Page 109 of Dark Rival

“You had better tell me what Moffat said—what he wants!”

Royce breathed hard. “He wants to trade ye for Elasaid.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

ALLIE CRIED OUT.

Royce steadied her. “I dinna believe he has yer mother, Ailios. I believe yer mother is dead—an’ has been so for centuries.”

She reeled, barely hearing him. Was Elasaid alive? Had she somehow escaped death with her great white power? Had her death been feigned in the twenty-first century? Or had she been captured from a far earlier time?

“Could she somehow be alive? Could she be Moffat’s prisoner?” she gasped.

“He’s playing ye,” Royce said sharply. “Yer mother canna be alive.”

As terrible as her plight might be, Allie could barely think—but she could feel, and hope burst forth. “Maybe she cheated death the day she died in 1992! Maybe she appeared dead—but her power brought her back to life! Oh gods! It would explain why she is frightened and what I have been seeing!”

“Ye have false hope,” Royce cried. “An’ that plays into Moffat’s hands.”

“So this is a cruel trick?” she demanded, shaking.

“If yer mother lived, why has she nay come to ye—to me—to Iona, to the shrine? No one has seen her in over two hundred years!”

Allie hugged herself, reeling. “Maybe she’s been a prisoner—or on the run! Maybe she is alive now—and communicating with me telepathically!” Allie covered her face with her hands. She was suddenly sure her mother was alive—and imprisoned by Moffat. But if Elasaid was a captive, her powers had to have been greatly reduced—she had to be hurt! She became so frightened, her mind went blank. “We must accept this offer!” she cried. “I am young and strong—we have to save my mother! I’ll take her place! Royce, she must be ill or hurt!”

Royce blanched. “There will never be such a trade!” he said harshly. “Not as long as I live!”

She shook violently, terrified for Elasaid.

“She’s dead,” Royce said harshly. “An’ ye allow Moffat to toy with ye like a cat with a mouse.”

“I have to assume she lives,” she said. “I cannot assume she is dead. If there is any chance that she is alive and in Moffat’s power, we have to rescue her.”

“Ailios.” He took her into his arms and spoke quietly and firmly. “We will go to Blackwood. He’s a few hours from Moffat’s hall. He’s had spies on Moffat for a long, long time. I will learn the truth o’ this matter. Ye must trust me now. An’ ye must think o’the facts.”

Allie stared into his eyes, gripping him tightly. The fact was that her mother kept reaching out to her after so many years of silence. The fact was, Elasaid was afraid. “And if Elasaid is alive? If she is Moffat’s prisoner?”

“We will free her.”

She nodded fiercely. “Yes, we will free her, you and me, together.”

He pulled away. “I will free her with the help of Aidan, Malcolm an’ a few other Masters. Ye will stay safe where I put ye!”

She smiled grimly. “I am coming with you—and sticking to you like glue! I am not about to be dumped in some future time while you play hero! Too much is at stake!”

Royce hesitated.

She didn’t have to read his mind to know he was concerned about her being in the vicinity of Moffat’s base of power. “Royce,” she said softly, taking his face in her hands. “Please, please, hear me now. If she is alive, she is hurt, otherwise she’d leap away. If she is alive, she needs healing! I can heal her! And have you forgotten we are going after the man who caused your death in 2007? What if you need healing?” Panic began. “I cannot stay behind. I won’t. I love you too much! We are in this together, no matter what.”

“Yer too brave for yer own good,” he said gruffly, walking away from her.

Allie trembled and watched him pace. “Actually I am scared out of my mind.”

Royce turned to her. “I want ye with me, Ailios. That way, I can watch over ye. But first, ye’ll make a vow.”

Allie tensed.

“Ye swear to me on yer mother’s soul that ye’ll obey me. This is war an’ my word is the final law. I dinna trust ye at all,” he added.