Mark looked around, calling,

“Susie? Susie! Anyone see where she went?” One of the security detail came running up,

“Sir, I was down there watching. A man came up behind her in a suit. He looked like one of us. Then they were, they were just gone.” Mark covered his face with his hand, the PM asked,

“What happened? Mark?”

“They took her. The group who had me.”

“I don’t know about any of this? Can we help? The resources of our country are available to you.”

“Thanks, I need to talk with our people. Can we get Dr. Weston and Dr. Fargo here?”

“Of course. Anything else?”

“I need to think.” Mark looked around, then spied a capsule on the ground. He picked it up and turned it, until it opened revealing a note,

—Dr. Severns. Did you really think we had only one device? How naive. As you may have guessed, we have Susan. As you know, we have a company of angry, and energetic commandos. The boys can use some R&R. I’m sure your lovely Susan will satisfy them. Unless you find us and turn yourself over. Alexandru —

“Oh my god.” Mark was distraught. He knew what these men were capable of.

Susan sat terrified on the chair, her hands tied behind her. She was looking at three hard scary men dressed in black. Through tears she asked,

“Who are you, where are we? What’s happening?” The one who had identified himself as Alexandru answered,

“We are a group working to save our population from extinction. Your government has chosen not to share the cure with us. We had, borrowed, Mark to help us. You know, he fucked almost 100 women on that bed over there? Yes, one hundred. Over and over. But he decided to escape before he was finished. He stranded us, embarrassed us, tried to kill our project. And now we will have our bit of retribution. As to where, this is the castle of Count Dracula himself. Just not at the time Mark was here. And as to what is happening, well, we are going to punish Mark for what he did.”

“How? Why? I’m sure something can be worked out. He can get about anything he wants.”

“Hmm, no, not so easy. You see, for example, Gregor here,” Alexandru pointed to one of his men, “He was the one who allowed Mark to take him down, to steal our means of transportation, to allow Mark to escape. We take these things seriously. Gregor was punished for his failure. Gregor show Susan, take off your shirt.” Gregor removed his shirt and turned towards Susan. She gasped and covered her mouth at the site of his chest and back. He’d been whipped, and burned. Beaten and bruised. “But now that he accepted his punishment Gregor is back in the good graces of his team. We appreciate him taking it like a commando. As a reward, he will be first.”

“First?”

“Yes. I’m sorry Susan. We couldn’t get Mark. But we have you. And there’s no one Gregor hates more than Mark. He would kill Mark with his bare hands. But you. You he will fuck. I imagine it will not be pleasant.” Susan began to sob,

“No, please. Mark is my only man. Oh please.”

“Ha, when we’re done, Mark will be one of ten or so. But no worries. We have drugs. Under their influence you’ll be wanting more, begging for more cock. But Gregor asked to enjoy you as you are. So sorry.” Susan screamed as Gregor came towards her, then cut her clothes from her. He lifted a now naked Susan and tossed her on the bed. She begged and pleaded as Gregor stripped down letting her see his hard cock. “Gregor doesn’t speak much English. I think he’ll let you know how he feels.” Susan looked from Alexandru to the third man in the room. “Oh yes, this is Viktor. He’s next. So he’ll make sure Gregor doesn’t go too far.” Alexandru and Viktor took seats and waited. Alexandru nodded to Gregor. Gregor looked at Alexandru, then up at the camera. Then down at the crying screaming Susan. He managed to say,

“For your fucking husband Mark.” Susan grimaced, kept her eyes closed, but couldn’t block out the feeling of Gregor’s cock forcing its way into her. He held her by the throat, leaning into her face, letting her feel his breath as he had her, forcefully. Then as he was getting no reaction from her, he leaned back and slapped her face. Laughing her pulled and pinched her breasts while pushing his cock into her, “Nice tits Mrs. Mark, haha, how you like some Gregor?” Fucking her hard, taking pleasure in her cries. Taking pleasure in hurting her. Her body wracked with sobbing, then a loud cry as she felt him cumming in her. When he finished he pulled his cock from her and slapped her with it, slapped her sore red pussy, then dragging her to the edge of the bed, humiliating Susan, wiping his cum onto her. Satisfied he threw Susan back on the bed. Smiling he looked over at Viktor, “Yours.” Susan looked over at Viktor rising from his chair. He quickly removed his shirt showing off his muscled chest. When he dropped his pants Susan cried out,

“Oh god noooo.” Viktor smiled, waving his long thick cock at her.

“Oh yes. Now you will experience Viktor. And I have had my injection. It’s going to be a long night. Alexandru, if you would?” Alexandru now also got up from his chair. He went to a table and turned holding a syringe. Susan’s eyes went wide when she saw it. Alexandru explained,

“It will be better for you, and for the men too. You will be easily stimulated and accepting. It’s going to happen anyway.” He shrugged. Viktor held Susan while Alexandru gave her the shot. Viktor held her, grasping her tits, letting his fingers probe her pussy, waiting. When he felt her softening in his arms he laid her back on the bed. As he squeezed her breasts, he watched her nipples harden, his hand now slid down her sides, curving out at Susan’s hips, Viktor’s need grew. It had been a long time out here with no women. Even after Mark has excaped Alexandru demanded discipline. But now he’d said they could all have a turn with Mark’s woman. And she was a soft sensual woman, much to Viktor’s pleasure. Despite being abused by Gregor, the drugs were working, she was writhing under his touch. He lifted her legs onto his shoulders and pressed his impressive cock to her pussy. She gasped, sucked in her breath, scrunched her face and held her breath as she was split open wide by Viktor’s cock. But now she was wet and relaxed as he pushed forward stretching her, pushing deeper, feeling her hot cunt grinding on his cock. He reached bottom, a good amount of cock visible still, and held it there as she fit around him. Then as he began lifting off and pushing in hitting bottom with each thrust, he felt her lifting her ass to meet him. Viktor reached down and held Susan’s ass as he now rocked himself into her until his cock throbbed and sent his cum up inside. He withdrew and offered his wet cock to her. Susan losing all abandon sucked greedily at him, his thick head all she could fit into her mouth. He remained hard and let her suck at him until he filled her mouth with another load. He would enjoy her for hours.

The wait for his team seemed endless. When they arrived Mark gathered them in a conference room provided by the British government. They brainstormed where and when thecommando unit may be.

Dr. Fargo offered, “Somewhere in the past. Susan couldn’t go with them forward.”

Mark stopped him, “Not true. Alis came with me to our recent past. There’s more to it than just a no future trip.”

Dr. Wilson offered, “Perhaps you can travel forward with someone who can go forward? The security person said a man was there. But where?”

Mark thought out loud, “A good guess would be Vlad’s castle. They are set up there, they have control of the site. But when? I seriously doubt they would stay in 1477.”

Fargo suggested, “Maybe they can’t change times or location? You thought you had damaged their chamber. If only we could go forward to their origination point and review their logs.” Mark looked at him,

“Would we be able to see where they’ve travelled?”

“I don’t see why not. But we have no one here who can travel forward to their time.” Mark thought a moment.

“I know someone who could. You have your enhanced device?”

“Yes, but you can’t go forward.”

“I can go back. Let me have it.” When Dr. Fargo took it out of his bag and handed it to Mark he watched as Mark moved to an empty corner of the room. He set the dial, then instructed them, “Don’t let anyone stand anywhere near this corner. I’ll be returning with company.”

With a spark Mark was gone.

Despite his physical strength Viktor was exhausted. His cock was finally flagging, hanging thick but soft. Susan lay spread out on the bed, cum leaking from her wide open pussy, cum splashed across her body, cum covering her face, drying in her hair. She looked at Viktor with disdain,

“Tired my little tease? Is that all you’ve got?”

“You wait. When the boys are done with you, I’m taking a double shot. I will ruin you. And you’re not done yet tonight. Vitaliy wants your ass.” He saw Susan, even under the influence of Dmitri’s drugs, pause for a moment. “What’s wrong? Doesn’t Mark fuck that nice ass? Don’t worry, Vitaliy likes a tight ass.” Viktor looked up at the camera, “Vitaliy, get down here,” Viktor rolled Susan over, smacking her hard on the ass. “Vigin ass for you. And bring down a couple more, this bitch needs to be used.” He imagined the cheering in the room. There were some pent up frustrated young men ready for action. Maybe he should send them all down.

Gaius was shocked when Mark burst through his door, dressed inappropriately for the 5th century. He shooed away his companion and sat up to take in all Mark was telling him at once,

“Get dressed Gerry. They took Susan. I need your help. Extreme emergency. NOW!” Gerry found his modern clothes hidden in a chest, as he hurriedly put these on he asked,

“How did you get here? Where are we going?”

“We’ll talk back in the conference room. There are a lot of people wondering just what you’ve been up to. But I need your help. Let’s go.”

Mark grabbed Gerry by the arm arm and led him down a back staircase to an empty corner of the grounds where the nightsoil was dumped. It smelled horribly, but naturally no one was around. Mark pulled Gerry next to him and pressed the button on the travel device.

They appeared in a corner of a conference room. Dr. Fargo looked up,

“Who is this?”

Mark replied, “Gaius Honorious. Known to a future century as Gerry Humber. He’s been living in the 5th century. He’s helped me on my travels.” Dr. Fargo quickly understood,

“And he can travel to the 24th century.”

“Exactly.” Marked picked up a telephone, Gerry asked what was going on, Mark asked for an outside line and a call to the Prime Minister. While they waited Mark filled in Gerry on their problem and what they’d learned about travelling. Gerry was working this through his mind,

“So Alis was here?”

“Yes.”

“So future travel is possible.”

Dr. Fargo cut in, “We now believe, IF the person is holding onto someone who is from the future.”

Gerry was thinking out loud, “Interesting. So I could go to their home base, you know where it is?”

Mark answered, “We have their device.”

Gerry continued, “I could check their logs and see where the team is.”

Dr. Fargo was confused now, “How does he know all this?” Mark waved his hand,

“He works in your future lab.” Gerry now looked a little embarrassed. Then a though occurred to him,

“They’ll have security.” Mark nodded,

“That’s why I’m calling the PM.” The phone beeped a moment later, when Mark picked it up he heard,

“Prime Minister for Dr. Severns.”

“Hello Mr. Prime Minister. I’m afraid I have a difficult request. You know of course about Susan. We believe we may know how to find her. It will be dangerous. Could you assign a couple of men. Volunteers to travel to the future.”

“Mark, I will have our best men assigned. If I were to ask for volunteers it would take too long to choose. I dare say everyone would volunteer.”

“Thank you sir. If you could send them here, prepared for an entry and security mission.”

“They will be there shortly.”

Susan had zoned out. She was barely cognizant of her surroundings. Vitaliy had been fucking her ass for who knew how long now. She’d sucked off a few more and if she recalled correctly, at one time there were four men cumming on her. They had abused and humiliated her beyond the point where she could comprehend the level of depravity. The drug they’d given her had her body accepting it and her mind craving more. When Vitaliy had cum in her ass again he finally pulled and announced himself satisfied. He slapped her ass and went to take a shower. There was still someone forcing his cock into her throat as she had rolled over on her back. Another inspected her pussy and declared that ‘that cunt is too sloppy even for me’. She sucked on the cock seeking to draw out another load and was soon rewarded with another spurt into her raw throat. When he left Alexandru and Viktor looked her over. Alexandru asked Viktor,

“Do you think the men had their reward?” Viktor laughed,

“A few of those peasant virgins and they would vote you to be general. This was very good for the men. Maybe not so good for Mrs. Severns.”

“Get her cleaned up. When she comes off the drugs, the shock might be too much. I’ll have them give her something to sleep.”

“And tomorrow?”

“If you’re not too disgusted by what you see now, she’s yours.” Viktor smiled. Then dragged Susan off the bed,

“Time for a shower you sloppy bitch.”

The incursion team had been briefed. Where five would have been more ideal, only three could safely group with Gerry to travel. They were still confident and ready. Gerry was not so sure, offering a number of possible complications. Mark listened, but had little patience,

“Believe me Gerry, I would go in your place, if I could. They’ll handle the heavy work. You look for what you need. Ready?”

“Yes. ok.”

They were gone. And Mark waited.

The flash surprised the engineer working on repairs of the travel chamber. He backed away as four men appeared and quickly aimed weapons at him. Team member One secured the engineer as Two and Three secured the doors. Gerry asked the engineer for the logs. He attempted to feign a lack of understanding. One held a pistol to his head. He suddenly remembered and led them to an office with a computer terminal. Gerry watched carefully as he brought up the travel logs. Gerry noted the information, using the known trip to Transylvania as a baseline. One tied him to the chair as they reassembled at the damaged travel chamber. Gerry mentioned off-handedly that the engineer could alert them. One walked back into the room and soon returned.

“Let’s go.”

Gerry asked shocked,

“Did you just…?”

“Loose end. Let’s GO.” They regrouped as Gerry set the device. Then they were off.

Mark jumped up from his seat as the four men appeared.

“What do you have?” Gerry waved his hand as he moved to the table.

“I have the logs here, let me look at them. Dr. Fargo, can you help?” Fargo moved closer reading over Gerry’s shoulder, then pointed at a line.

“Right there, the number of people moving, then down here, just two to the same place. Poenari, 1511.”

Gerry asked, “Where’s that?” Mark had the answer,

“Vlad’s castle, about 34 years after I was there. So they did go back again.” Dr. Fargo was looking up info on his phone,

“Makes sense. They were set-up there, it wasn’t in use and moch later it fell into ruin.” Mark was now thinking about next steps,

“How do we get a team in there. They have a dozen or so commando types, plus some medical services personnel. Maybe twenty in all.” Fargo was impressed despite the circumstances,

“So they are able to move larger groups and equipment.”

“Backwards, yes. Also they are somewhat less concerned about disrupting the timeline than we were.”

“Unfortunate. Risky.” Mark looked over to the man they knew simply as One,

“Can we deploy a full company? Set down outside the castle, then take out their team?” One thought it over a minute,

“We’ll need permission of course. But yes. How good do you think they are?”

“Ruthless no doubt. But I was able to get the best of one of them, so they may be out of practice, or inexperienced. The two you need to be concerned most with are their leader Alexandru and his second, Viktor.”

“Good. You get the go ahead, I’ll put together the team. Will you be joining us?”

“Definitely.”

“That will help with on site logistics. But Dr. Severns, remember, I’m in charge. I can’t risk my team, and we don’t know what we’ll find.”

They broke up the meeting to organize their various operations. Dr. Fargo thought he could adjust their device to send 11 men and equipment. Mark review satellite images of the long ruined site to *********** a safe drop in point. One put together a team with varying skills needed to infiltrate a guarded location and safely rescue the prisoner. As they prepared to leave Mark informed One,

“I will sacrifice myself for Susan. She doesn’t deserve to be part of this.” One shook him off,

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. If I return without you my leaders will be quite displeased.”

Susan woke in the strange bed. When she tried to sit up she found her hands tied together, then the horrors of the previous day came back to her. The drugs now having worn off she was disgusted by her behavior. When the door opened she realized she would again be lying naked before the same two from yesterday. The one who called himself Alexandru addressed her,

“I hope you slept well? You have a busy day today. Viktor here has agreed to test a larger dose than usual. He will literally be able to go all day. One man, one big cock. All day. A shame your husband couldn’t come to save you. Now if he ever does find you,” He turned to point at Viktor, now nude himself, his thick veiny cock stretching menacingly towards Susan, “there may not be much left for him.” Susan shreiked, begged, pleaded, her head thrashing side to side, pulling against her restraints. Alexandru continued, “Would you like some more of our wonderful drugs? You seemed to, enjoy, your day yesterday.” Susan was now enraged,

“Fuck you. Fuck all of you. Rape me, kill me. Someday you’ll be found and punished.”

“Ah, that’s IF they find us. And we have no need to kill you. I think you could entertain the men for a good long time. Now, one last time, do you want the drugs, or should Viktor shove his cock up your dry cunt?” Susan would have been happy to die, but if they were going to keep her alive she’d rather be drugged. Viktor waited until she seemed interested, then flipped Susan over on to her stomach. Lifting her by her hips he brought her to the edge of the bed. He caressed her ass, calming her, then spit on her tight asshole.

“Vitaliy told me this is something I shouldn’t miss.” He pushed his cock into Susan’s ass. She cried out, her head against the bed, hands crushing the sheets in her grip as Viktor worked his cock inside her ass. “So fucking tight.” He waited, going slow then when she relaxed the slightest bit he fed her the length of his cock, spreading her ass open to accept him. She cried, she moaned, then she began to rock her ass back onto him. Now Viktor held her hips and rocked back and forth enjoying the tight grip on him. Alexandru looked up as he hear noise from a distance. He went to the door opening onto a long hall. The sounds were getting closer. Going back to the room he asked the camera what was going on. Getting no response he picked up a weapon and went back into the hall. The sound of gunfire was getting closer. He backed into the room and pushed a dresser against the door. He turned to Viktor,

“We have company.” Viktor picked up a pistol and continued fucking Susan’s ass. “Let’s go Viktor.” Viktor shook his head,

“Almost there.” Viktor grunted, unloading himself into Susan as the door on the other side of the room burst open. Three men moved in covering the room. Viktor pulled his cock from Susan holding the gun to her head. Mark stood behind in the doorway,

“You fucking bastards, what did you do?” Viktor smiled,

“We did your wife, a lot. You should be able to get your cock in her ass, no problem now.” Mark would have gone for him if not held back. He stopped when he saw Viktor holding the gun to Susan. Alexandru summed up the situation.

“I suppose you have taken care of my team? Very good. Now however we seem to be in control of the target. You have choices. You can take Mark’s well fucked wife and go, leaving Mark with us. With the drugs she’s had she just might fuck you three too. If you don’t mind sloppy seconds, or what is it Viktor, twelfths? Or you can take a shot, in which case Mark will be a widower.” Alexandru now walked over to the bed. “You will not be leaving with Mark and Susan alive.”

Mark could feel himself being restrained. Maybe for the better, but watching Susan laying on the better bathed in sweat, cum leaking from her, yet seemingly unconcerned. She looked at him, but her eyes were glazed, the thoughts not those of the woman he loved.

“Mark, come with me. Fuck me Mark. I need you.” He stepped forward again, directed his gaze to Alexandru,

“Let her go. Take me. I don’t care what happens to me.” One stopped him,

“Dr. Severns, we can’t. Our orders.” Alexandru nodded, while now holding Susan by the neck a pistol against her head.

“Royal Marines? No wonder my boys were no match. Did they at least put up a fight?” Mark had had enough,

“Could you at least cover her?” Viktor laughed,

“Why now? The biggest slut of the century. Your little cock will hardly fill her now. Would you like to watch while I rip open her cunt?”

The look of surprise on Viktor’s face as the red spot on his forehead widened was not one Mark would soon forget. One now looked at Alexandru.

“I was tired of his crude mouth. And really you’re the decision maker. What will it be? You can press your button and disappear forever to a time and place we’re not likely to find you. Just let Susan go. I’ll have my boys leave the room. Just you and me, Mark and Susan. Mark is unarmed.”

“You would let me go?”

One asked, “As their leader I believe I know the answer. But answer this, did you participate?” He glanced at Susan who gave him a non verbal answer. Then back at Alexandru,

“No I didn’t. Such behavior is beneath my position. I may be cruel as necessary to complete my mission, but no, not that.”

“I didn’t think so. They I believe we have avenged Susan’s honor. You may go.” Alexandru scoffed,

“One more request.” One was becoming impatient, but waved his hand at Alexandru, “On Dr. Severns honor. Share your discoveries with all peoples, not just your western allies. Do you swear it?”

Mark nodded his head. “Yes, I swear it.” Alexandru looked carefully at Mark.

“Then my mission is complete.” They jumped forward at the gunshot. Susan slumped on the bed. Alexandru dropped the pistol as blood ran from the wound in his head. Mark moved first to cover Susan. One called in his team and gave instructions to clean up the grounds. Dmitri’s team of frightened medical personnel were rounded up. They would all be returning to the 23rd century. Mark would convince, no demand, that the cure be shared more widely, allowing medical and drug agencies around the globe to have the ability to make the modern version of Alis’ medicine.

After a stay at a medical facility Susan was cleared to go home with Mark. He continued to apologize for what she’d been through. Susan, while admitting to how horrific it had been also reminded Mark that his mission was the only reason she was alive and able to be with him and their Emily.

Mark met with Drs. Wilson and Fargo. He was concerned for Susan,

“Doctors, I want you to know that I am experiencing very vivid, all to realistic dreams. I am with many of the people I visited and lived with. Almost as though I’m living those lives again.” Dr. Wilson leaned over the table,

“This is very interesting from a medical standpoint.” Dr. Fargo agreed,

“We of course have very little data on the effects of time travel on the brain, on memories. You’ve experienced different realities, lived different lives in some ways.”

“That’s what concerns me, not for myself, but for Susan. If she’s having these dreams they can only be terrible nightmares.” Wilson thought a moment,

“Yes, she should spend some time with someone. To talk through any trouble she is having. Have you been able to….?”

“No doctor. Her body is still healing and I’m not sure mentally…”

“Understandable. And how are you coping?”

“Honestly, the dreams are rather, intense.”

“You should make sure Susan understands this. She should know she can express her concerns.”

That night Mark and Susan talked though what they were experiencing. Susan admitted to trying to conceal, hide what she was dealing with from Mark.

“Let it out Susie. I’ll be there.”

“OK Mark, and I, um, hear you at night. The names, like a roster.”

“Shit, really? I’m sorry.”

“Might not be so bad if you didn’t have a stiff one at the time.” Mark now turned red.

“Susan, I, I don’t know what to say.”

“Give me some time. OK?”

“Of course, sure.”

And over the course of the next months, most nights Susan would hear Mark in his sleep,

“Trudy, Sabina, Phyllis, Caecilia, Livia, Alis, Maegen, Allsun, Pippa.” Sometimes there were others, but always those, spoken as if he feared to forget them. And always, his cock, hard, rising against his shorts. Susan waited, her own nightmares more cloudy, much of what happened to her having been in a hazy drug induced fog. Only the one name, rough, hurtful, evil Gregor, choking her, hurting her as he forced himself into her. Susan could let most of it go, but she wasn’t ready yet. Another month passed. She wondered if she’d ever be able to again.

Then some weeks later, sometime after one am, she heard the names, “Trudy, Sabina, Phyllis, Caecelia..” Susan pulled back the sheets. As expected, Mark’s cock pressed against his shorts, “Livia, Alis, Maegan…”, Susan lifted the band of his shorts over and down. She looked at his cock, standing tall, “Allsun, Pippa…” She began to stroke his cock. Lightly, just enough to keep him hard. As he often did, he began the roll call again, “Trudy, Sabina, Phyllis..” Since he was deep into his litany Susan began to stroke Mark more agressively. The names came faster, “Caecelia Livia AlisAllsunPiiiiipa” As his cock spurted cum on his stomach, onto Susan’s hand. He fell back into a steady rhythm, breathing easily. Susan smiled to herself, got a washcloth and cleaned her hand, and her husband. She lay back slightly satisfied. Mark said nothing to her in the morning.

A few days later Susan woke to hear, “…Livia, Alis Maegen…” This time she freed his hard cock and took it into her mouth. She felt the familiar head as she pulled down the skin, letting her tongue circle him, then taking him deep into her mouth, “… Allsun, Pippa..Trudy, Sabina, Phyllis, Caecelia..” Letting her lips pull at him and she moved up and down, listening, “Livia, Cornelia Major, Cornelia Minor…” Feeling him harden in her mouth, accepting him happily, feeling him stiffen and throb, “Alis,Maegen,Allsun,Pippa” His cum shooting into her mouth, Susan swallowing him down, savoring her husband’s taste, cleaning him off.

Susan was ready. She knew she would do it. She waited, a week, and more, then as the moon shone in their bedroom window she heard the names. Susan smiled. She straddled Mark, held his hard cock, directed him to her opening. Now healed and rested wanting only her one man, she sat back letting Mark sink into her. Sighing at the old familiar feeling, her insides conforming to the only man she ever wanted to be with. Rocking slowly while he recited the names of his lovers, so strange, but so necessary, “Caecilia, Livia, Alis, Maegen…” Then he stopped and began repeating another name, “Susan, Susan, oh my god Susan.” He opened his eyes to see his love leaning over him, feeling himself inside her. He wanted to close his eyes and revel in the feelings, but he wanted to look into her eyes, to let her know how happy he was to be with her, this way, again. When he filled her she smiled and lay her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her. Holding her to him. Susan had a thought. She leaned her head back a bit.

“Mark, can we go on a trip?”

“Of course, anywhere.”

“Maybe I’d like memories that are pleasant. I would like to meet Alis.” Now Mark was surprised. He looked at her,

“Do you think it’s a good idea for you to meet, you know.”

“People meet former lovers of spouses all the time. And what’s to worry about, she’s 1800 years old.” Susan kissed him to let him know she was ok with everything. He kissed her back to let her know he got the joke. “And it would only be Alis. I’d like to thank her.”

“Well there’s the chance you might meet Allsun.”

“Ok”

“And Meagen.”

“You cad.” They laughed. “Is there anything we could bring?”

“They were quite self-sufficient. For Alis at least, the knowledge that her gift was not forgotten. She seems to understand things better than most. Other than that we must protect the timeline.”

“Will Gerry be there?”

“He has said he is going back. He plans to leave a detailed life of Alis.”

“How will I communicate?”

“We’ll need to get to studying.”

“Hmm, a challenge. Now could I have some more of this?” Susan asked as she reached between them.

Alis sat outside her small house watching her son Marcas play in the dirt, piling rocks. The city had returned to normal with the recent return of Gaius from his trip. Alis had suspicions but kept them to herself. Never a good idea to be talking about the mysterious. She sat on a stool mending a tunic when she spied a couple walking towards her. She doubted herself for a moment, then stood to greet her guests.

“Marcus? You’ve returned. And this is..?”

“My wife, Susan. I see Marcas is growing well.”

“He’s a fine boy, like his father.”

Susan looked from the boy to Alis. “If he’s as good a person as his mother, the world will be truly blessed.” Alis looked down, and then to Susan,

“You are not angry with me?” Susan stepped towards the shorter woman trying not to lose the unfamiliar language in her emotions.

“You can’t imagine how many people live because of you. People across the great oceans. Kings and common folk. Our world loves you Alis.”

Alis looked to Mark. He nodded in agreement and added,

“Alis is the most popular name for baby girls in our time. The King of all this land is honoring you. The leader of the religion Aengus follows has declared you a saint.” Alis sat on her stool.

“I’m a simple healer.”

“And that is how you are known, Alis, the Healer.” Alis smiled,

“Then that is good.”

---