Chapter 18 Alexandria
ALEXANDRIA
The men were all conferring over the touchscreen map and turned when I entered. Torin said, “Och, look at ye, ye are a beauty!”
I smiled and blushed, “Thank you,” noting that everyone looked clean, handsome, and ready to command a war.
Torin was wearing a new navy blue uniform, with a sword at his hip.
Max was dressed like a prince in the same uniform, but with embroidery on the lapels, and a short cloak that matched.
He also had a sword. Ryan, Charlie, and Aenghus were wearing fatigues, like they were headed to battle.
I asked, “What’s the conversation about?” Dude jumped up on the table and sat in the middle of the map.
Ryan laughed, “This damn cat has had his butt on my map all day.”
Torin put his arm around me and kissed my forehead.
I said, “You’re wearing a fancy uniform.”
“Aye, I hae tae since I hae married intae yer family.”
Oh.
“Well, we match a bit.”
“Uncle Ryan has been tellin’ us the plan.”
I looked at the large touchscreen map. “I know it’s irritating to have someone come in and ask for it to be explained again, but can you give me the short version?”
Ryan playfully batted at Dude, drawing him to the side of the table.
Dude meowed and sat down as if he were very irritated.
Ryan said, “At least now you’re sitting on the opposite coastline, cat.
” He pointed at the model and drew his finger along a route.
“We are sending three successive strike lines to this castle. We leave at once, but arrive at different times, to be safe. This will be a surprise attack. Sun Tzu said…” He pulled an open book closer and pointed down on a page with a quote underlined in pencil.
“‘Speed is the essence of war. Take advantage of the enemy’s unpreparedness; travel by unexpected routes and strike him where he has taken no precautions.’ This is what we’re going to do. ”
I said, “Okay, that sounds good. We time jump to the past.”
He leveled his eyes. “Not ‘we’, niece, you will remain here on the base. The five of us are going, and twenty other soldiers.”
I said, “Oh, yes, of course.” I glanced around, I would be in this command post alone, waiting for the battle to happen, great. Somehow in all the excitement I hadn’t realized that.
But of course, why would I also go to battle?
I asked, “Do you know anything about the castle?”
Uncle Ryan said, “Yeah, a decade ago we were working toward this plan, we sent spies, we know the area, we have allies, and we have, most importantly, men on the inside.”
Uncle Charlie said, “We plan to gain control of the castle without shedding any blood, but if it goes south we have some wicked ideas too, like rock music as loud as it will go, emitted from speakers on drones. All we have to do is frighten a quarter of his guards and we will be able to walk right in. One, surprise. Two, strike. Three, win.” He made an explosion noise.
Torin looked pensive.
I watched the side of his face as he chewed his lip, thinking.
I asked, “What do you think of the plan?”
“In the past I hae always seen battles planned by simple measurements: dost we hae enough men and arms? How is the battlefield? Dost we hae the will tae win? This plan is trying tae win by jumpin’ through time, there is a great deal tae think on.”
Max asked, “We are certain Rannald daena hae any other tricks?”
Aenghus said, “Nae, not that we know of. I believe we hae thought it all through down tae the weather. Twill be a fair day.”
Torin asked, “What could go wrong?”
Max said, “Normally I would tell ye, Torin, not tae be so doubtful, but aye, tis important tae think it through.”
Ryan said, “Would you like a list of all that can go wrong?”
Torin nodded.
“Okay, here goes: Rannald could be waiting for us. That would be bad. He might have a weapon that we didn’t plan for.”
I gulped, looking from the map to Ryan’s face, wishing Torin hadn’t asked.
Charlie added, “He might learn we’re coming and leave before we get there. We’d be back at the beginning.”
I said, “I’m new to the time-traveling, but couldn’t he somehow sense we are coming and do the same to us? What’s stopping him from attacking us right now, before we attack him?”
Ryan shrugged. “Nothing stopping him, really, that’s why we’re leaving tonight.”
Charlie said, “We hope he doesn’t know anything.”
Ryan nodded looking down on the map. “We have the element of surprise, I’m sure of it, but for how long?”
It was interesting to watch their discussions, the mix of centuries, each uncle had a different concern. My brother was doubtful, but ready to go. My husband looked quietly thoughtful.
I pulled him aside a bit later and he leaned against a table. I stood in front of him and asked, “Why are you so quiet?”
He kept his voice low. “Daena worry, Alexandria, this is the way of battles. The commanders tell the men twill be good, that they hae thought of everything, and tis up tae the men tae determine how much they will believe.”
“How much do you believe?”
He was quiet. “I believe that yer uncles hae come up with the best battle plan for the moment, and this is our best chance tae win the throne, but I hae reservations. I am tryin’ tae keep them in the back of m’mind and not the front.
I am tryin’ not tae think about how I winna hae Cathbarr with me, he and I hae trained taegether. ”
“Aw, Albannach, now I really regret leaving the horses.”
“Aye, but nae matter, I must fight, beginning in about an hour.”
“Should we… I don’t know, go to bed for a bit?”
His fingers grasped the edge of my skirt and pulled me between his legs. “One last walk through yer gardens would be verra fine. But…” He kissed me on the corner of my mouth. “We are dressed and there inna a place private enough.”
I kissed his lips. “And now that I’ve kissed you like this, if we wander into that corner space, they will all know what we are up to.”
“Aye, I wouldna want tae sully the Princess’s reputation.”
I leaned my head against his lips and we were quiet there for a moment.
He said, “I want ye tae ken I love ye, and if somethin’ happens tae me—”
My head shot up. “What — ? Oh.”
“Just listen, mo leannan. I hae some valuables in m’rooms at Glume. As m’wife they belong tae ye, they were passed down from m’mother when she passed.”
I watched his face as he spoke. “Your mother passed…?”
He nodded.
“I didn’t even know.”
He took my hands in his. “Tis alright, Alexandria, ye ken now, we are new tae each other. There is a lot we daena ken, tis why I am tellin’ ye.
If something happens, go tae Glume and lay claim tae my things, and then ye will go see m’father, Laird Elphinstone.
Ye will introduce yerself, I am sorry I am nae there, I looked forward tae doin’ it.
” His fingers rubbed back and forth on my hand as he spoke, “He daena hae much, but the house and castle would go down tae ye, he daena hae any other heirs.”
I frowned and shook my head. “I don’t need anything, I…”
“He needs tae ken that I am gone, ye will need tae tell him.”
“This is all too much, it’s scaring me.”
He raised his brow and said, “Ye ken what I am goin’ tae say?”
“Yeah, I know. But now I really wish I had taken you to bed. I don’t like all this talk of — ‘this is what you should do if I’m gone.’ What if our last memory of each other is eating pizza?”
“The greatest food ever made!”
“Still… that can’t be the end. I don’t believe anything is going to happen to you, the world can’t be that cruel.”
“Ye ken it can be, mo leannan, of course it can.”
“Yeah.”
He said, “Besides that, the pizza wouldna be the last memory taegether, twould be this, here — ye in my arms, my lips here.” He kissed my forehead and so I held him even closer.
“Okay, that’s good.”
He said, “And we wouldna forget our wedding night.”
“Basically yesterday.” I sighed. “It was awesome.” I kissed him. “But this is just a conversation, a just-in-case, we will be together tomorrow, and all the days after.”
He didn’t say anything. He kissed me and then I stepped away from his embrace. He stood and we went to the table to eat the meal placed out for us.
After the meal, Max said, “Alexandria, may I speak tae ye?”
We went to the corner for privacy.
He said, “I wanted ye tae ken Aunt Claray will remain here with ye. They considered sending ye tae the safe house with the bairns, but I took the liberty of speaking for ye, I told them ye would want tae remain here. There will be a full guard. I hae been assured that ye will be safe.”
“Okay, thank you for looking out for me.” I reached in my pocket and pulled out the carved lamb. “Did you give this to me?”
He picked it up from my palm. “Aye,” he frowned, “ye still hae it?”
I nodded.
He looked really sad. “I carved it for ye when ye were three. I gave it tae ye right before ye disappeared.”
“Carved from the Rowan tree.”
“How do ye remember?”
“I honestly don’t know, the memories came back when I saw it.”
He passed it back to me.
“You told me it would keep me safe and it did.” I tucked it back in my pocket. “I also got a letter from our mother, I will show you, I brought it, but most importantly, she asked—”
He shook his head. “Can ye save it for another time, Alexandria? Tis a great deal tae think on before the battle.”
“Yes. Definitely. Of course. I’ll let you read it when you’re back.”
“Good, and I am verra glad ye are here. Twill be good for ye tae ken what was required of us tae gain the throne. I believe twill give ye discernment and strength. And seein’ ye as beautiful as ye are, ye will inspire as well — the soldiers need the inspiration, yer strength will be important in the coming hours. ”
I said, “I will, I’ll be strong. And… this was mom’s dress.”
“Ye look much how I remember her, tis verra difficult… and also verra good tae see ye.”
“I feel the same way, everything is difficult and everything is good.”
He said, “I also thought it important tae tell ye that if somethin’ happens tae me—”
I frowned. “I don’t like all this talk.”