Chapter 26 Torin
TORIN
“Iam nae goin’ unless ye tell me the truth.”
The uncles stared at me dumbfounded.
I dinna look at Max, but could feel him starin’ at the side of m’face.
“We are makin’ a mistake, I believe ye hae fought this battle before, and now ye are doin’ it again because we lost, and—”
Ryan said, “Don’t be ridiculous, Torin, what are you saying?”
“I am nae goin’ tae fight it without assurances that ye are being truthful, I need ye tae admit we hae done this before, and I want tae ken that ye hae altered the battle plan.
I daena want tae live through this battle again without warnin’.
I daena ken how tae fight it differently.
I canna fight a battle I hae already waged once.
We lose, tis clear — ye are attempting tae fight it again, I say, nae. ”
Ryan sputtered.
Aenghus said, “We need ye in the battle! Ye would leave m’nephew on the field? He said ye were his sword!”
“I ken, I am goin’ tae try tae convince Max tae remain here, I want a word with all of ye tae make my case.”
Ryan looked at his watch. “The soldiers are arriving in a minute, we don’t have time for this.”
Aenghus said, “If ye are afraid, Torin, ye can stay here.”
I said, “I am not afraid of anything, nae… I take that back, I am afraid that ye, auld man, are takin’ yer time machine, not even yers, tis Max’s and I almost died ten times in gainin’ it for him, that ye are usin’ it tae twist time tae yer liking.
Ye are usin’ my body tae secure a throne, without givin’ me a chance tae agree that I will live this battle over.
Tis fraudulent and every battle there is a chance tae die, ye are taking a chance with my life that I daena agree with. ”
I looked at Max, “Ye hae thoughts? Remember, m’laird, ye commanded these men not tae turn time again, they hae gone against ye.”
He chewed his lip. “Uncle Ryan, hae we fought this battle before?”
Uncle Ryan huffed, “Come on, nephew, we don’t have time for…”
He let his words trail off.
I met Max’s eyes and then turned tae Charlie. “Ye are being verra quiet, Charlie, ye hae something tae say?”
He shook his head. “I… I will fight with my brothers for my nephew’s throne, as planned, but yeah, I’ve got a weird feeling that this has happened before.”
I said, “I will tell ye what happened, I believe that Max is goin’ tae be gravely wounded, tis why the uncles would try tae do it once more.
And I believe ye will be killed, Charlie, tis why ye daena ken about it.
But I also think this inna the first time, ye hae all done time over, trying tae unspill the blood and unbreak the bones. ”
They all looked at each other.
I said, “I winna demand ye admit it, but am I wrong?”
Charlie shook his head.
“I daena blame ye, I would hae done the same thing if I lost on a battlefield and had a time machine, but what did ye learn? How can ye expect us tae walk intae this courtyard again without a warnin’ of what might become of us?”
Ryan looked furious.
I said, “I hae a feelin’, in my gut, that whatever happened the last time will happen over again, even worse may happen. I am nae tryin’ tae cause trouble—”
Ryan said, “Bullshit, you’re trying to cause all the trouble in the world, Torin, and you’re being weak, urging caution. Good men died in gaining this intel—”
“Ye said that tae me before. Good men died… I believe more good men are about tae die. I believe we are putting the prince’s life at risk, unduly, and that Uncle Charlie is goin’ tae pay the dearest price.”
I looked over my shoulder at Alexandria who had drawn near, listening. “Dost ye hae any thoughts, Princess?”
“I agree with Torin, we need to try something else, and I want to go on the record that if something is done over, everyone involved needs to know.” She raised her chin, looking very regal.
“We are not pawns to be used, don’t change our lives.
I want mine the way it is, even if it has been, in some places, terrible. ”
Aunt Claray who had stood by, said, “Och nae, niece, we would never!”
Alexandria raised her eyes to Aenghus. “You moved me when I was three.”
He made a face. “Och nae.” Then he said, “Nae, I… I daena remember why, niece, things were verra confusin’… I ken we tried tae save yer mother’s life and it dinna… ye were found. We had tae hide ye. I moved ye tae a safe house, a good family, and—”
Alexandria squinted her eyes. “Who were they to me, how did you find them—?” Then she quickly shook her head. “No, don’t tell me, this is all too much, and we have decisions to make. I think, if we’ve fought this battle already, we need to do something else.”
“But this time, niece, we know what to do…” Uncle Ryan’s words trailed off.
I nodded. “I knew it, Ryan. I hae had memories comin’ tae me all day. The gate blowin’; ‘fair weather,’ as ye said, Aenghus; our men fanned out around me, trompin’ through heather; tis real?”
Ryan nodded.
“It all feels familiar. I smell the smoke, feel the dirt rain down after the blast. In the courtyard, Max’s rifle jammed — dost ye remember what ye called it?”
Max said, “Nae.”
I said, “It daena matter. There were flashes of blinding light. Explosions around us.” I felt my shoulder. “There was a crossbowman on the parapet, nockin’ a bolt — twas destined for...”
I pulled my shirt down and exposed my shoulder.
“Och, for a moment I expected a wound tae be there. The scene feels real. But also…” I turned tae Max.
“I see ye, injured, tis grave, yer blood spillin’ upon the stones of the courtyard.
And I see that Charlie’s face has a pallor of near death, his arm soaked with blood — tis what happened? ”
Ryan’s jaw set, said, “Something like it…”
“Which time?”
Ryan said, “Next to last, but — I want you to know, the outcome kept getting better. We are changing the time of day of the attack, the shadows were an issue before. We are also stationing snipers on different walls and we will have men stationed outside to get him when he flees, I really think if we tried again…”
“Did we ever come close tae killing Rannald?”
Ryan’s jaw clenched. “No, not really.”
“And the last time we had tae retreat because our men were down.”
Ryan and Aenghus nodded.
Ryan said, “Every time we had to retreat because our men were down.”
Torin shook his head sadly. “I understand, I really do, I ken the position ye are in, and I want tae beat Rannald as much as ye, but my oath has been tae save the life of m’wife, the Princess Alexandria, and tae win the throne for m’laird, the Prince Maximillian.
I canna go on this battle, because I believe tis goin’ tae kill us.
The circlin’ needs tae end. There must be some other way. ”
Ryan said, “I disagree, we have all we need to win. We are forearmed with knowledge. We have this intel, I have a new plan. We are ready.”
Aenghus said, “I agree with Ryan, we hae come too far tae lay down our arms in defeat.”
I exhaled. “Even with my misgivings ye are goin’ tae go on anyway?”
The uncles nodded, solemnly.
I raised my brow at Max. “What dost ye think, m’laird?”
He stared down at the ground, then said, “I hae heard ye, Torin. I understand yer concerns, but the battle is nigh, and I am goin’ tae be on the field.”
I said, quietly, “Nae…”
“It would mean a great deal tae me tae hae ye at m’side.”
I stared at the far wall, tryin’ tae swallow down m’fury, then I said, simply, “Aye, m’laird, I will fight alongside ye.” I exhaled and shook my head. “But for God’s sake, the prince needs a rifle that winna misfire.”
Aenghus said, “Done.”
Max said tae his uncles, “I trust that ye hae taken all due precautions and that yer plan is going tae lead us tae victory against Rannald.”
The uncles nodded.
“I want ye tae ken ye hae m’utmost gratitude. I ken ye hae always done what ye thought was best, and ye hae have fought for my throne against all odds. I thank ye for it.”
Uncle Ryan said, “Torin, I’m relieved you’ll be fighting with us, thank you.”
“I fight for Max and Alexandria.”
Aenghus said, “As do we.”
I said, “I would feel a great deal better if the vessel was returned tae the prince.”
Max said, “I daena ken if that is—”
“Tis important tae me, tis yer vessel. Ye ought tae ken where tis.”
Ryan said, tersely, “I agree.” He fished in his pocket, his jaw tensed, and presented the vessel tae Max. “Your Highness.”
He said, “Thank ye.”
And then we all separated for a five minute break afore the soldiers would arrive and we would leave.
Alexandria drew me tae the side. Her expression looked verra concerned. “I can’t believe they wouldn’t listen! I don’t want you to go. This isn’t fair.”
I pulled her intae my arms and held her. I pressed my mouth tae her ear, “Tis goin’ tae be okay, Princess, I will keep him safe, we will come home.”
She pulled her face back to look in my eyes, her hands settled gently on my cheeks. “I want you to be safe, who’s looking out for you?”
I kissed her on the forehead. “We will be home; I will make sure of it. Daena fret, the concerns I stated were for naught, I was likely givin’ them more weight than I ought tae — this outcome is goin’ tae be good.”
She raised her brow. “It’s going to be good?”
“Aye, think on it, we hae a battle, we ken what will happen. I will keep everyone alive and I will keep Rannald from escapin’. Twill all work out. Then we will go tae celebrate over a fine meal of Visigoth manna pizza, tis a plan.”
“You promise?”
“Aye, I promise.”