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We searched that area, looking all around and sometimes inexplicably up at the sky.

He said, “We can search the tunnel next.”

We headed toward the tunnel. “Are they going to recognize you? Will they know you’re the guy who assaulted this castle a few days ago?”

“Nae, tis unlikely, the MacDougall men are long gone, if anyone stayed on tae work they likely winna recognize me, they were hidin’ durin’ the battle and it daena matter anyway.” He sneered. “I am a warrior who won, they are a scullery maid or a stable boy forced tae work for the winner.”

“I guess that’s a good point, these guards though?”

“They are the king’s men.”

We walked toward them, with Dude in our wake, and Torin mumbled, “Likely.”

As we passed the guards, Torin grunted and said we were with Niall Campbell, they let us pass.

I said, “Phew.”

He said, “Aye, I wasna sure.”

I looked over my shoulder to see them crouched around Dude, blocking his path, trying to get him to come closer.

Torin followed my eyes and called over, “The lion rides with me.”

The guards stood and Dude walked briskly to catch up.

17

ALEXANDRIA

1308 - WE SHOULDN’T FIGHT, YET WE DO

Our horses were taken around to the stable and Torin and I walked through the tunnel, checking the edges and corners even though it was obvious our time travel device wasn’t there.

We came out in the courtyard and stood taking in the scope of it.

“A week ago we were in a huge battle here.”

“Aye, tis unsettlin’, I hoped tae never see it again.”

I put my hands on my hips. “Do you think someone found it? We could ask Niall to question the men?”

Torin said, “I daena think so, Princess, the truth is, I needed tae look, but I canna explain how it could fall from m’pocket. Twas inside m’coat, here at m’chest.” He patted near his ribs on the side. M’coat was tight, the bottom was belted. It couldna hae fallen out.”

“You were cut on your shoulder. Your coat was sliced — could it have come from the opening?”

“Aye, my coat was cut here.” He pointed at the new stitches, but how could the device roll up and then fall out? It daena make sense.”

“Yeah, I guess not. You weren’t upside down.” I nodded, but wasn’t sure why I was agreeing, it had to be here somewhere.

“Dost ye think… Could it hae happened in one of our different times around in the battle? I remember puttin’ it in my coat this final time, what if we went around a different time that I daena remember?”

“Where else would you have put it?”

“Once in a bag I carried, I remember…”

“I have gone through all the bags. We don’t have a vessel hidden somewhere. So if that happened, we sent it back with Max and the uncles and stranded ourselves.” I huffed and blew a piece of sweaty hair off my forehead.

I said, “And this is a good point, it must be said, that is the last time we go ‘around a different time’. That is dangerous and confusing⁠—”