Page 53 of The Dawn

“No, just me.”

Lochie said, “Good, lock the door after ye, I will keep watch outside.”

He stood outside like a guard.

Don locked the door, saying, “What the hell, Ash? What happened — I was so freaking worried!” We hugged again.

“Oh man, I have so much to tell you, I’m sorry you were worried. I came as fast as I could but I was injured and needed to recuperate first?—”

His brow drew down, he looked at his watch. “Um... whatcha talking about, it just happened a few hours ago...?”

“Oh right.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Is he in the mob? Isthatwhat’s going on?”

“No, got a minute? Can we sit down?” We went to the bar and he picked up his rag to wipe it down, as he always did. I said, “So... it’s not the mob... I got kidnapped.”

“By the mafia?”

“That’s literally the mob, just a different name.”

“Street gangs? International terrorism?”

“Dude, let me talk.”

“I’ve been nervous, freaking out. Be nicer.”

“I know. It’s um... you need to brace yourself. Likelisten, have an open mind. I’m going to tell you something that is hard to believe.”

He rolled his hand. “Out with it.”

“They’re time travelers.”

He scoffed. “Bullshit, Ash. Dammit. Comeon.I’m your friend — aren’t we friends? I mean... I get if you can’t tell me, but don’t bullshit me, at least respect me enough to say I can’t tell you and we can just leave it at that.”

“No, I won’t bullshit you, and I won’t lie to you, and the reason why I’m telling you is because we’re friends. They time travel. I know it’s crazy to hear it, they have a machine, they can jump into different places in time. Magnus, that man, Lochie’s older brother? He’s a king.”

He shook his head.

I said, “You know the storms? The ones on the south end? That’s them, time traveling in and out of here.”

“No way.”

“Yes way.” I was turning my barstool back and forth a bit, as I thought about how to put it, so he wouldgetit. “Magnus is in a big thing with this guy named Asgall, and for some reason he kidnapped me, not really sure why?—”

“That guy who came here, who kidnapped you?”

“He worked for Asgall I think. I was snatched from my car and then woke up in a village compound in the year... can’t remember, sometime in... 1296 I think.”

“What the hell, Ash, I was not born yesterday.”

“I know, but it’s true. I was in Scotland, and there was a guy there calling himself a king.”

“You hit your head or something. I’ve never known you to be crazy.”

“I could call Lochie in, tell him to explain it, but think about it, why would I lie? And also why would Lochinvar be so damn weird? He’s from centuries ago.”

“He is pretty weird.”

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