Hearts Across Time (The Knights of Berwyck: A Quest Through Time Novel ~ Books 1 & 2) by Sherry Ewing

not of his time. He sighed heavily and began from the beginning again. Surely, God would hear and answer his most fervent prayers...
    Far into the morning hours did he continue his penitence, repeating his request with a submissive heart. Peacefulness began to fill his very soul, and Riorden at last found comfort surround his being. His prayers continued in earnest and, for the first time this night, he gave a small smile, knowing his faith in God would never fail him.
    Unbeknownst to him, a stream of light unexpectedly came down from the windows high above and graced his motionless body in a soft golden glow. For with his deepest plea and sacrifice for another’s soul, the heavens decided to smile down upon Riorden de Deveraux and, in doing so, God above granted him his heart’s truest desire.
----
    K atherine flung open the door and looked both ways down the passageway, but Riorden was nowhere in sight. “Did you see which way he went?” she asked the startled group that had been waiting for her.
    “Where who went, Katie?” Juliana inquired gently.
    “Riorden, of course! Who else would I be asking about?”
    She looked at Emily, who only shook her head no.
    Brianna became excited again with the prospect of seeing a specter. “Was he really in there, Katie?”
    Katherine ignored her and turned to Simon. “Where’s the chapel?”
    “Downstairs to the Great Hall and out the─”
    “Thanks,” Katherine proclaimed, cutting him off as she grabbed Juliana’s hand. Juliana, in turn, snatched on to Emily, who then clutched at Brianna. They began to run down the hall, hand in hand, at a rapid pace.
    “Hey, wait for me!” Simon called out, as he attempted to lock the door quickly, but his voice was lost as their footsteps echoed off the walls.
    They came to the tower stairs, and Katherine paused briefly with her foot in midair, feeling as if her heart had leapt up into her throat from the prospect of going down them again. She hated heights, and she hated these infernal spiral stairs even more. She looked up, asking for guidance. “Please God...grant me a miracle to help me find him,” she whispered quietly “and perhaps, if you don’t mind, and it’s not too much trouble, a bit of assistance to assure my safety on these steps?”
    Katherine tried to go as quickly as she could, but felt as though she wasn’t making very good progress. She stopped suddenly. Looking up, she had the strangest sensation course through her body and began seeing minuscule lights before her eyes. They sparkled and twinkled before her like tiny little fireflies and felt, as they touched her cheeks, like the softest touch, like a butterfly’s kiss.
    She turned to look back up at Juliana, who was on the stair above her, and felt Jewels give her hand a reassuring squeeze. Emily and Brianna both tried to give her a comforting smile, but before she could say a word to them, the tunnel lit up in a flash of silvery-blue light. It was blinding, and a startled scream tore from Brianna’s lips. The ground began to shake as Katherine heard Emily yell out, “Earthquake.” The four women grabbed hands and held on as if their lives depended on keeping connected to each other.
    Katherine was in no way prepared for the sudden force of unbelievable proportions that slammed into them, one by one, with the energy of being hit by a truck. They fell onto the steps still holding on to one another. The trembling ground continued it’s shaking until it finally subsided, and the turret darkened with the exception of those tiny lights. Katherine gazed at her friends. They all had the same expression of wonder at what had just happened. To say they were scared, was putting it mildly.
    “Is everyone okay?” Katherine asked with trembling limbs.
    “I believe, Katie, your request has been answered,” Juliana exclaimed with a shaky voice.
    “What?” Katherine asked, confused, as they all began to stand on wobbly legs.
    “Houston...we have a problem,”