A Knight's Vow Part 11

"I think, my lady, that too many days of subsisting on your future food has shown you what a foul work it

has wrought upon you. Aye, we'll have something edible before we go."

He took the map from her, folded it carefully and placed it back between the pages of the book. "We'll keep this with us at all times as well. No sense in losing it before we've had a chance to try it."

"William, we don't have to-"

"Don't you wish to go home?"

It had become altogether too possible for her taste. She couldn't move. She couldn't shake her head or

nod or even breathe for that matter. There was only one thought that seemed to be clear in the swirling mist of possibilities. She looked at William and smiled.

"My home is with you."

"See?" he said with satisfaction. "I told you that you might become fond of me in time."

She put her arms around him and hugged him. "How right you were."

"Clothes, food, then the sh.o.r.e," he said, kissing the top of her head and disentangling himself from her

arms. "We'll have clearer heads for thinking there."

Julianna dressed in her medieval clothing and tried not to let her thoughts run amok. Somehow, though,

she just couldn't stop them. It was one thing to be stuck in the past and be resigned to it. It was another thing entirely to think that perhaps there was a way back to the future.

Then again, perhaps she had already made her choice. She'd married a man centuries in the past with

every intention of staying with him. A little piece of paper wasn't going to change that.

But what if it were true?

She could hardly bear the thought of it.

nine.

William walked down the pa.s.sageway to his uncle's solar, trying not to think about what the man'sreaction would be to the question William had to put to him. He paused before the door, clutched therolled map in his hand, then knocked.

"Enter."

William cast a look heavenward before he blew out his breath and entered his uncle's chamber.

Henry looked up from his table upon which was spread a variety of sheaves of paper. He smiled. "You

left your bride so soon, nephew?"

"She begged me for a rest."

Henry laughed heartily. "No doubt, lad. Well, now that your labors have obviously been properly

accomplished, what other mischief are you combining?"

William pulled up a stool and sat facing his uncle. He realized, with a start, that he'd done the same thing

scores of times before, except it had been his grandsire sitting opposite him. He found the memory surprisingly hard to face.

"You too?" Henry asked wistfully. "I can call to mind countless times when I sat in council with my sire

exactly thusly."

William cleared his throat roughly. "Perhaps 'tis unmanly to miss him."

"He was as much your sire as he was mine," Henry said simply.

"Aye, he was." William fingered Julianna's map for several moments in silence until he thought he might be able to speak without an embarra.s.sing display of emotion. "And I am grateful for it," he managed finally. "He made a man out of me."

Henry drummed his fingers thoughtfully on the table. "He would have agreed with your choice, I think."

"My choice?"

"To trade that crumbling holding for your lady. Though I wonder what it is you'll do now. Castles are, as

you know, b.l.o.o.d.y expensive to build and man."

William snorted. "You gave me enough gold to at least see to outer walls. Perhaps a tent would serve as the hall."

" 'Twas the very least I could do," Henry said. "Now, how is it you intend to proceed? Will you wait out

your sire, or retake your keep despite your vow?"

William took a deep breath, then looked his uncle full in the face. "Neither."

Henry blinked. "Neither?"

"I would like Peter to have it after Hubert is dead."

Henry's jaw slid down. "Your squire? And where is it you intend to be?"

"I'm going to Manhattan with Julianna."

"And just where is Manhattan?" Henry asked. "I've tried to puzzle it out in my head, but I cannot seem to

place it. On the continent?"

" 'Tis a small island," William said, thinking about the geography lesson Julianna had given him earlier that

morning in the sand. Manhattan was an island indeed, though one his uncle never had and never would clap eyes on.

The saints pity him for a fool that he thought he actually might himself.

But that didn't stop him from bringing out his map and spreading it out before his uncle.

"Ignore the words," William said. " 'Tis a jest from someone Julianna knows. But I would know about

this mark here." He pointed to the red circle. "I think it lies near Falconberg. What think you?"

Henry studied the map in silence for a great amount of time. William suspected his uncle was mentally judging William's own wits-or lack thereof.

"'Return to Scotland of the Future,'" Henry mused. " 'Good from Any Century.'" He looked up at

William. "A jest?"

"A poor one."

"Who is your wife, William?"

"No one who needs to be drawn and quartered, uncle."

Henry seemed to consider, then he smiled briefly. "As you say. Now, you intend to travel to this small

red marking?"

"Aye."

"And do what once you're there?"

"What do you think, uncle?"

"I think 'tis madness, William."

"Likely so."

"You needn't give up your keep, nephew."

William took a deep breath. "Keep my priest, if you will, and my squire. If I get word to you that I've

found another place to call mine, send them to me. If not, please let the priest live out his remaining years

here. And give Redesburn to Peter."

Henry looked at him, then shook his head with pursed lips. "I think too much traveling has given you fanciful ideas, lad, but it will be as you wish. And aye, I would say this is close to Falconberg. You know how things are there?"

"Nay. Should I?"