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WHERE WE LEFT OFF IN TORIN AND THE BATTLE
A few hours ago Torin, Alexandria, Maximillian, and the Uncles sacked Dunstaffnage Castle.
They had been at war with Rannald, the man who murdered Alexandria and Maximillian’s parents, Nor and Livvy, the King and Queen of Riaghalbane. Earlier attempts to take the castle had failed. This time Torin took command of the plan.
Our heroes breached the walls. Torin dueled Rannald and won. He was gravely wounded in the fight and did not reach the extraction point in time to return to Riaghalbane in the year 2185.
This is fine though, he has a vessel in his pocket, or so he believes.
The rest of the company jumped home. Charlie was injured. Maximillian was gravely injured. The battle had been brutal.
When Lexi realized Torin had not made it to the jump point, she let go and stayed behind.
Here’s the next scene:
A horse breathed behind me and a voice said, “Och nae, Princess, this is the dumbest thing I hae ever seen ye do!”
I rolled over to see him and sobbed. “I know, I thought I was going to die.”
He leaned forward on his horse.
“I am here, I winna let ye die.”
“Did you kill him, really?”
“Aye, yer family’s long nightmare has ended. I am a hero.” Then he said, “I am verra glad ye are here, I canna move m’arms verra well and I dinna ken how I was goin’ tae get from m’horse.”
“Oh, yes, okay, good.” I jumped to my feet. “What do you need?”
“Take m’sword,” he said as he slumped to the side and slid to the ground with a loud and frightening thud.
Torin is very gravely injured.
His vessel is gone.
They have a first aid kit one of the soldiers left behind.
(In hindsight we are relieved Lexi stayed behind. It is hard to see how he would have survived without her.)
And, lo and behold, their ginger Maine Coon cat named Dude has stowed away in someone’s bag and saunters up.
He’ll be on this adventure too.
This book begins with Torin and Lexi on his horse, Cathbarr, Dude tucked away in a saddlebag, and they’re all headed toward an inn in Oban. And of course it’s raining.
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ALEXANDRIA
1308 - WE CHANGE COURSE
Rain dripped down my face, making it hard to see past my nose. I tucked my chin and held onto the saddle with my thighs, gripping the pommel. Torin was behind me with the reins in his hands in my lap, but he didn’t seem to be steering… as a matter of fact he had grown heavy behind me, as if he had fallen asleep.
I wanted to look, but was afraid I would put him off balance. His weight pressed me forward: it would have been comforting any other time, but now it frightened me.
He was so injured.
What if he was unconscious?
