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TORIN

M ax looked over the windowsill and whispered, “Tis right there, Torin, we just hae tae go get it.”

“Tis easier said than done.”

He drew his sword.

I said, “How many times hae we laid our eyes upon it, yet dinna get our hands on it?”

“Too many times.”

“How many times hae we almost died in the gainin’ of it?”

“Every time, but we dinna die, and this time?—”

But I dinna let him finish.

I jumped over the sill intae the room while he was still scramblin’ up tae follow me, as I was in full sprint across the chamber.

I stepped on a stool, knockin’ it aside, and flung m’self through the air, graspin’ the device off the end table — I raised it in my hand, “Got it!” as I rolled tae the hearth.

I jumped tae m’feet, spun, and bounded across the floor back taeward the window. Max was already scramblin’ out, “Ye dinna wait!”

“Ye are too slow!”

I hurdled the windowsill, my feet hit the garden, and we raced across the wide field.

“And ye are too wee!”

Max was panting. “Ye are giant! A giant arse!”

I glanced over m’shoulder. “Och nae! They are in chase!” My breath was coming heavy, our stride was fast, but we would tire soon.

He looked back. “Seven men! We are almost tae the trees!”

I said. “We ought tae split up!”

“Aye, we meet in Muckhart!” He yelled, “Toss it, I will head south! Ye go north!”

I started tae toss it, but it vibrated in my hand — twas shocking, like a sort of lightning flashing through me, trying to reach into me to snare me.

It felt as if it had grabbed hold.

Mid-stride I tried tae shake it off, but there was the sound of roarin’ around me, a rumbling comin’ at me, as if I were caught in front of a barrelin’ horse.

A gust of wind plowed against my back, so hard that I was knocked, stumbling forward, a second gust shoved me from the side. I lost m’footin’, and then a gust struck against m’chest, raisin’ my feet from the earth?—

My body felt like it exploded in pain. I was thankful when I lost consciousness.

I dinna ken how much time had passed, twas hours, possibly, but also I had crashed intae a tree. Wind whipped and branches clawed as I plunged down through tree limbs, the only thing slowin’ m’descent was slammin’ against a branch, and another and another afore I landed on m’shoulder on the ground.

My eyes fluttered open enough tae see the device right there, in front of m’eyes. I weakly said, “Still got it!”

Then I said, “And yet again, we dinna die.”

I lost consciousness again.