Page 59

Magnus said, “Lizbeth, I intend tae leave Kaitlyn with ye today but I need tae speak tae her on some things first.”

“Of course.”

I followed Magnus to the hall.

In the hall he ran his hands through his hair. “Have ye heard what they are saying about ye, Kaitlyn?”

“Yes, but don’t worry about it, Magnus. Madame Greer and Lizbeth are protecting me. I spent the morning in prayer. Don't worry.” I smoothed my fingertips on his temple.

“Tis hard tae trust anyone, they are all at odds with each other and⁠—”

“We’ve caused it, we’re going to fix it. Has there been any news about the castle?”

“Nae movement, but I have tae believe they ken we are here. The men want tae storm the castle tonight...”

“Oh. I thought—” I thought I would be with them, because of our whole ‘Magnus won’t leave Kaitlyn by herself’ thing, but there wasn’t anyway to reconcile the two missions. He had to storm a castle. I had to help deliver a baby. And how could I help with the storming? I didn’t have the right skills.

He said, “I wanted tae wait, but the truth is, Kaitlyn, they could bring the fight here, to these village men. They shouldna have tae fight for their homes. These are peaceable people. Lizbeth is here, we daena want a battle in the streets while she is deliverin’ a bairn.”

“I don’t think it will be helpful to deliver a bairn when she knows her husband is fighting at the castle either.”

“What would ye have me do, Kaitlyn? Yer word is my command.”

“You don’t have to say that. I actually don’t want to be your commander. I just want to make sure we’ve thought this all through.” There was a humming sound outside the house.

My eyes went wide. “What is that noise?”

“The drones. They send them regular tae look around the village. There have been many since we arrived last night. Daena go outside, Kaitlyn. Stay from the windows.”

“Oh. Yeah, okay.”

“I have the men, tonight will be dark. We can take the castle and time-jump the weapons tae Florida.”

I stared over his right shoulder, nodding, thinking it through. “Who will time jump with the vessels?”

“Quentin and Tyler. I will give ye the other vessel.”

“What if you’re in danger? You’ll jump with them?” We were back here, in that place where there were too many possibilities. We couldn’t come to an agreement on where to meet because there wasn’t anyway to meet. “Be back by tomorrow. No matter what. Tomorrow, so I don’t worry.”

He nodded. “And I’ll have my walkytalk. You will ken what is happenin’.”

“Of course. Okay. This is good.”

He pulled me into his arms and we held each other for another long time.

He whispered, “I love ye,” into my hair. “I have tae meet the men. We have tae discuss the plans. And we have tae get our weapons and men tae the castle, there is much to do.”

I held tighter. “I can’t let go. Can you hold me a little longer?”

“Aye.”

He cradled my head to his chest and I didn’t think I could ever let go. It was another one of those moments where I felt like this was it — the last time. I breathed in, the cloth spread across his chest full of the scent of him.

I didn’t want to break the silence, but I had to say how I felt. “I love you my husband. You are my everything.”

He squeezed me closer. His voice vibrated his chest against my ear. “As you are mine, mo reul-iuil. For a time we will have only the voices from these small boxes, but you will ken that my voice is from me, near enough, doin’ everything I can tae come home.”

I hugged him again and stepped back. I patted my waist belt with the two-way radio on it. He patted his two-way radio in his leather pouch, strapped to his sword strap, situated over his heart.