Page 28

LEXI

I pulled my hoodie on and padded down the stairs to the hallway, meeting Dude by the door. “Hey, numbskull, you waited until I was almost in bed.”

He looked at the door. “Yeah, I see, you’re impatient.

” I opened the door and undid the latch on the screen door.

“Don’t go to the back-shack, bugging Torin, he needs his…

” I looked down toward the back-shack to see Torin strolling across the middle of the lawn, still wearing the button down shirt and the chinos, whistling, looking up and around at the sky. “…sleep.”

Torin heard the door open and raised his hand, calling up to the porch, “Mistress Lexi, I assumed ye were asleep!” He had both his dirk and his broadsword sheathed on the belt, slung around his hips, looking incongruous with the chinos and Nikes.

I walked out to the edge of the wide porch. “Dude wanted out so I came down… Whatcha doing?” Dude had gone out to greet him and was rubbing against the bottom of his legs.

Torin leaned down and gave my cat a rub between the ears. “When I hae trouble sleepin’ I go on night guard, twill set m’mind that there is nothin’ tae worry on, and gets me in the fresh air. Usually tis easy tae rest after.” As he spoke he walked toward me and leaned against the pole on my porch.

I said, “You’re still wearing the clothes we picked out, are they comfortable?”

“Aye,” he did a kind of forward lunge, “the trews allow for a great deal of movement.” He crouched.

“I think I could sword fight in them verra well and they are much lighter than m’great kilt, tis better in this aimsir theth.

” He flapped the front of his shirt to show he meant the hot weather. “I will give them back afore I go.”

“You don’t need to, you can keep them if they’re useful, and when you go down to the back-shack there’re some plastic bags in the cupboard under the sink. They’ll be similar to the one you had, to carry your things in. Take as many as you need.”

He nodded. “I will.”

“Do you feel better? You looked pretty green.”

“I feel much better, the sweetness in yer cream set m’stomach churnin’.” He grimaced.

I said, “Usually you aren’t supposed to eat three helpings. I’m used to the sweets, I love and crave the sweetness, and even I don’t eat that much.”

“Aye, twas the gluttony. I paid for it with a purge at the bowl in the garderobe.”

I chuckled. “Well, you’ll be hungry in the morning.”

“Aye, but I will do m’best not tae bother ye, I will see if I can get the vessel tae work, and?—”

“You are invited to eat breakfast first, no question. Master, um… Cooper knows, before you try the vessel.”

The corner of his mouth went up. “Tis decided?”

“Yes, tis decided.”

He nodded in the darkness looking out at the stars in the night sky.

I said, “I’m sorry he didn’t believe you, that he was rude.”

“Tis not for ye tae apologize, Mistress Lexi, tis a conversation between two men, ye canna try tae get between them.”

I said, “Men will be men, huh?”

“If ye mean men will need tae argue and come close tae blows over differences of opinions, then aye. I am learnin’ that men will be alike in every century.

” He took a second before adding, “But I daena blame him, Mistress Lexi. I dinna believe m’laird, Max, when he first told me of it, and we had long traveled the same paths taegether.

Master Cooper daena ken me from a spice dealer on market day. ”

I said, “True. And it has been a really hard day for him, he’s usually much more chill.”

“Chill?”

“You know, like not hot-headed, not so quick to anger.”

“Aye, I see, tae be stoic. Remainin’ cool is a verra fine trait, tis important when one is facin’ down an imminent battle, but Master Cooper is done with his battle.

He lost, tis tae be expected that if a man loses a battle he will be agitated after.

A man who has lost a battle will pick new ones in an attempt tae prove tae the world that he can win.

The trouble is, he will likely lose those too — many a man will end up in deep despair by losing over and over until he has naething left tae lose.

In Scotland, we call this wrestlin’ with shadows, Mistress Lexi — fightin’ battles that arna there, when the real one is already lost. Master Cooper will come back tae himself in time.

Tis on my shoulders that I dined at his table on a night when he wanted tae pick a battle. ”

“Wrestling with shadows, huh? That’s a good description. He wants to keep fighting, that explains why he won’t hear of me lending him the money.”

He raised his chin and looked down his nose at me, then shook his head. “I daena understand yer time — ye are holdin’ the gold? The lady is the head of the house? He is just a man ye keep here without marryin’ him nor sharin’ yer wealth? This is verra confusing.”

I chewed my lip as Cooper’s voice went through my head. Don’t be mad, but I don’t think I want to anymore...

I said, “It’s complicated.”

“Aye, it sounds it. I am a simpler man m’self, I will throw a lass over m’shoulder and take her tae m’castle. I will share the gold.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “That’s not at all how we do it, not anymore.” Then I asked, “But you haven’t done it yet?”

“Nae, I haena found the right lass yet for it, besides m’laird Max has needed my accompaniment on his quest. Twill be a time afore I am back at Glume with the wherewithal tae heave a lass up tae m’shoulders.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been tossed over someone’s shoulders before, except maybe my dad’s when I was very little.”

He grinned. “That is why ye arna married, I suppose, a bonny lass such as ye — must be because ye haena been heaved tae a shoulder properly.”

I chuckled. “Maybe that’s true.”

Dude rubbed around his legs again.

I said, “Dude is indifferent to most everyone, I’m so surprised he likes you this much.”

“I am surprised we like each other at all, I am generally wary of familiars?—”

“Familiars? Like witches’ pets?”

“Aye.” He knelt down and petted Dude.

“Well, I’m not a witch and he’s just a cat, not up to anything much but terrorizing the rodents, as is his job.” I leaned down and scratched Dude a little.

He trilled as he liked to do.

I stood back up.

Torin tilted back his head and looked down his nose again. “We ought not be out speakin’ tae each other in the night, ye ken, Mistress Lexi. Yer Master Cooper likely wants tae protect ye from my ‘advances’ on his maiden. He will think me a scoundrel and send me from yer lands.”

I chuckled. “You forget, sir, he already thinks you’re a scoundrel, he already wants you gone by morning.”

“Aye, tis the way of poor Torin, he is ever beguilin’ the lasses and provokin’ their masters?—”

“My master?” I sighed. “I suppose I’m going to let that slide since you’re an ancient man, but he is not my master, he’s just my… you know, ‘boyfriend’ as he helpfully pointed out earlier this evening.”

He narrowed his eyes and nodded.

I added, “But you think me beguiled?” I scoffed.

He chuckled. “Nae, I suppose ye arna beguiled, ye are discomfited by m’presence, nae beguiled.”

“That’s probably a better way to put it. Do you often beguile lasses? And provoke their masters?”

“Aye, m’laird finds it difficult tae extricate me from all the troubles that befall me…” He grinned. “Tis all because I am so verra charmin’.”

I laughed. “Yes, I can see that. And your laird, Max, doesn’t get in trouble?”

“Aye, he does, but he has a better manner about him, he is a prince… he is often forgiven his...” He shook his head.

“Nae, I ought not discuss our intrigues in front of a bonny lass such as yerself. Tis too scandalous. Suffice it tae say, Max is often the one who is cleared and forgiven for our exploits and clear-headed on our failings and must solve the issues with the lairds and blacksmiths and priests…”

“And you’re the troublemaker.”

He grinned. “Tis true, and tis also true that I am more amiable tae be around.”

“I’m sorry I’m asking so many questions, I’m just kind of fascinated — Does your laird Max know you think he’s the serious one and you’re more fun?”

“Aye, he is often too serious, worried about his family. He kens he has the manner of a spring bear. I do m’best tae keep his spirits up, but tis a chore some days. And I daena mind yer questions, I enjoy a conversation in the darkness, oidhche mhath?—

“What does that mean?”

“A fine night.” He breathed in deeply, rolling his hand so that I breathed in deeply too. “If ye fill yer lungs, Mistress Lexi, with the cool damp air and stench of the deep muck of the forest, ye will be protected from the mischievous fae?—”

I exhaled. “How does that work?”

“If yer lungs are filled with the air of the forest the fae canna find ye by yer breath, tis protective, everyone kens. Whenever I am in a tavern in the night and I go out tae relieve m’self I take a deep breath of the night air, a fae has never once harmed me.

Ye see, Mistress Lexi, it has proven tae be a good charm. ”

“I hadn’t heard that, but now I will breathe in at night more often.

I do love coming out here and standing under the night sky.

Do you see how, when you stand here…” I went out in the yard by about twenty feet, and stood in the grass, and looked up.

“See how the trees ring the sky? This is one of my favorite places in the world.”

He followed me to the spot and looked up. “I see it, the trees circle ye, ye are surrounded, and protected in the ring.”

“Yep, this is a magical spot.” I looked down at my feet. “Right here, this one foot by one foot square.”

I looked back up and then realized he was keenly watching the side of my face.

I blushed. “I really like to come out here at night, from now on I will remember to breathe deeply.”

“I will sleep soundly knowin’ that I protected Mistress Lexi from the forest fae.”

I returned to the porch and he followed. I said, “But I’m usually alone, you say you like to have conversations in the night?”

“Aye, I am rarely alone. I usually hae a band of men about me — we are on a hunt, journeying from village tae castle, or guarding up on the walls. Some of the men are sullen and rarely speak, such as m’friend Boyd, but Max and I talk a great deal.

” He chuckled, “I ken ye are thinkin’, ‘Nae, Torin, ye are talking? I daena believe it!’ But the best thoughts are discovered in the night, good plans are laid, the best discourse happens under the stars. ”

The corner of his mouth went up, “I am storytellin’… m’apologies, Mistress Lexi, I think I long for home.”

“I bet this modern world feels really foreign.”

“Aye, ye seem tae hae all the comforts ye could want yet yer bonds with yer family are difficult tae understand… I hae a question for ye, where is yer father and yer uncles and brothers?”

“I lost my parents a few years ago and I don’t like to talk about it.”

“Och nae, I am sorry Mistress Lexi.”

“It’s fine, they left me this house and you know… My favorite uncle, who used to live in the back-shack, got married and moved with his wife to Texas. I’m an only child — basically all the cousins live somewhere else, and so all I have here are Cooper and Jen.”

He nodded, sagely.

I said, “Did that all make sense?”

“Not much of it. Except ye are verra alone in the world.”

I yawned. “I should probably head to bed, it’s getting late — what are you going to do?”

“I will pace yer lands, keepin’ watch. I wish ye had some high walls tae look out over the valley.” He stepped off the porch and looked up at the roof. “Ye need a watch tower up there, tae see yer enemies a’comin’.”

“I don’t generally have enemies.”

“Och, ye are blessed, Mistress Lexi.” The he joked, “In my world, we daena hae much for comfort, but we can count on havin’ many enemies.

We must always keep them in our mind, or we might be taken unawares.

” He added, “I am always lookin’ for the highest ground.

But in lieu of it I will pace. Twill give me a chance tae consider m’problem.

Dost ye ken what I was wonderin’? Why do I keep comin’ here, in… what did ye say twas called?”

“North Carolina.”

“Has it always been here? I haena heard of it afore.”

“It was settled, I don’t know, four hundred years ago or so?”

“Aye, tis what ye said...” He counted with his thumb against his fingers. “And we found that I am aulder than the land we are standin’ on.”

He frowned. “Sometimes it hits me that I am verra auld and far out of time.”

“It’s a pretty young country, the United States of America. I wouldn’t let it bother you too much, but yeah, it doesn’t make much sense why a time travel vessel from Scotland would come here — what do we have?”

He shook his head. “Beyond bonny lasses, I daena ken.”

“Well, you haven’t seen much beyond my yard and the hospital... I wish I could show you the waterfall. And I’d love to take you to see New York City. It would be really fun to show a man from the sixteenth century the modern world.”

He said, “I think we will need tae say our farewells though, Mistress Lexi, I must away, there are things that hae tae be done. And I daena want tae cause more trouble for ye.”

“It’s not trouble, not really, I can handle it.”

“It has been verra good meetin’ ye.”

“Yeah, it has been.” I smiled. “And I understand you need to go, but first, breakfast.”

“Aye, at dawn we break fast.”

“At dawn! Dear me, no, we can sleep in and wake at a respectable time, we aren’t barbarians.”

“Barbarians, ye mean brutes?”

I nodded.

He chuckled. “Speak for yerself.”

I turned and walked to the door. “See you in the morning, Torin.”

“Aye, see ye in the morn, Mistress Lexi.”