“I ken, but we wouldn’t be goin’ tae the middle of a dangerous place, and ridin’ for days through the Highlands. We would land in a clearin’ near Muckhart with our horses. Twould be a quickride. I will get us safely there, I promise. If the tavern daena suit ye, we can move tae the castle Glume, ye would be even more safe.”
I said, “Okay, I’m convinced, if there’s any reason why we have to flee, we will go to Muckhart. I will mount up.”
“Aye, good. And I will teach ye where tis on the map and how tae get there in case we are separated.”
“Oh no, Torin, we cannot keep talking about this.” I stood up and wiped off my hands.
There were two slices left. “You finished with the pizza?”
As I closed the box, our eyes drew to the window, there was a storm outside in the distance.
11
ALEXANDRIA
JULY 8TH, 2004 - MAX ARRIVES
Iwent to the window to watch, while Torin went out to see who was coming.
I could see the shoulder of one of my guards, his arm up blocking his face from the wind. I would need to give him combat pay. I would have to pay him extra for all the weird things that he was about to see, because this was definitely a time travel storm: dark, fast, brutal.
I wished I could ask Torin what was happening, but he didn’t have a phone or radio, and I didn’t want to call the guard and bug him.
So I just watched and waited while the storm rose, blustered, and then slacked off.
Finally I went outsideto see Torin standing over Max, who was lying on my lawn. Max was wearing a modern-style military uniform with medals on the chest and epaulets and a short regal cloak on the shoulders, with a gun at his hip. I rushed up, but then stopped in my tracks when I saw that Torin was glaring down at him. “…ye are a deserter.”
Max said, “I came back, ye arna happy tae see me?”
“Nae, I am not glad tae see ye, Max, ye will get nae greeting from me. I am nae yer brother-in-arms, nae anymore.”
He said, “Och nae, why are ye always an arse?”
“Ye left me here and stole away, and I am the arse? Nae, we are finished. Ye ought tae get up and go.”
Max asked, “Is Alexandria well?”
Torin said, “Aye, I am guardin’ her with m’life, of course she is well.”
Max pulled himself up to sit, his head hanging, looking very worn out. “I hae a great deal tae talk tae ye about.”
Torin scoffed. “Who says I want tae talk tae ye? Ye are a fiend.”
He said, “Och, ye are ornery.”
“Aye, because ye left me! With nae consideration, ye left me without tellin’ me where ye were goin’ and when ye would be back! Ye needed m’sword — how are ye goin’ tae win yer kingdom without m’sword?”
“I came back!”
Torin huffed. “Look at ye with yer medals and honors, ye took all the glory?—”
“I came back tae get ye, because I need yer sword. I hae decisions tae make and I need yer counsel and I also must speak with Alexandria, so I returned — och nae, yecannabe such an arse.”
“Ye might hae said, ‘Torin, I am goin’ tae m’kingdom, I will be back on the morrow.’”
Max looked up. “Would ye hae let me go, without demandin’ tae accompany me?”
Torin scowled. “I hae pizza. I am nae goin’ tae share it, I am goin’ tae eat it in front of ye.”
