Charlie said, “So tell us the plan. Hopefully I have an important role, it’s not lost on me that I’m the one who gets hurt in the battle.”
Ryan said, “You don’t know that for sure.”
Charlie scoffed, “I’ve only done the battle through twice, you just said that you’ve done it at least three times, I can do the math.”
Torin said, “My guess is it has been closer tae four.”
Max said, “Since I don’t remember any of them, does that mean…?”
Ryan shook his head. “Only Aenghus and I know when we restarted everything, we even kept it from Claray, mostly.” He glanced around the room at us, meeting our eyes briefly, then looked down at the floor, “I’m sorry, we only did it to try to save lives.”
He folded his arms and leaned on the table.
Torin said, “That’s in the past, we will put it behind us. Now in the present we hae a war tae wage, tis time tae clear our minds and focus on the coming battle.”
By now I was used to the stark brightness of the war-room and the videos projected in front of the walls, but this time there was a record of the war dead, scrolling names that sent a chill down my spine.Oh no.
The big table in the middle of the room still held the large black touchscreen map, and the model castle in the middle of it, with small model pieces placed around on it.
My eyes focused on the words scrawled in red, ‘Extraction Point,’ under it, ‘If you’re not there you don’t leave.’
I gulped.
Ryan, Aenghus, Charlie, Max, and I were standing around the table. Torin stood at the head, his arms folded, his jaw set, he was intense, staring at that model.
Finally he said, “Last time we tried tae win the battle, I was sure twould work?—”
Aenghus scoffed, “The last time I remember, ye complained, Torin, most of the way.”
“Aye, I take it back, I was sure it wouldna work, but I went anyway. The music was verra loud. We gave it a good shot, more than once. Some of us came close tae meetin’ our maker. We arna doin’ that part again.”
Ryan opened his mouth to protest.
Torin shook his head. “Nae, I ken ye want tae fix it, Ryan, by doin’ the exact same thing. I see it here, ye hae the figures set up the same as the last time and the time afore that, ye are turning the wheel again and again, hopin’ for God’s hand tae intervene. He haena yet, I promise ye. The last time we fought the battle we needed him and he dinna come. He inna goin’ tae come this time.”
Aenghus said, “God doesn’t intervene in time, he’s timeless.”
Torin nodded as if this made perfect sense. “He inna goin’ tae intervene, tis up tae us. That’s why we are goin’ tae do it a different way.”
Ryan said, “I’m not sure we have to listen to you, Torin.”
Charlie said, “How about a vote, as the guy who probably dies, I say, let’s at least listen to Torin’s idea.” He raised a hand.
Max, Aenghus, Torin and I raised our hands.
Ryan said, “Alright, let’s hear it. But, first, I gotta know, what makes you think it will work?”
Torin said, “I’ve noticed something, each time, the flick of his cloak. I daena ken, my eyes are drawn tae it. And as I hae thought on it I realized two things, one, he favors the same leg every time the day resets. He is wounded. I am certain of it — afore I even hae m’blade on him. Wound that leg early and he canna pivot. One feint tae the left and his guard drops like a drunk man’s.”
Ryan said, “Interesting.”
Torin said, his grin widening, “Aye, the cloak is his tell, he flicks it in the same way afore he draws.” He acted it out, then said, “Tis vanity — and hubris, yet that flick gives me a half-breath of a warnin’. If I step inside the flourish and catch him with his sword arm tangled in wool… my point finds his throat. He is a dead man.”
Torin pointed at the figures on the map. “We ride tae the castle at dawn. The same number of men, the drones?—”
Charlie said, “We get to keep the loud music, right? That’s my favorite part.”
“Aye, tis a good distraction while we blow apart the door, yer plan stands in that regard. But horses this time.”
