“They wanted tae save the king and queen, they wanted tae keep ye and Max alive, they hae a vessel that allows them tae time travel. We already suspect they were usin’ the vessel tae do things over afore the power was taken away?—”
I said, “That was probably a good thing, they settled down, grew their family and stopped playing around with all our lives.”
“Aye, but now they hae a vessel once more. The battle has gone wrong. The pull tae fight it over again will be formidable.I can see the danger andstillI want tae fight it again, or how will I live with the shame of havin’ been beaten? I watched Rannald get away and lost Max his kingdom,again.Och, tis a great deal of shame. But I hae the power tae overcome the defeat. What is stopping us?”
“Nothing, nothing at all. Except it sounds really dangerous, what if the outcome is worse? What if someone dies?”
“Aye, tae turn the wheel again is a risk.”
I said, “They shouldn’t make the decision on their own, you and I promised each other we wouldn’t do things over. I’m not okay with them doing this.”
“They hae a way tae do it, twould be difficult tae talk them from it. But every battle waged wears on a man, how many times can we be expected tae fight, how many losses can we bear?”
“Damn, I need to… I should talk to them, find out what they’re planning.” I looked at the door. “If they decided to do it right now, they could just leave, and do it, and would we know?”
“Nae. I daena think so. But this is speculation, Princess. Be cautious, ask questions, ye ken, find out if they are thinkin’ it, and if they are, try tae be the voice of reason.”
“I just hate the idea that they’ve been shifting my life, changing things without my knowledge, and that your life is at stake … look, I’m going out there, just… get some rest, okay?”
“I am sorry I gave ye somethin’ tae be concerned about.”
“No, it’s fine.” I cocked my head. “…what if the Uncles have already done it? What if this is the second time they’ve tried? How would we know?”
He shook his head.
My eyes went wide. “Aunt Claray just happened to have a dress for me to wear. She had a uniform for you. Max had medals! How did that happen? We were only here for a few hours!”
He said, “Aye, there are a great many signs. Includin’ a feelin’ I hae that I hae been through all this before.”
“Damn. Okay… this is fine, I’m going to the waiting room, I’ll just make sure that’s not what they’re planning. If it is, I will intervene, give you a heads up, we will make a good strong plan. None of this desperation: desperation is when mistakes aremade. I will stop them from being rash. They’re my uncles, they want what’s best for us, this is not a big deal. No worries.”
I patted his arm. “Don’t worry, I got this. Get some rest.”
He joked, “…I think I am already asleep…”
“You’re going to be fine though, right, you’re just sleepy?”
“Aye, I feel good, Princess, I will awake, ever yer faithful husband, Torin, on the other side of this sleep.”
I kissed him. “Good, sweet dreams, I’m grateful you’re back.”
I left his room.
I shovedthrough the doors to the waiting room, to find myself in a scene that was difficult to describe, the room was darkened, as if the color had been drained from it, the look of a vintage video, burnt on the edges, but maybe it was just my vision going tunnel, common in a panic attack, and this must indeed be that, because the room was empty, except for the chairs, dust in the air, the humming of a machine somewhere, a ticking of a clock from the wall behind me. I stared at it, the second hand the only thing that was moving in the room. I turned slowly, walking to the counter. I peered in the back, “Hello?”
It echoed.
I turned to the door I had come through, and pushed through it, entering an empty room. I went through a long desolate hall, to another room, also empty, back down the hallway at a race.
I shoved through the large doors to the waiting room, totally empty, furniture gone… I crumpled to the ground unable to breathe.
24
TORIN
THE BATTLE A SECOND TIME - SEPTEMBER 16, 2185
Istood in the small side-chamber they had given me tae dress, fingers smoothin’ the front of a new navy coat. The wool was heavy, the cut perfect, the braid exactly where it ought to be. It felt altogether too perfect. I had never worn a uniform in my life that fit so well. I had a tailor at Glume who could sew a fine coat, but the measurements were taken and his work took weeks. I often needed the new coat long afore it arrived finished.
