“Aye. Rannald is not allowed tae occupy that throne, he murdered tae gain it, and now he has allowed it tae fall intae ruin! Och, when I win it back I will hae him drawn and quartered. I will declare it a holiday, so all can come, watch, and rejoice.”
Torin said, “I like the sound of that, m’laird.”
“The uncles want tae take the fight tae Rannald. They ken where and when he will be in his castle, Dunstaffnage?—”
Torin said, “Dunstaffnage? That is a Campbell castle!”
“In the early fourteenth century it belongs tae Rannald. Tis not enough that the power hungry bawbag has usurped my kingdom, and seized my castle, he must hae more. The uncles ken where Rannald is, they believe he is vulnerable, they plan tae send an elite force tae attack Dunstaffnage Castle in the year 1308. They say he has security, but not enough. He trusts his guard, but the uncles have informants on the inside. He thinks he has allies, but they’ve turned some of his guard against him.”
Torin rubbed his hands together. “Och, tis verra good.”
“Aye. The uncles set the plan in motion years ago, but since they lost the vessel they hae just been thinkin’ on it.”
Torin glanced at me. “They hae been mutterin’.”
Max nodded. “Aye, and hae grown weary from it. I hae just joined the fight, and they are already tired.”
Torin said, “Ye need me tae raise m’sword alongside ye in the coming battle, but…”
“Aye, there is a but…”
“Ye arrived and said ye were tormented.”
Max nodded, but didn’t speak.
Torin narrowed his eyes. “Tis not so simple as a coming battle that ye ken I will fight with ye. Ye daena even hae tae ask, tis already known — what is tormenting ye?”
“All night I couldna stop thinking about time travel — the uncles hae assured me I canna, but with the vessel I ken how tae save m’parents... daena I? What if Itried...?”
Torin raised his brow. “Och nae.”
Max nodded quietly.
I asked, “What do you mean? I don’t understand.”
Max remained quiet.
Torin said, “Max has figured out that he could go back and kill Rannald long afore he ever thought about time travel, years before he usurped yer parents’ throne?—”
Max nodded. “But I wouldna kill Rannald. I would kill his grandfather. Therefore Rannald would never live. Twould solve everything.”
“You mean our parents would be alive, but I thought you said that couldn’t happen?”
“The uncles tried a great many things, but they dinna try this, he wouldna exist, he would never usurp our crown. It has tae work.”
I said, “But… what would that… what wouldhappen?”
Torin watched Max for a moment, then said, “Alexandria, it would mean that all of the events of yer life would be changed. Ye wouldna be a young lass from the New World, ye would likely grow up in a kingdom.”
Max said, “Think of it, Alexandria, if ye could grow up with our parents? As a princess!” He glanced around the kitchen. “In a grand palace!”
I frowned.
He swigged from his beer.
Torin said, directed to Max, “There is a verra great downside tae it.”
Max said, “I am aware.”
