Someone on the radio said: “Dammit.”
I put down the binoculars to try to see, but Torin looked really small as he planted his feet, and raised his claymore.
I forgot to breathe.
My radio crackled: “Got a shot?”
Charlie said, “Lexi, talk to me.”
But I was frozen, I couldn’t look away.
I heard Torin’s voice through the radio, calm and deadly: “Come down, Rannald. Or I’ll come up and fetch ye.”
The duel began.
40
TORIN
1308 - THE USURPER AND THE SWORD
Rannald stood just inside the tunnel again, his cloak hangin’ at his calves, not yet doin’ the flick that I had seen too many times afore. I would focus there, for m’moment tae strike, but for now I had tae draw my eyes tae his face.
His eyes locked on mine. He was sneerin’ but beneath it I saw he was unsettled, a glimpse of fear. In all of these tries tae bring him down, he hadna figured out we were coming.
We had been fortunate, we had the uncles with a long history of time travel, and the foreknowledge that he would be here — it had paid off, but we couldna expect it tae continue on this way, this had tae be it.
The end.
Win or die trying.
His face drew intae a sneer. “I see some of the usual men, trying tae win back their brother’s long lost throne, och, they are a sad lot, they canna stop losing?—”
Max, from his position behind me, yelled, “Rannald! Ye are goin’ tae skulk in the dark like a thief? Come out and face the true king!”
His face broke intae a slithery smile. “Ah, has the young pretender finally joined us?” His eyes swept over the smoking, war torn courtyard. “Where is the fugitive prince?”
“I am not tellin’—”
“Ah, I see him.” He kept his eyes on him, but then his eyes narrowed. “But that means,” he turned tae me. “Who are ye, we haena met?”
“I am Torin Elphinstone. Brother-in-arms tae Prince Maximillian the son of King Normond?—”
“He inna the king, I am the king.”
I scoffed, and continued. “I am husband tae Princess Alexandria and I am the champion of King Maximillian, the one and only heir tae the throne of Riaghalbane?—‘”
Fury spread across his face. “Ye dare ride intae my yard and speak like this tae me? Nae, ye are naething, the throne is mine, I am the King, my son is the heir.”
I banged the tip of my sword on my boot. “Och, I daena like ye.”
He said, “Ye walk intae my courtyard like ye own it?”
Max stepped from the ATV and called out, “I own it, if ye hae claimed this castle, tis mine now. I am Maximillian, how dare ye sit on my father’s throne and call yerself king? Tis time tae surrender, usurper, afore I take yer head from yer neck.”
Rannald cocked his head. “He seems like his father. I bet he bleeds intae the dirt at m’feet the same way.”
I shook my head. “Ye are the Fetid Boil on the Arse of Alba and I am goin’ tae lance ye.”
