land knows the Great Guardian. It won’t worry about your arrival, wherever you may turn up in time. Oh, and remember, we’re not sure what date the island returned from the Otherworld. Aim for Gerrenporth. At least we know that was there and you don’t want to land in the sea.’
Blaise shuddered. ‘No we don’t. Landing once in freezing cold water was enough, thanks very much. And I won’t have the St Clair heroes to fish me out this time.’
He nodded at Jethro, Benedict, and Sirius, who each gave him a rueful smile.
‘I know we’ve not been sisters very long,’ Trinity said, taking Romy’s hand, ‘but—well, you know.’
Romy nodded tearfully. ‘Take care of our brother when he returns,’ she said. ‘It was lovely getting to know you, Trinity. I just wish…’
She broke off and shook her head. ‘Bye, Trinity.’
‘Bye, Romy.’
Trinity kissed her lightly on the cheek, then Keely and Harley pulled Romy into a group hug.
‘We love you,’ Keely told her brokenly. ‘Never, ever forget that.’
‘I won’t,’ Romy promised. ‘And don’t forget that I love you, too.’
‘Be happy,’ Harley sobbed. ‘We’ll never forget you and we’ll miss you forever.’
‘I’ll miss you,’ Romy said, tears rolling down her cheeks. ‘Look after each other and look after Mum for me.’
‘Oh, Romy.’ Ewella couldn’t manage anything else for her tears, and Emrick took her hand to comfort her.
Killian gently guided Harley into his arms where she clung to him, heartbroken, and I kissed Keely passionately, not even caring that it was in front of everyone.
‘I love you,’ she said. ‘Please take care of my sister and come home safe.’
‘I’ll be back before you know it,’ I assured her. ‘And don’t worry about Romy. I’ll make sure she’s safe, and I won’t leave her until I’m certain.’
I met Celeste’s eyes over Keely’s shoulder and an understanding passed between us. If I thought for one minute that Blaise was going to revert to type, I was going to bring Romy home with me, whether she wanted to come back or not. No way was I leaving her in the seventeenth century with someone who would lie to her and treat her badly. Celeste and I had already discussed it. I just hoped it wouldn’t be necessary.
‘Goodbye, Celeste,’ Blaise said, standing in front of her. ‘I’m—I’m so sorry for everything that happened.’
‘I know,’ she told him. ‘You don’t have to apologise again. You’ve already apologised goodness knows how many times. Just make better choices this time and look after Romy. That’s all I want from you. Don’t let me down.’
‘I won’t,’ he promised.
‘Okay,’ I said. ‘We really have to go.’
I took Romy’s hand in one hand, and Blaise’s hand in the other and closed my eyes as Hector had told me. In my mind’s eye I saw a date. December 8th, 1673. I saw myself stepping into that date.
‘You’re in charge of your own destiny, Blaise,’ Celeste said urgently. ‘Don’t forget that!’
‘Don’t worry, Celeste,’ Blaise called. ‘I’ll remember.Astra inclinant, sed non obligant.’
I vaguely heard Celeste say, ‘Wait, what did you say?’ but then she was gone, and I heard the cry of seagulls, and waves crashing on the shore, and men shouting instructions to each other. I opened my eyes to find we were no longer in Peloryon House, but in what I could only hope was Gerrenporth.
