“Impressive,” he continued, seeming amused by the whole thing. “Very impressive, indeed.” He dismounted, and as he did, all his men immediately parted ways, as he walked into the circle.
Sam felt himself redden, as he realized that it must have looked as if he were unable to handle himself, as if he would have been helpless if it weren’t for Polly. Which was, he realized, at least partly, true. But he couldn’t be too upset, because at the same time, he was so grateful to her for saving him.
Furthering his embarrassment, the King ignored him, and walked right up to Polly.
“You can let him go now,” the King said to her, still smiling.
“Why should I?” she asked, looking back and forth from him to Sam, still cautious.
“Because we were never going to hurt you. It was but a test. To see if you were worthy of being on Skye. After all,” he laughed, “you landed on our shores!” The King broke into hearty laughter again, and several of his men stepped forward, handing him two long, bejeweled swords, gleaming in the morning light, cover with rubies and sapphires and emeralds. Sam was taken aback at the sight: they were the most beautiful swords he had ever seen.
“You have passed our test,” the King announced. “And these are for you. A gift.” Sam walked over to Polly’s side, as she slowly let go her hostage. They each reached out, and took a sword, examining the jewel-encrusted hilt. Sam marveled at its craftsmanship.
“For two very worthy warriors,” he said. “We are honored to welcome you.” He turned his back, and began to walk, and it was clear that Sam and Polly were meant to follow. As he walked, he boomed out:
“Welcome to our Isle of Skye.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Caitlin and Caleb, followed by Scarlet and Ruth, walked at a brisk pace through the Isle of Skye, flanked by Taylor, Tyler, and several other of Aiden’s coven members. Caitlin was overjoyed to see them. After the initial hardships of landing in this place and time, she finally felt a sense of peace and ease, as she knew they were exactly where they were supposed to be. Taylor and Tyler, and all of Aiden’s people, had been thrilled to see them, too. It was so odd seeing them in this different time and place, in this cold climate, on this stark and barren island in the middle of nowhere. Caitlin was beginning to see how times and places changed, but people were timeless.
Taylor and Tyler led them on a brisk walking tour of the island, and they had been walking for hours. Caitlin had asked immediately if they had any news of Sam or Polly; when they had said no, she had been crestfallen. She desperately hoped that they’d made it back in time, too.
As they walked, Taylor filled them in on their coven’s rituals, habits, new training methods, and on anything and everything Caitlin could possibly want to know. Caitlin realized that Skye was stunning, one of the most beautiful places she had ever been. It felt ancient, primordial, with boulders rising from the landscape, moss-covered hills, mountain lakes reflecting the morning sun, and a beautiful mist which seemed to hang over everything.
“The mist never leaves us,” Tyler said, smiling, reading Caitlin’s mind.
Caitlin blushed, embarrassed, as always, at how easily others read her thoughts.
“In fact, that’s where it gets its name: Skye means ‘the misty isle,’” Taylor said. “It lends a pretty dramatic backdrop to everything here, don’t you think?”
Caitlin nodded, surveying the landscape.
“And it’s useful in battling our enemies,” Tyler chimed in. “Yet no one even dares approach our shores.”
“I don’t blame them,” Caleb said. “That was hardly a welcoming entrance.” Taylor and Tyler smiled.
“Only the worthy can approach. That’s our test. It’s been years since anyone’s tried to visit—and even more years since they passed that test and made it to our shores alive.”
“Only the worthy can survive and train here,” Taylor said. “But the training is the best in the world.”
“Skye is an unforgiving place,” Tyler added, “a place of extremes. Aiden’s coven is as close here as it’s ever been. We hardly ever leave. We train together nearly all day long, and in the most extreme of environments—cold, fog, rain, cliffs, in the mountains, on freezing lakes, on rocky shores—
sometimes even in the ocean. There are very few training methods he hasn’t put us through. And we are more battle-hardened than we have ever been.”
“And we do not train alone,” Tyler added. “Human warriors live here, too, led by their King, McCleod. They have a castle and their own legion of warriors, and we all live and train together. It is very unusual, vampires and humans training together. But we are very close here. We are all warriors, and we all respect the warrior code.”
“Although, of course,” Tyler said, “we don’t cross any lines with mating. Many of them would like to have our vampire skills, but Aiden has strict rules about our turning humans. So they are resigned to the fact that they never will be one of us. We live and train in harmony together. We sharpen their skills beyond what any human could dream of. And they offer us shelter and protection. They have an arsenal of silver-tipped weapons, and if any rival covens should ever attack, they stand ready to defend us.”
“A castle?” Scarlet suddenly asked. “A real castle?”
Taylor looked down, and broke into a big smile. She reached over and took Scarlet’s free hand as they walked.
“Yes, love. We are bringing you there right now. In fact,” she said, as they rounded a hill and pointed, “it’s just over there.”
They all stopped and stared, and Caitlin was amazed at the sight. Before them was an expansive vista of rolling hills, mountains, lakes, and in the distance, perched on its own small cliff, was an ancient castle, nestled at the edge of a huge lake.
“Dunvegan Castle,” Taylor announced. “Home of Scottish kings for centuries.”
“WOW!” Scarlet screamed. “Mommy, we get to live in a castle!” Caitlin couldn’t help but smile, as did the others, as Scarlet’s enthusiasm was infectious.
“Can Ruth come, too!?” Scarlet asked. Caitlin glanced at Taylor, who nodded back. “Of course she can, love.”
Scarlet squealed in delight, hugging Ruth, and the group hurried down the slope, towards the distant castle.
As Caitlin surveyed the castle, she sensed that some deep secrets lay within its walls, secrets that could help her on her search for her father. Once again, she sensed that she was in exactly the right place.
“Is Aiden here?” Caitlin asked Tyler.
“That’s what we’ve been wondering for a while now,” Tyler answered. “I haven’t seen him in weeks. Sometimes he disappears for a while. You know how he is.” Caitlin did, indeed. She thought back to all the times, all the places she had been with them. She desperately needed to talk to him now, to know more about why they had landed in this place and time, to find out if Sam and Polly were okay, to find out about the final key—and most of all, if her father was here now. She had so many burning questions she was dying to ask him. Like, what had happened in London before they were all sent back? Had Kyle managed to survive?
As they approached the castle, Caitlin looked up and admired its architecture—rising fifty feet high, it sprawled over many levels, in a rectangular shape, with several square towers and parapets. It sat boldly and proudly at the top of a cliff, overlooking the vast lake and open sky, and unlike other castles, it was bright and airy, with dozens of windows. Its approach was impressive, with a wide stone roadway leading up to a front gate and an imposing arched doorway. This was clearly not a place one approached easily, and as Caitlin looked up, she spotted human guards on all the towers, watching them like a hawk.
As they approached the entrance, there was suddenly a sounding of trumpets, followed by the rumble of horses’ hooves.
Caitlin turned. Galloping over the horizon, rushing right towards them, were dozens of human warriors, dressed in armor. Leading them was an imposing man dressed in furs, with a large orange beard, flanked by at
tendants, and bearing the demeanor of a king. He had soft facial features, and seemed to be the type who smiled easily. He had a large entourage of warriors, and Caitlin would have tensed up, if it weren’t for Taylor and Tyler being so relaxed. Clearly, these were friends.
As the soldiers stopped before them and parted ways, Caitlin stopped in her tracks, shocked.
There, in the center of the group, dismounting, were two people she loved most in the world.
She couldn’t believe it. She blinked several times. It was really them.
Standing before her, grinning back, were Sam and Polly.
*
Caitlin and Sam each stepped forward before the two large groups of warriors and met in a huge embrace. Caitlin felt so relieved to be holding her brother, to be hugging him, to see and feel that he was alive, and really here. She then leaned over and hugged Polly, as Caleb, too, stepped up, and gave both Sam and Polly a hug.
“Polly!” Scarlet cried, as she came running up, Ruth barking by her side. Polly knelt down and gave her a huge hug, picking her up in her arms.
“I didn’t think I’d ever see you again!” Scarlet said.
Polly beamed. “You can’t get rid of me that easily!”
Ruth barked, and Polly knelt down and hugged her, while Sam hugged Scarlet.
Caitlin felt herself basking in the warm glow of having her family and loved ones reunited. She thought back to London, to everyone sick and dying, to the time when she couldn’t imagine that a happy scene like this would ever be possible. She felt so grateful that everything seemed to be restored, and marveled at how many lifetimes she had already led. It made her so grateful for immortality. She couldn’t imagine what she would do with just one life.
“What happened to guys?” Caitlin asked Sam. “Last I saw you, you promised me you wouldn’t leave Caleb and Scarlet’s side. And when I returned, you were gone.” Caitlin was still upset at their betrayal.
Sam and Polly looked down in shame.
“I’m so sorry,” Sam said. “It was my fault. Polly was abducted, and I left to save her.”
“No, it’s my fault,” Polly said. “Sergei had said there was a cure, and that I had to go with him to get it. I was so stupid—I believed him. I thought I would save them. But I broke my promise to you.
Will you ever forgive me?”
“And me?” Sam asked.
Caitlin looked at both their faces, and could see their absolute sincerity. A part of her was still upset that they’d broke their word and left Scarlet and Caleb so open to attack. But another part of her, the part that was evolving, was telling her to completely forgive them and let it go.
She took a deep breath, and focused on letting it go. She exhaled, and nodded.
“Yes, I forgive you both,” she said.
They both smiled back.
“You might forgive them,” King McCleod suddenly said, dismounting and stepping towards them, “but I don’t forgive them for embarrassing my men like that!” he said, letting out a hearty laugh. “Especially Polly. The two of you put my finest warriors to shame. Clearly, we have a lot to learn from you, as we have learned from the others. Vampires versus humans. Never fair,” he said, shaking his head, with another hearty laugh.
McCleod stepped forward and approached Caitlin and Caleb. Caitlin liked him immediately. He was quick to smile, had a deep, comforting laugh, and seemed to put everyone at ease around him.
“Welcome to our island,” he said, reaching up, taking Caitlin’s hand and kissing it with a bow.
He then reached over and shook Caleb’s hand warmly in both of his. “The Isle of Skye. There is no place like it on earth. Desperate home to the greatest warriors. This castle has been in my family for hundreds of years. You’ll stay with us. Aiden will be thrilled. As will my men. I officially welcome you!” he said with a shout, and all his men cheered.
Caitlin felt overwhelmed at his hospitality. She hardly knew how to respond.
“It is a great pleasure,” she said.
“And we thank you for your graciousness,” Caleb said.
“Are you a king?” Scarlet stepped forward and asked. “Is there a real princess here?” The king looked down and broke into uproarious laughter, louder and deeper than before. “Well now, I am a king, yes indeed—but there is no princess here I’m afraid. Just us men. But perhaps you shall rectify that, my beauty!” he said with a laugh, and took two steps forward, picked up Scarlet, and spun her around. “And what might your name be?”
Scarlet blushed, suddenly shy.
“Scarlet,” she said, looking down. “And that’s Ruth,” she said, pointing down.
Ruth barked, as if in response, and McCleod set her down with a laugh, and stroked Ruth’s fur.
“I’m sure you are all ravenous,” he said. “To the castle!” he shouted. “It’s time to celebrate!” All his men shouted, turned as a group, and headed for the castle’s entrance. As they did, rows of guards snapped to attention.
Sam draped an arm around Caitlin’s shoulder, and Caleb around Polly’s, as they all walked together towards the castle entrance. Caitlin knew she shouldn’t, but despite herself, she allowed herself to hope that, once again, this time, they had found a permanent home, a place in the world that they could all, finally, be at peace in forever.
CHAPTER SIX
It was the warmest and most lavish welcome Caitlin could have imagined. Their arrival had been like one long celebration. They’d run into one coven member after another, and she saw faces she hadn’t seen in what felt like forever—Barbara, Cain, and many others. They’d all sat for lunch at a huge banquet table, in the warm, stone castle, furs beneath their feet, torches along the walls, the fireplace roaring, and dogs running all around. The room felt warm and cozy, and Caitlin realized that it was cold outside—the end of October, Caitlin had been told. 1350. Caitlin couldn’t believe it.
She was nearly seven hundred years away from the 21st century.
She had always tried to imagine what life might be like in this time period, in the times of the knights, of armor, castles...but she had never imagined anything quite like this. Despite the stark change in surroundings, the lack of major towns or cities, the people were still very warm, very intelligent, very human. In many ways, not all that different from the people of her time.
Caitlin felt very at home in this time and place. She had spent hours catching up with Sam and Polly, hearing their stories, their version of what had happened to them back in England. She had been horrified to hear of what had happened between Sergei and Polly, and so proud of Sam for saving her.
And throughout the whole night, she couldn’t help but notice that Sam barely took his eyes off of Polly. As a big sister, she sensed that a major shift had happened within him. He finally seemed more mature, and for the first time ever, truly and totally in love.
Yet Polly, this time, seemed a bit more evasive. It was harder for Caitlin to get an exact fix on where she stood, on her feelings for Sam. Maybe it was because Polly was more guarded. Or maybe it was because this time, Polly truly cared. Caitlin could sense, deep down, that Sam meant the world to her, and that she was being extra careful not to disclose her feelings, or mess it up. Caitlin did notice that every once in a while, when Sam looked away, Polly stole a quick glance back at him. But then she quickly averted her eyes, so that Sam wouldn’t catch her looking.
Caitlin felt, beyond a doubt, that her brother and her best friend were about to become a couple.
The idea of it thrilled her. And it amused her that both of them were still in denial of what was happening between them—and even trying to pretend that it wasn’t.
The table was also filled with new human friends, and Caitlin met so many people who she felt close to. They were all warriors. The king sat at the head, surrounded by his dozens of knights.
Throughout the afternoon, they all sang drinking songs, and laughed aloud as they recounted stories of battle, of hunting expeditions. Caitlin could tell that these Scotti
sh people were warm, friendly, hospitable, loved to drink, and were great raconteurs. And yet they were also very noble and proud, and great warriors.
The meal and stories went on for hours, as lunch extended into late afternoon. Torches died out and were re-lit. Dozens of new logs were added to the massive, stone fireplace; huge vats of wine were replaced. Eventually, all the dogs tired out, feel asleep on the rugs. Scarlet finally feel asleep on Caitlin’s lap, while Ruth curled up beside Scarlet. Ruth had been well-fed, thanks to Scarlet, who’d fed her a never-ending supply of meat. A dozen dogs were seated around the table, begging for scraps, but they all had the good sense to steer clear of Ruth. And Ruth, content, didn’t seem interested in messing with them, either.
Some of the warriors, gutted from food and drink, eventually nodded off on their furs, too.
Caitlin found herself drifting off, turning her mind to other times and places, other matters. She started to wonder what her next clue would be; if her Dad would be in this place and time; where her next journey would take her. Her eyes started to close, when suddenly, she heard her name.
It was the king, McCleod, addressing her over the din.
“And what do you think, Caitlin?” he asked again.
As he did, the jovial table slowly began to quiet, as people turned and looked her way.
Caitlin felt embarrassed, not having been listening to the conversation. The king looked at her, as if awaiting an answer. Finally, he cleared his throat.
“What do you think of the Holy Grail?” he asked again.
The Holy Grail? Caitlin wondered. Was that what they had been talking about?