A Double-Edged Blade by Julie Moffett

Author:Julie Moffett
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Time travel
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Miles looked at her in incredulous surprise. "Oliver Cromwell? The Oliver Cromwell?"

"Yes."

He snapped his mouth shut with a firm snap. "After everything ye just told me about the black-hearted bastard ye want to try and save his life?"

"It's what is supposed to happen, Miles. We can't interfere with history."

Miles raised his hand sharply in disagreement. "As far as I am concerned, my history hasn't yet been written. Have ye lost your senses, Faith? Killing Cromwell is exactly what needs to be done. I'd do it myself if I could."

"Then what will be next?" she retorted sharply. "Are you asking me to permit Paddy O'Rourke to play God with history? Cromwell is not supposed to die by his hand. I know that and so does he. I cannot permit it to happen."

Miles knelt down on one knee, grasping her hand between

his. "But the suffering ye say Ireland goes throughwe can stop it, Faith. If ye let him kill Cromwell, it could save hundreds and thousands o' lives."

"What happened to Ireland was as history willed it," Faith responded softly. "Who knows, Miles? Perhaps the pain and suffering the Irish went through made them cling all the more fiercely to their traditions. Or it may have prevented the Irish from being quietly assimilated into an English way of life. We just don't know. We can't second-guess history; it is a game far too dangerous for us to play. Paddy O'Rourke and I were never supposed to be here. As a result, I have to stop him from carrying out his personal agenda. History must remain as it is. I'll do it with or without your help."

Miles searched her eyes for a hint of deception but found only a quiet determination. "Your predictions . . . are they really what comes to pass?"

She wearily brushed a strand of pale hair from her forehead. "Yes. It's the history I know."

Without a word, Miles abruptly rose to his feet. Faith watched him pace the room, his hands clasped behind his back, his face drawn in quiet contemplation. She knew he was struggling with what she had told him. To believe or not to believe. She could hardly expect a man of his time to believe such a thing. Yet she so desperately wanted him to believe, to understand just how much she had risked by telling him the truth.

She started in surprise when Miles suddenly stopped pacing and turned to face her. Planting his feet apart, he crossed his arms against his chest and frowned determinedly.

" 'Tis done. My decision has been made. I am going to marry ye tomorrow evening, with or without your consent. 'Twill serve two purposes. First, 'twill protect ye temporarily from the English soldiers who will undoubtedly appear at my castle gates at any moment. Second, 'twill protect me from ye, if what ye have said is just an English plan to draw me into illegal activities. As my wife, any actions ye may undertake become my responsibility, as in turn, my actions will speak for the O'Bruaidar clan, including ye.

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