A Journey Out of Time (31 page)

"So, you are telling me some people actually believe you came from these furry ape people?"

"Well, that wasn't quite how I think I said it, but I guess that will do for now."

"And you believe this?" he seemed perplexed.

"I believe God is very powerful & could have made us evolve from that."

"What about this Adam & Eve story you told me about?"

"Well, I believe that happened later. Man already existed. You have to pay attention to Adam & Eve's son marrying after he was cast out. The names of the rivers that already existed. As for the garden it could be heaven."

"Plausible."

"Well, it is what I go for."

"And what about us?"

"What? The people of Sualtam? That one, I don't know. You could think that if God made one people he could make another. You never know," she shrugged, looking at him. "I never believed humans on earth were the only humans or life forms. Do
you
know?"

He smiled & she thought maybe he did know.

*

Day after day passed & Duncan was torn between it being hell & not. It was hell without Sonya & yet, Casia was pregnant & they were hopeful his brother would one day soon return to being his old self. Duncan wanted to return to Ronin, but he would not go without Sonya. He paced & walked the shores of the loch in the middle of the night when he could not sleep, which was most nights. He wanted to know where Sonya was & all manner of bad things went through his mind of what may be happening to her. During the day Ewan tried to talk to Duncan about the things he was learning, but even Ewan was hard pressed to make Duncan smile. The news of Casia's bairn was the only time they had seen him happy.

Each morning Duncan rode the horse Cullen had given him, hard. It was as if he could run the pain & fear of never seeing Sonya again out of him. Some days he rode his own horse as well. Cullen & Casia were concerned, but didn't know how to help. Casia took several trips back to Sualtam, but even the Queen had not seen her son. She too, was troubled. Her son could shift through any number of times & places. The queen was concerned that Duncan would seek a way to enter their world, which had been done before. All the queen & any of them could do was hope that Torqual would come to his senses & soon.

*

Sonya awoke having dreamed of Duncan & Ewan. She smiled until she realized she still wasn't home. She still didn't even know where
here
was. Sometimes she would yell & scream, but it did nothing but give her a headache. She had gone from being angry to knowing she could be stuck forever. So to pass the time she tried to answer Torqual's questions.

Sonya could hear the water lapping not far away, but even that brought her no peace. She wanted to be home. Food appeared next to the bed & she absently reached for an apple. The surprise of things appearing & disappearing had faded. She wondered if Sualtam was like this. How did they live in nothingness where anything & everything could come to them in the blink of an eye? Where was the surprise, the suspense? Where was the living? And if they lived so long, what did they do all of those years? Maybe they kidnapped humans!

Sonya wished herself into clean clothing & waited for Torqual to appear. The best thing she could say, was that he didn't bore her…

"A hot dog?" she asked. He wanted to know about hot dogs? "Well, you know how they make haggis, right?" Torqual scrunched up his face & she laughed. "It really isn't bad. Okay, the hot dog. Well, they take several leftover bits of meat from animals, grind it up & put it into a long skin. I have
no
idea why they call it a dog."

"And you put these things on bread?"

"In between them."

"And they are good?"

"Oh, yes!" Sonya said, wishing she had one. Then she swore she could smell it & then there it was in her hand! "Oh my God!" Sonya took a bite. "Mmm," she said closing her eyes. Sonya looked at Torqual who was inspecting the hot dog in his hand with interest. He took a bite, chewed &
smiled
! She had three hot dogs & Torqual had 5! It was great until Sonya wished it was Ewan & Duncan she was sharing them with. She sighed & Torqual looked at her. A barely visible flick of his hand & they were sitting at the edge of the water, the waves lapping up their legs. The wind blew just enough to move her hair.

"You do not like this new place? I thought you said you loved the water."

Sonya sounded weary as she answered. "It is beautiful Torqual, but being without Duncan does not make it enjoyable."

"Why?"

She looked over at him. "Because I love him & I miss him." Sonya looked back out over the water, resting her head on her knees, as she played with her necklace. She gazed at the bright, waters that shimmered, despite there being no visible source of light.

"Why do you love him?"

"He is kind, strong, honorable, and caring. There are a ton of reasons. He is smart, handsome, loving & he…He makes me smile even when he isn't around. When he touches me a shock runs through my body. When he looks at me I wonder how I could ever be away from him even for a second & still have a beating heart in my chest." Sonya looked at Torqual. "Torqual, I have waited all of my life & had to travel so far to find him. I never thought I would know all he has already given me & all I want to do is to go back to him." A tear slipped down Sonya's cheek.

Torqual looked thoughtful. Some times she wish she knew what he was thinking. Was he just processing human emotions or maybe trying to link them to his own. She waded out into the water & turned back.

"How long have you known Casia?" Sonya asked.

"Since birth."

"She is your age then?"

"Actually, she is older than me, but we grew up together. Her father holds a high position in the council."

"I see."

"And when did you become hand fasted?"

"A very long time ago."

"And you never once thought you might fall in love with someone else once you were grown?"

"No. She was the perfect match for me. There was no need to look any further. We do not fall in love like you do." He stated it all in a matter of fact tone. Sonya looked at him. He sounded so logical & the one thing she knew was that
love
was not logical.

"If you are so matter of fact about that, then why not be matter of fact that she chose another & just look for another suitable match?"

Torqual looked surprised. Amazing. Suddenly he was gone.

Out loud she said, "I really wish you would
stop
doing that!" Sonya splashed out of the water. "I am sick of this, Torqual! I miss Duncan & Ewan & I
demand
you take me home! I hate it here! I don't even know how long I have been here any more. Casia could have had her baby for all I know!" Sonya kicked at the water & put her hands on her hips. "I
know
you are there!"

He popped back.

"Baby?"

"Yes!"

"
How
can you know that?"

"I don't know, I just do," she shrugged. "Just like Cullen knew Casia was there when he couldn't see her. He reached out & grasped her arm when she went to see him one night."

Torqual looked confused. "That shouldn't even be possible."

"Perhaps it has to do with me coming from somewhere else? But that wouldn't explain Cullen," Sonya thought aloud.

"Baby?" Torqual said again.

"Aye, she is preg-nant!" she stressed the word.

"How do you know that?
She
didn't even know."

Sonya looked surprised. "I don't know," she frowned. "You knew?" She hit him & he grabbed her arm, scowling at her.

"Come," Torqual held out his hand & she took it. They were gone one second & appeared somewhere else the next. Shifting places. At least it wasn't as horrible as it looked on Harry Potter!

It wasn't until she squinted towards the bright light in front of her that she realized someone was there. There was a woman, yet not a usual woman, sitting on a throne. She was very beautiful &
very
bright. Sonya couldn't really look at her. Torqual bowed so she curtsied.

"Royal Mother."

"Torqual," his mother said in an even tone, nodding her head. "I am to finally have the honor of your presence, am I? How kind of you. I assume this is the missing mortal?"

Sonya bowed her head. "You know who I am?" She must have sounded amazed as the queen laughed. A bold, tinkling sound.

"Yes, Sonya, of earth, I know who you are. I also know
when
you are from & where you are supposed to be."

"
Where
I am from?"

"Yes."

Suddenly Sonya felt afraid. These people had power of some sort & she sure didn't want to know if she could send her back. The queen's aura seemed to have dimmed because Sonya found that she could see her kind smile.

"My name is Queen Ailene of Sualtam. Do not worry, I will not be sending you back from whence you came. You
belong
in Duncan's time. It is
that
home of which I speak."

Sonya let out a huge sigh of relief that got her a look of irritation from Torqual. She gave him an annoyed look back. She wanted to stick her tongue out, but figured she better not in front of the queen.

"But, you have been away from Duncan far long enough. Don't you think, Torqual?" se asked pointedly, as she looked at her son.

"I suppose mother."

Queen Ailene narrowed her eyes at her son.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Sonya said.

"I hope my son did not cause you too much distress."

Sonya smiled kindly not saying all the things she could have. Ailene chuckled as if she could read her thoughts. "Your absence, however, has caused Duncan great sorroq & we must remedy that quickly. Torqual?"

Torqual stepped to Sonya's side & she hesitated. "Your Majesty?" Sonya asked.

"Yes?" She looked very regal & calm.

"May I ask something before I go?"

The queen inclined her head & Sonya turned towards Torqual.

"Torqual?"

He turned towards her. "Yes?"

"Come with me," she implored. Ailene looked surprised by the invitation. She didn't even want to
imagine
what Duncan would think!

"Where?"

"You know where. Come back with me. Please."

"What on Sualtam for?"

She put her hands on her hips & expect she got a little haughty, but he was ticking her off again! She started tapping her foot. The queen was smiling & she wondered which one of them she found more amusing. Or perhaps the queen heard what Sonya heard, that her son was not certain of what choice to make.

"Why? Why did you take me? You said you were curious about why Casia chose a human. What was it about
us
humans? Well, come & see for yourself."

"I will not be welcome."

"
I
am welcoming you.
I
am asking you to come & stay with me & my husband."

Torqual's mouth was open & his hands shot up in the air.

"Wait a minute. Husband? I took you
before
your wedding."