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LEXI

I said, “Alright, you ready to get back?”

“Aye.” He went around to the passenger side door and with no assistance opened the door.

I got in the driver’s seat as he took off his sword belt and placed it in the back seat.

“This is the only trouble with yer carriage, Mistress Lexi.” He was very close, leaned over the seats, his shoulder brushing against mine.

“One canna wear a sword easily, or access it if trouble nears.

It ought tae be right on yer hip so ye can pull it and wave it menacingly out the open window.

He rolled down the window and put his elbow out.

“Look at you, you’re an old pro.”

He ran his hand through his hair.

“Don’t forget your seatbelt.”

“Tis necessary?”

“It’s illegal to ride without it.”

“Och nae, there are many rules in yer world.” He put on his seatbelt.

I pulled the car from the parking lot out onto the road, noting that his fingers tapped on his legs to the music.

He didn’t duck his head at all this time and as I got faster he put his head out the window and let the wind blow through his hair without me needing to tell him to. “Can ye push the carriage tae go even faster, Mistress Lexi?”

“Yep, hold on,” I pulled up to a red light. “We have to wait for the light to turn green.” I started bouncing my head and so he did it too, bouncing our heads like we were raring to go, music on, the best song, I grinned. “You like the music, perfect.”

“Aye, what is he singin’?”

“He’s singing, Crash into me.. . He means it romantically.”

Then it went green and I said, “Go!” I peeled out, kind of, not really, but he grabbed onto the dashboard to steady himself as we jerked forward. Then he winced and rubbed his shoulder, then put his head out the window again, “Cruachan!!”

I laughed. “What does that mean?”

“Tis the Campbell clan battle cry.”

“Cool.” I yelled, “Cruachan!” Then I asked, “Does that mean your last name is Campbell?”

“Nae, tis Elphinstone, I am a cousin of Lord Elphinstone, dost ye ken him?”

I shook my head.

“Our lands are near the Campbell lands and they are a verra powerful Clan, so m’father pledged loyalty tae their chief. I hae been a member of Clan Campbell m’whole life. Tis why I was raised in Castle Glume.”

“This is very interesting, since I just yelled it, what does Cruachan mean?”

“Ben Cruachan. Dost ye ken the ben?”

“What does ‘ben’ mean in this context?”

“A mountain?”

“Oh, no I don’t know that mountain. Learn something new every day. And do you want to hear something cool? These mountains and the Scottish Highlands were once the same mountain range.”

“Nae, tis true? But ye said there is a full ocean between.”

“Yes, the continents were one big land mass, I heard it once, does it look the same?”

“Nae, not at all.” His eyes scanned the land. “But I think if I were tae become familiar with this landscape it might.”

We passed my house. “That’s my house, but we’re going to take this baby up to 55 for a minute.”

We drove down the highway at 55 and Torin acted like it was the greatest thing he had ever done. I rolled down my window and showed him how to put his hand out and wave it up and down in the wind.

Then he leaned forward as if he were on a horse and smacked the outside of the car through the window.

“Are you urging me to go faster?”

“Aye, can ye?”

I got the car up to 65 before we came to the next town and a stoplight.

He exhaled. “Och nae, they shouldna hae these signs, ye ought tae go without havin’ tae stop.”

I laughed. “You have to stop sometimes, so the cars crossing the road have a chance to go.”

He narrowed his eyes. “But we are more important... I am the cousin of Lord Elphinstone, a warrior for the Earl of Argyll, a member of Clan Campbell, and the loyal hand tae the exiled king, Maximillian. They ought tae bow and wait until I hae passed.”

I opened and closed my mouth. “But how would they know you’re more important?”

“From lookin’ at me, they can see they ought tae avert their eyes and allow me tae pass, ye daena follow those rules?”

“No, not at all, we all have to wait for the light and take turns.”

“But what if yer journey is urgent, Mistress Lexi? Ye must need tae go first, och nae, it sounds verra difficult tae get yer way.”

“But your way would be very confusing and lots more accidents. This way is safer. We stop, they get to go, then they stop, and now we go.” I took a left. “See, very civilized.”

“Tis not verra civilized if there are peasants takin’ a turn and ridin’ in yer way! What would ye do, Mistress Lexi, if there are peasants in yer way?”

I laughed. “I have no idea. Once a farmer was riding a tractor down the lane, and we all slowed down until we could pass.”

“Och nae, Mistress Lexi, he must pull over and bow, ye would hae the right of way — tis the proper order!”

“How would the farmer know I’m more important?”

“He ought tae just ken his place! If I came across a peasant he would ken because of m’size, m’dress, m’manner, the strength and skill of m’sword, m’bearing, and m’stature upon m’horse.”

“But this isn’t a horse. He can’t see me inside this car. How would we see each other?”

“Ye might hae a flag upon yer carriage tae announce yer title, or I would wave my sword out the window, except...” He pretended to reach in the back seat and chuckled.

“I canna reach m’sword! I am learnin’, Mistress Lexi, that yer luxurious and magical carriage is allowin’ the peasants tae think too verra highly upon themselves. ”

I laughed, shaking my head, “This is a very interesting point, and would greatly help my impatience in traffic if I could just demand the right of way. I would love that, but it’s not at all how we do things here.

” I drove around the block and got back on the main road, waiting at the same light but from another direction.

Torin looked every which way. “Tis clear, not a peasant in any direction tae lord over yer rights, ye could go.”

“Nope, gotta follow the rules.”

“There are a lot of rules.” He sighed dramatically. “What is the noise?”

“The blinker, it’s telling everyone around us that we are going to turn left.” I pointed ahead of me. “See that car, it has its blinker on too. It’s going to turn right.”

Torin turned and looked out the back window. “The man behind ye looks tae be a peasant as well! Here is this bonny lady beside me, a land owner, and she has her carriage clickin’ tae warn him which way she will be turnin’ as if tis anything for him tae ken — och nae, I will never understand this.”

I laughed and said, “I suppose we will have to agree to disagree.”

“What does that mean?”

“Instead of arguing the point that we will never agree on, we just agree to not argue anymore.”

“Aye, Max would say, ‘Let us leave this matter tae rest, each holdin’ his own mind,’ but ye ken what I then say tae him?”

“What?”

“That tis always the man losin’ the argument who wants tae ‘hold his own mind’. I can usually get Max tae buy at least one more round of ales by saying it.”

I smiled at him. “You like to argue.”

“Aye, and tae drink. The nights are long, ye hae tae hae some discussion. Max and I agree on most everything, but we will take the other side for the challenge of it and some nights I will change sides two or three times.”

Our light turned green. I turned us left and Torin held onto the dashboard, as if we were careening.

Then he added, “I daena usually argue with ladies, though, I pray the bonny Mistress Lexi daena mind.”

I smiled, “I don’t mind at all, I thought it was interesting, and it made me laugh.”

He nodded. “Me as well.”

And we drove back to the house.

He leaned out the open window, letting the wind blow through his hair and then closed his eyes, warm sun and breeze on his handsome face.

I took furtive glances, thinking about how handsome he was, how he looked like a model, when his mood clouded over.

He sighed. His expression turned dark and sad.

He was so strapping, muscular, and big that it seemed he couldn’t take things to heart, but it was clear he was feeling something deeply.

It made me want to make things better for him. “Are you worried, Torin?”

He kept his eyes on the horizon as he spoke.

“Aye, Mistress Lexi, I am troubled. I am far from my time and though this journey is wondrous, my heart yearns for home. I long for the reek of sweatin’ horses, the clatter of carts lurchin’ over ruts, roads near impassable with muck and mire, and the deep nights, where ye pray for a glimmer of light tae find yer way.

” His mouth drew up on the corner and he met my eyes.

“You’re homesick, huh?”

“Aye, and I wish Max were here tae see this. He would take joy in the fleetness of yer carriage, the pickled eggs — och, he would relish them — and he would find pleasure in sparrin’ about the peasants takin’ the right of way.

Max treasures his birthright as an exiled prince, ye ken, and fiercely argues tae defend his rights. ”

“Maybe once you master the vessel, he could join you here for a visit.”

“Alas, he is beset with troubles.”

“He really is an exiled royal? Is this true?”

“Aye, he’s a prince of a mighty realm, rich in power and name.” He chuckled and ran his hand through his hair. “Max oft says tis more perilous than ye would wager and less grand than ye might think.’”

“He’s probably very rich, though?”

Torin shrugged. “He dwelt with me in a cold, drafty keep, and I am but a baron’s son. Our lodgings were nae what ye would call princely—more stone and shadow than silk and gold.”

“Why?”

He sighed. “Because he is exiled, he is hunted. His foes want tae see his line ended. I knew he needed tae remain hidden, but I dinna understand the depth of the danger until I saw with my own eyes what this vessel could do. Max’s life will be in grave danger if his foes gain this sorcery.”

I sighed. “I’m not sure I understand any of it, but I get that it’s dangerous.”