Page 31

TORIN

A s I stood out on the field under the starry sky, thinking about an owl who was hootin’ but in a different language than I was used tae, Mistress Lexi’s cat rubbed along my legs, makin’ his trillin’ noise. I looked down on him. “Aye, Dude, ye like tae keep watch?”

The cat meowed as if he were answering.

I said, “I was just thinkin’ twould be good tae hae someone tae discourse with in the night. I think ye will do, cat.”

The cat licked his paw.

My eyes swept the treetops. “Ye ken, I am thinking, I ought tae try tae time journey now, instead of waitin’ for the morn.”

Dude looked up at me.

I said, “I agree, if I remain I am causin' trouble between Mistress Lexi and Master Cooper. He daena like me much. I ought tae leave since I am able and though she has invited me tae breakfast, I ought tae spare her the trouble of it.”

I petted Dude behind the ears. “We are in agreement.” I turned to walk down tae the small house at the back, takin’ heed that the lights in Mistress Lexi’s dwelling were quenched.

I put m’cloak on over the clothes Mistress Lexi had given me, fastened the brooch, and put all m’valuables in my sporran. I did all the work in the blazin’ light, wishing there was a softer flame. This one caused irritation tae m’eyes.

Then I located the pale white almost luminous sacks she had directed me tae and filled two with m’brogues, m’great kilt, my saffron-yellow lèine, and m’other belongings.

Done, I had the bags upon my shoulder, my sword at my hip, and the dirk sheathed on my belt. I got out the vessel tae check it once more afore I walked out intae the darkness tae time travel.

I looked down and groaned — the markings had changed, the sequence of them was different.

Och nae, a chill passed over me. Twas difficult tae breathe — as if selkies were pullin’ me under the loch tae a cruel demise.

I had committed the sequence tae memory and I had a verra good memory... now three of the markings were altered.

When had they changed, when I pulled it from m’sporran at dinner?

Three! That alteration would likely be enough tae set me off course.

Yet I was uncertain how tae return them tae the former sequence. I had been rebounding, my use of this evil device had already been a pain in m’arse, what would I be changing? Time or place?

It couldna get worse.

Or could it?

I looked over at Dude, sitting on the rail in the darkness. He meowed.

“Dost ye think it could get worse, Dude?”

Dude meowed again, looking verra much like he was offerin’ important advice.

“Aye, ye are right, perhaps this is the correct sequence. Perchance twas not workin’ before — twas why I kept returning.

Maybe now it has righted itself. I am verra glad tae see ye hae a hopeful aspect as well, Dude.

I dinna think much of cats, but I suppose I hadna truly met one before or discoursed with them. Ye are a fine conversationalist.”

I turned off the light.

“Uncertain of what tae do, I will jump anyway.”

I strode off the porch, sayin’ tae Dude as I passed, “Ye must be bold when ye are faced with uncertainty, and if it goes wrong, Dude, I promise, I winna hold ye responsible.”

I walked tae the road in front of Mistress Lexi’s house, and then I walked down it for a time, but as I scanned the darkness I would see Dude, following along, “Dude, ye canna follow me, ye hae tae go home.”

He continued on, so I stopped walking and decided I had gone far enough. I twisted the vessel tae jump again.