Chapter 38 Alexandria
ALEXANDRIA
Max was already in the war room, wearing the clean dark blue uniform that I remembered from the last time we did this. He said, “I am glad ye are ready, finally, we ken Uncle Ryan’s plan, but ye say ye hae a different one?”
Torin pulled a paper from inside his coat pocket and passed it to Max, “In case ye winna listen tae me, tis a letter tae yerself, I am the messenger.”
“Och nae, Torin, what are ye goin’ tae make me do?”
Torin shrugged and leaned on a table while Max read.
Then Max passed the message tae the uncles and they read too.
Uncle Charlie said, “Should you tell us what happens? My guess is someone dies.”
Torin nodded. “Nae one has died yet, but it has come close. I think all can be saved.”
Charlie said, “You won’t say who comes close?”
Torin said, “Nae, tis best not tae, but I will say, twas dire enough that I was moved tae come here and try tae stop it.”
Uncle Ryan said, “So what do we do?”
Torin looked thoughtful, he leaned on the table looking at the floor.
It took a moment of us looking at him before he said, “Och, did ye say something, Ryan?”
“What do we do?”
Torin ran his hand through his hair and shifted on his feet. He glanced at me, then admitted, “M’ears arna working right.”
Aenghus said, “What happened?”
“A group of men kidnapped the Princess, they set off an explosion tae slow me down.” He tugged at his ear again.
I said, “I killed them and got away.”
Max raised his brow, nodding approvingly.
Ryan asked, “That’s why you look sunburned... I see. Do you need a doctor?”
“Nae, twill be fine, we need tae get this done.”
Charlie said, “So tell us the plan. Hopefully I have an important role, it’s not lost on me that I’m the one who gets hurt in the battle.”
Ryan said, “You don’t know that for sure.”
Charlie scoffed, “I’ve only done the battle through twice, you just said that you’ve done it at least three times, I can do the math.”
Torin said, “My guess is it has been closer tae four.”
Max said, “Since I don’t remember any of them, does that mean…?”
Ryan shook his head. “Only Aenghus and I know when we restarted everything, we even kept it from Claray, mostly.” He glanced around the room at us, meeting our eyes briefly, then looked down at the floor, “I’m sorry, we only did it to try to save lives.”
He folded his arms and leaned on the table.
Torin said, “That’s in the past, we will put it behind us. Now in the present we hae a war tae wage, tis time tae clear our minds and focus on the coming battle.”
By now I was used to the stark brightness of the war-room and the videos projected in front of the walls, but this time there was a record of the war dead, scrolling names that sent a chill down my spine. Oh no.
The big table in the middle of the room still held the large black touchscreen map, and the model castle in the middle of it, with small model pieces placed around on it.
My eyes focused on the words scrawled in red, ‘Extraction Point,’ under it, ‘If you’re not there you don’t leave.’
I gulped.
Ryan, Aenghus, Charlie, Max, and I were standing around the table. Torin stood at the head, his arms folded, his jaw set, he was intense, staring at that model.
Finally he said, “Last time we tried tae win the battle, I was sure twould work—”
Aenghus scoffed, “The last time I remember, ye complained, Torin, most of the way.”
“Aye, I take it back, I was sure it wouldna work, but I went anyway. The music was verra loud. We gave it a good shot, more than once. Some of us came close tae meetin’ our maker. We arna doin’ that part again.”
Ryan opened his mouth to protest.
Torin shook his head. “Nae, I ken ye want tae fix it, Ryan, by doin’ the exact same thing.
I see it here, ye hae the figures set up the same as the last time and the time afore that, ye are turning the wheel again and again, hopin’ for God’s hand tae intervene.
He haena yet, I promise ye. The last time we fought the battle we needed him and he dinna come. He inna goin’ tae come this time.”
Aenghus said, “God doesn’t intervene in time, he’s timeless.”
Torin nodded as if this made perfect sense. “He inna goin’ tae intervene, tis up tae us. That’s why we are goin’ tae do it a different way.”
Ryan said, “I’m not sure we have to listen to you, Torin.”
Charlie said, “How about a vote, as the guy who probably dies, I say, let’s at least listen to Torin’s idea.” He raised a hand.
Max, Aenghus, Torin and I raised our hands.
Ryan said, “Alright, let’s hear it. But, first, I gotta know, what makes you think it will work?”
Torin said, “I’ve noticed something, each time, the flick of his cloak.
I daena ken, my eyes are drawn tae it. And as I hae thought on it I realized two things, one, he favors the same leg every time the day resets.
He is wounded. I am certain of it — afore I even hae m’blade on him.
Wound that leg early and he canna pivot.
One feint tae the left and his guard drops like a drunk man’s. ”
Ryan said, “Interesting.”
Torin said, his grin widening, “Aye, the cloak is his tell, he flicks it in the same way afore he draws.” He acted it out, then said, “Tis vanity — and hubris, yet that flick gives me a half-breath of a warnin’.
If I step inside the flourish and catch him with his sword arm tangled in wool…
my point finds his throat. He is a dead man. ”
Torin pointed at the figures on the map. “We ride tae the castle at dawn. The same number of men, the drones—”
Charlie said, “We get to keep the loud music, right? That’s my favorite part.”
“Aye, tis a good distraction while we blow apart the door, yer plan stands in that regard. But horses this time.”
Ryan said, “I don’t know, Torin, I’m much better on a vehicle than a horse.”
Torin shrugged, “Fine, I will be on a horse, ye can be on... what did ye call the vehicle ye prefer?”
“An ATV?”
“Aye, ye can be on horses or Ayteevees, dependin’ on which ye are better at fightin’ on.”
Ryan nodded agreement.
Torin ran his finger to the front gate of the castle. “We blow the gate exactly the same. The same charge. Most everyone will be in their same places. That part was good, we gain entry, tis verra good, that is when it all goes tae shite.”
Max said, “How will you keep it from going to shite?”
Torin kept looking at the map.
Max said, “Torin, brother, ye arna hearin’ well at all.”
Torin tugged his ear and said, “Tis fine, daena—”
Ryan said, “Our doctors are good, they can probably fix it right up.”
Torin said, “Nae, we need tae focus on this.” He took a deep breath. “Instead of us all goin’ after Rannald taegether, all tryin’ tae take him down, ye are goin’ tae stand back and allow me tae challenge him on m’own.”
Max said, “What will I be doin’, lettin’ ye fight for me…? Nae, I winna allow it, ye canna.”
“Why nae?”
“Because tis nae yer throne, tis mine.”
Torin scoffed. He turned to the uncles. “Dost ye think the Prince should fight tae the death or should he allow his sword tae challenge the usurper?”
Max said, “I’m the one with a claim, not ye, and—”
Aenghus grimaced.
Torin said, “Dost ye hae somethin’ tae add, Aenghus?”
“A prince oft uses a second tae fight for him, there is a long tradition of it.”
Torin put out his hands, “Exactly! After we hae stormed the castle and hae our snipers on the walls, and the guard under attack, I will say,” He dropped his voice into a perfect battlefield roar.
“‘Rannald, the Fetid Boil on the Arse of Alba, hear me! I am Torin Elphinstone, raised in Clan Campbell; brother-in-arms tae Prince Maximillian, the son of King Normond; husband of Princess Alexandria, next in line tae the throne; and champion tae King Maximillian the one and only heir tae the throne of Riaghalbane—’”
Max said, “Ye hae been practicin’ this speech?”
“Tis always good tae hae one at the ready, ye never ken when ye need tae call a villain out tae the courtyard tae brawl.” He continued in his loud booming voice, “‘And as dictated by history and tradition, I, Torin, challenge Rannald tae meet me, blade tae blade, man tae man, or be branded coward forever more!”
Aenghus laughed. “He will nae come out.”
Torin’s grin widened. “He will, because instead of Max chargin’ him, Max will remain here.
” He pointed at a place near the opposite wall of the courtyard.
“Ye will stay back as bait, ye can taunt him, if ye want, m’laird, yer purpose is tae draw him from the tunnel, where the snipers can shoot him. ”
Aenghus asked, “I suppose ye daena want me tae charge him either?”
“Nae, ye will be here. Ye will be focused on the bawbag with the crossbow.”
He rolled his arm in the socket. “Daena let him get m’shoulder. I hae lost m’patience with him.”
Aenghus said, “Done, but what if we daena draw him from the tunnel?”
“It daena matter, he will be here, with his wounded leg and his hubris. He will flick his cloak, and I will take the moment tae kill him. One stroke, if God is kind. The crown falls tae Max the moment Rannald hits the dirt.”
Max shifted, and looked uneasy. “Torin, I am the rightful king. I should bring the sword down on the neck of my enemies—”
Torin turned to him. “Ye are the king, aye. And kings daena bleed out on courtyard stones while their champion watches. The duel is mine, Max. Ye ken why.”
Max opened his mouth, closed it, and scowled. “Because ye are a stubborn bastard who thinks himself immortal?”
Torin chuckled. “Nae. Because the last three times we hae fought this battle I hae watched ye take a bolt tae the chest and carried ye home, beggin’ God tae save ye. I will nae do it again. This time the only blood on the ground will be Rannald’s.”
Charlie said, “How do we keep from dying, that’s what I want to know.”
“This time I fix the three things that went wrong, without tellin’ ye all of what happened.” He tapped three spots on the map.
“One. Max, as I said, will nae be on these steps beggin’ for a bolt tae the lung. He will be here near Ryan, his banner high, drawin’ Rannald’s ire and attention. I will make the challenge and take the fight.”
Max started to argue.
Torin shook his head, “Nae arguin’, dost I need tae show ye the letter again?”
Max folded his arms irritated.
“Two. Charlie, without tellin’ ye the full story, ye will nae be in the courtyard playin’ hero, ye will be on the wall with the drone controller, droppin’ fire from above where no blade can reach ye.”
Charlie opened his mouth.
Torin kept going. “Alexandria will be with ye, she will assist ye and ye will be keepin’ her safe.”
“Three.” Torin stabbed the mouth of the tunnel to the sally port on the model of the castle.
“If Rannald daena die, if he is dragged away, I will nae stop. I will nae carry anyone. If ye are spewin’ up blood, m’laird, I will nae help ye home, I will chase that black cloak through every rat-hole in Dunstaffnage until I put steel through his heart. ”
Ryan said, “What if he time jumps?”
“I will grab his arm. And kill him where he lies.”
Aenghus said, “Ye could end up in terrible places and if ye miss the extraction…?”
“I am nae goin’ tae worry on it. Ye will go without me if ye need tae go. I hae landed in strange worlds that I dinna understand, I hae done it, I can do it again. If I miss the extraction…” He met my eyes. “Then ye jump without me.”
I frowned.
“Promise me.”
I huffed. “I don’t want to promise you, because I won’t be able to leave you.”
“Ye canna argue, ye told me that if I brought ye, ye would listen. Tis now, tis if I canna make it tae the extraction point. Ye will still go. Daena worry, Princess, I will find ye on the other side of the centuries if I have tae walk every one.”
The room was dead quiet.
Finally I said, “Fine, but I’m going to give you the gold thread, no arguing.”
Aunt Claray said, “He will hae mine.”
Torin nodded, then said, “This ends tomorrow. One battle, only one corpse. One king taking his rightful throne.”
The room erupted in a single, roaring “Aye!”
Max said, “Ye promise ye will be there at my coronation?”
Torin straightened, clapped Max on the shoulder, and said, “Aye, m’laird, I wouldna miss it.”
But I noticed he wouldn’t meet Max’s eyes.