Page 36 of Torin and His Oath (Torin and the Princess #2)

TORIN

A few moments later I sank again into the seat. My clothes were less damp, my hair had dried. I felt warm for the first time that day. I drained my whole mug and wiped my arm across my mouth.

“I am finally comin’ intae myself. Twas bleak.”

Max requested another refill of our mugs and told me our supper was on its way.

I asked, “Did Mistress Sarie cook m’favorite?”

“She is bringing the smoked mutton stew.”

I said, “Och, I am drooling with hunger. But that is not m’favorite, did ye ask for bannocks and cheese?”

Max groaned. “Every tavern in Christendom, tis the same with ye —Bannocks and cheese, bannocks and cheese. Aye, I ordered it, she will bring it first, but Torin, ye order it every time!”

“I ken, it fills the belly.” I looked around the room, spotting the honey pot on a table within the kitchen. I whispered, “She is goin’ tae serve us some heather-honey brose.”

Max said, “Wheesht, ye ken she winna give it if we ask for it — must come as a treat.”

“I winna ruin it, never. Tis the best in the glen. Och, I am hungry.”

Max settled back in his chair, “I need a full accountin’. What has happened that ye are half drowned and half dead?”

I reached in my sporran, pulled out the vessel, and placed it on the table in front of him.

He put his hand over it and I glanced tae make certain nae one was watching. This was why we often met in Muckhart, tae keep Max’s quest for the vessel from the pryin’ eyes and inquisitive ears of the inhabitants of Castle Glume. This tavern was busy and twas easy tae blend intae the crowds.

Mistress Sarie approached so Max slid the vessel into his sporran while she put the plate with bannocks and cheese in front of me. She said, “I ken twas for ye, as soon as Master Max asked for it.”

I took a big hungry bite and said with my mouth full, “I haena had it in weeks, I was desperately in need of it.”

She said, “I ken ye were, ye are eatin’ without prayin’ first! If ye are a good lad I will give ye heather-honey brose, I ken ye like it.”

I hastily placed the rest of the oatcake back on the plate, folded my hands and said, with my stomach growlin’, “Bless this bread, Lord, and the road that lies ahead. Amen.”

Then I asked Max, “Ye want some?” As I stuffed more in my mouth and groaned with pleasure.

He shook his head, “Nae, I had some earlier.”

“Och, ye are fortunate.”

Then she gave us each a bowl of stew and our mugs were refilled yet again. I dug my spoon intae the stew and ate a big bite, hungrily.

With my mouth full, chewin’, while bringing the bannock to my mouth, I said, “I will need a second helpin’ of stew.”

Max said, “Ye hae had one bite and already ye are plannin’ it?”

“Aye, and I am prepared tae charm Mistress Sarie for it.”

He spooned a mouthful of stew, eyein’ me over the rim. “Tis plain ye daena ken the state of yer visage, Torin. Ye winna charm any soul until ye find a stream.” He gestured with his spoon. “Whose blood are ye dripping with?”

I glanced down at the dark stains drying on my tunic. My hand lifted in a vague sweep across m’chest. “Some is mine, some the boar. One bit’s the highwayman I slew.” I smiled weakly. “All well-blended now.”

He ate a few more bites and then leaned back in his chair. He pulled the vessel from his sporran. “I dinna think I would ever hold it.”

“Careful, it might grab ye.”

I ate a big bite and chewed. “I found her.”

His head jerked up. “Who?”

“Yer sister.”

He looked shocked, “Ye found her? Och, praise be tae the heavens, ye found Alexandria! Is she safe? Where is she?”

“She is in a place called Carolina in the New World, tis the year 2004.”

He asked again, “She is safe?”

“She was, until I arrived there. I fear I hae brought attention tae her whereabouts. But I saw tae it, she has guards now?—”

“Och, Torin, ye need tae speak plainly — she dinna hae guards? But she is a princess!”

I shook my head. “She dinna ken she is a princess.”

“How old is she?”

“She is grown. She has land and a house, but she was raised a commoner.”

“Och nae.” Max shook his head. “With nae guards? What sort of family fostered her?”

“Her family is gone, she has lost most everyone. She has a friend, Jen, and a man named Cooper?—”

“She has married?”

“Nae, she calls him her ‘boyfriend’.”

Max scowled. “A scoundrel.”

I said, “We dinna hae high regard for each other, but I gather that marryin’ is optional in their time.”

“I daena like the sound of any of this. She is a princess and all alone in the world, nae guarded well, taken advantage of? We will go tae when she is younger, Torin. We will rescue her afore her fate is decided.”

I chewed my lip and pushed my empty bowls away. “Ye canna.”

“Nae, of course we can, Torin. She was lost when she was verra young. We will go back tae that time and find her afore she is raised so poorly.” He looked down on the vessel. “I canna believe ye were able tae work it.”

“I wasna, I hae been boomraginin’ around.”

“What does that mean?”

“Tae arrive at the same place again. I arrived once then did it again repeatedly.” I waved my hand, “I wish ye would hae explained the workin’s, I dinna ken how tae use it without great harm tae my body and soul.”

He said, “I daena ken much. I saw ye when ye returned, I tried tae help ye, but ye kept leavin’ again.”

“Aye, once when I went over the cliff’s edge.”

“I saw ye go over, I couldna get there for fightin’ the men who were chasin’ ye.”

My brow drew down. “When was the other time?”

“I saw yer storm from a hill above Moulin. I raced tae meet ye, but saw ye in a full fight, and then a storm rose, and ye were gone once more.”

“I came and went many times past that.”

Max said, “That was the last time I saw ye. A full day passed. I was worried ye dinna survive. I couldna think of what tae do, so I traveled here tae meet ye if ye were fortunate enough tae hae lived through it.”

“I did, barely.” I picked up the vessel and looked over the markings. “See these are the set ones, they will deliver ye tae Mistress Lexi’s lands?—”

“Ye call my sister, Mistress Lexi?”

“Nae, I call her Princess. But all else ken her as Lexi.”

His brow drew down.

I said, “Once, the markings were altered, and I arrived far north, many years in the future, long after ye were gone. But I figured it out — if I twist them in this order, the vessel will bring me tae the Princess’s time, and then finally here.”

Max picked up the vessel, turning it over in his hands. “Ye ken a great deal. How did ye change the markings?”

“Twistin’ the form.” I warned, “But daena try it — ye must be in a cellar, I think. We hae tae be cautious.” I hesitated. “I thought ye would ken this…?”

“Nae,” he admitted. “I was verra young when I last held a vessel. All I hae is the message.” He drew a worn page from his sporran, edges creased and softened by months of study. He spread it flat and slid it tae me.

I squinted at the markings in the dim light. “Does it tell ye the meanin’? Twould help tae ken.”

“Some.” He frowned. “Twill take more figurin’ out.”

I leaned back, letting out a breath. “I was verra angry with ye, for not tellin’ me how tae work it. But… it seems ye dinna ken much either.”

“Nae, but I wish I had told ye more.”

“Aye.” We drained our ales, and Max waved Mistress Sarie over for two more.

When she left, I leaned closer. “I learned there is more than one vessel.”

Max’s eyes lit. “Och aye! I knew, but I dinna ken if others used them.”

“One was. I was chased tae the Princess’s lands. The man escaped me, and a storm rose — he had a vessel as well.”

“Ye learned a great deal.” He tapped the table. “Then we must see her. We should go back tae when she was a child and?—”

I shook my head. “Nae, Max. That wouldna be right. What would happen tae her memories? Her whole life — gone.”

“Why nae, Torin? Twould solve many troubles! I will win back my throne and she would start over in Riaghalbane, grow as the princess she was born tae be?—”

I interrupted, “Would ye want yer life redone without yer say?”

Max stiffened. “Nae, I?—”

I leaned in. “What if I twisted this vessel right now, went back tae yer boyhood. I could find ye and carry ye off? The man afore me would cease tae be.”

“Ye wouldna dare!”

“Why would ye care? Ye could live yer life over. I could keep ye safe. I could raise ye as m’son.” I smiled.

“Och nae, a chill of darkness has crossed over my life, Torin, daena speak on it, I say nae. Daena even think it.”

“Then ye see. Ye are the man afore me because of the trouble ye hae lived through. The princess has seen her share of troubles, but she is the same. Her troubles shaped her, and her memories are her own. Ye see how she would feel the same?”

“Aye. I see it.”

He nodded, his eyes narrowing. “How did ye grow so wise about Alexandria?”

I said, “I spent a long time at her side. She and I were taken captive, we were on a journey together. I had tae rescue her.”

He exhaled, watching me intently.

I drank from my ale and kept my eyes on the fire, as he watched the side of my face.

Then he asked, “Did ye take liberties with my sister?”

I was shocked. “Nae, I wouldna! I am yer humble servant, Torin, and yer companion. I hae been fightin’ alongside ye for years.”

“But ye hae taken liberties with many a lass! Ye were on a ‘journey taegether’ — how many days did ye accompany the Princess?”

“We were held north of Ballatar and had tae travel south tae?—”

“Ye stayed in inns?”

I nodded. “I wanted tae get her home, but our vessel wouldna work. We journeyed south and shared rooms in inns. Twas all I could do. I had tae try tae keep her safe. I want ye tae ken, Max, as I hae sworn allegiance tae ye, I swore an oath tae the Princess, too. I swore I would get her home and that I would reunite ye both together. I swore I would fight alongside ye tae help ye win the kingdom back. But then she became ill and I was tryin’… ”

I felt overcome with emotion, she had been so sick, I wasna certain she had survived it.

He shook his head.