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It’s just a flashlight, be normal.

But man was I relieved to see a lamp.

I was thinking about how much I loved artificial light, when Artair accidentally swept it into Torin’s eyes. “Nae, I canna see!”

Artair said, “Sorry, Torin, my bad, I will turn it off,” but then after riding for a few moments without it, Torin said, “Ye can turn it on, Prince Artair, I prefer tae be blinded than in total darkness.”

Artair said, “Aye, there’s the conundrum.”

We arrived at a secluded field just off the road and stood in a circle, bags slung on our shoulders, horse reins in our hands. Artair pulled a vessel from his pocket and Torin said, “Tis a relief tae see one again, tis a great deal of pain but I am greatly lookin’ forward tae it.”

“It inna half the pain of the Trailblazer, I will never complain about anything again.” Artair grinned. “Nae, I will complain, my Gwynedd accuses me of complaining all the time, but she kens I am good-natured. I hae tae remind her how good-natured I am by drivin’ her insensible with my complaints about things. Tis my way, she is verra forgiving. Ye will meet her sometime.”

“Will we? I thought we were to stay away.”

He sighed. “Yer parents, Nor and Livvy helped me find Gwynedd and win her. I am indebted tae them for all they did for us. I will hae ye tae dinner. I will introduce ye tae Gwynedd and our bairns, and we will talk kingdoms and the history of the world.”

“I would like that, Max could come too.”

He nodded sadly and looked down at the vessel. I glanced at Torin’s face, though stoic, it had gone pale. We both were worrying — was Max okay? I hooked my arm around his, and he clamped his other hand on Artair’s arm.

Artair said, “Ye holdin’ on?”

“Aye.”

Before I had fully drawn in a full breath to my lungs to prepare for the jump, the vessel was twisted. It vibrated and the shocking pain spread up my arms and a wind swept around us. Then the lightning struck beside us, the air was charged, and my mouth was open, screaming, but with no sound, as we were ripped away from the year 1308, headed to the kingdom and the uncertain fate of my brother, Max.

43

ALEXANDRIA

THE CASTLE IN THE KINGDOM OF RIAGHALBANE - SEPTEMBER 23, 2185

Iopened my eyes to see Torin’s hand beside my face. I saw his wedding band glinting in the sun and his finger twitch. Thank God, at least one of us survived, because I had not… I was, clearly, dead. Probably, except the sun was bright. There was a bit of a breeze, bringing not the stench of damp medieval dirt, but a cleaner wind, carrying the scent of cut grass and cultivated gardens.

There was no sound. I opened my eyes again and blinked. I was on a flat piece of… cement, a paved… It was a paved rooftop. I pulled my eyes down to see doors at the far end. We were on a roof of some kind. There was a yellow stripe near my feet. And then by turning a bit I could see that we were on a yellow outline of a circle… a helicopter pad.

I still couldn’t even raise my head. I reached out and placed my hand on Torin’s, so that it was enclosed within. That was good. I felt him shift.

Then his voice low and gravelly from the sleep, mumbling, “Ye well, mo leannan?”

I said, “Aye, survived.”

I heard footsteps coming, many, and saw Torin raise his head, mumble, “Och nae, soldiers.” He pulled himself up to sitting with a groan. “We won the throne?”

Artair’s voice said, “Aye, ye won, did I forget tae tell ye?”

“Ye might hae, but I dinna believe it. This is the castle? We won so hard we are already comin’ and goin’ from the castle?”

“Aye, this is Max’s castle now.”

Palace guards were already moving in, dark uniforms, gold at the cuffs, faces trained to be blank.

They bowed.

“Princess Alexandria. You are safe. Do not try to stand until you are ready.”

I heard the rustle of people getting to their feet. I had to get up, especially because I was here to see…