“Yeah, it’s hurting my heart a bit.”
“Mine too. Once we get back to the encampment we’ll sit down so we can hear all about you. And this is the famous Torin? I heard you are Max’s brother-in-arms.”
They shook hands.
I said, “See Torin, I hae been speakin’ on ye.”
Torin chuckled. “As ye ought.”
Ryan said, “I gather from your size you’ll be useful in the coming battle.”
Torin said, “I know m’way around a sword fight.”
“Good, good, we need ya…” His eyes traveled around our group. “Did that giant cat come with you?”
Alexandria grinned, “Yeah, that’s Dude, he’s an experienced time traveler. This is his second trip.”
Ryan chuckled. “Well, cat, welcome to the war.”
16
ALEXANDRIA
SEPTEMBER 16, 2185 - THE ENCAMPMENT PREPARING FOR BATTLE
We all climbed onto the military-style ATV with Torin and I moving into the rear seats facing backwards, Max right behind us. Uncle Aenghus drove us to the encampment, slowly.
Torin kissed my hair, and as our vehicle bounced over ditches and rises on the rough path, I said, “So, Albannach, you’ve never been on a vehicle without doors or a seatbelt before.”
“Aye, tis why I am holdin’ on so hard, tis like riding a horse with the wind in m’hair, but I am not the one with my hands on the reins. I do enjoy not havin’ tae put on the belt, that way I can jump from the vehicle if there is a need.”
“Why would you need to jump from the vehicle?”
“I canna trust someone else tae drive.”
I said, “You let me drive.”
He grinned. “Only because ye are so bonny and as soon as I learn how I will take the reins.”
“You mean the steering wheel, and it depends on if I relinquish it, which is doubtful, I love to drive.”
“Then I will get m’own car and ride alongside yers.”
I kissed his cheek and then listened as everyone talked about the plan, Ryan and Charlie filling us in.
A few moments into the drive Torin said to Max quietly, to keep the Uncles from overhearing, “It sounds as if the uncles hae it all figured out.”
“Aye, as I was tellin’ ye, they hae a plan, tis a good plan, and they hae been strategizin’ on it for years.”
Torin said, “It’s been their war for a long time, but tis yer throne. They hae been losin’, ye should get a say in how the battle is fought.”
I said, “It sounds like it will work though, the element of surprise. I’m glad they know how to work the vessel, we’re novices.”
Max said, “Twill likely work, but there are bound tae be issues. I pray they hae thought it all through.”
As we rode, it came to me, finally, the reality of this. I had time traveled into the future with my brother the prince, and Torin, and we were discussing a battle. My last time travel experience had not been easy, but this had the potential to be a thousand times worse. This was beyond a death-defying adventure, the uncles I had just met were planning a war. Max was going to fight, my husband was… I gulped, looking at the side of his face as he rode, looking out over the landscape, conversing with Max and Charlie about the coming battle.
What if he died?
