Page 38

LEXI

I pulled on a pair of socks and my blue, flower-print, short rainboots, that matched my sundress in a way, and went out to the garden shed behind the house to find my folding shovel.

It took a moment, it was behind a stack of pots but then I returned to the kitchen.“Ta da! This, see, a shovel, it’s perfect. I want you to have it.”

I held it out.

He said, “What is it?”

I pulled the pin from the side and the spring-loaded hinge opened, and the shovel was about two feet long when it was open.

I passed it to him. “This pin on the side releases it and closes it up.”

Torin held the shovel across his knees. “Och, this is verra fine!” He ran his hand along the wooden shaft. “Tis too fine, Mistress Lexi, I canna take it.”

I said, “I don’t mind, it’s from my dad, but I have a full-size set from him too. I want you to have it, you’ve still got the matches and the lighter?”

“Aye, I do, thank ye.”

He ran his hand along it again. “Twill make the work much easier.” I showed him once more how to use the pin to fold the shovel. He said, “I can fit it in m’bags on m’horse.”

“That’s what I thought.”

His fingers stopped on letters hand-etched into the handle. “What are these for?”

“I carved that, a while back, it’s my initials, for my name.”

“A and D?”

“Yes, my full name is Alexandria Davis.”

The color left his face, he looked like he had seen a ghost.

“Alexandria?” He looked ill, he gulped, his face looked like he was anguished, he began to mutter under his breath, “Domine Deus meus, gratias tibi ago quod eam vivam inveni!”

I was standing by his chair, wondering what the hell I should do. “Yeah, um… That’s my full name, everyone calls me Lexi.”

“Och, I give thanks tae ye, Lord, she has been found alive!” He shoved the shovel off his lap, it fell clattering to the floor, and he pushed his chair back, knocking it to the ground. “Da mihi fortitudinem et fidem, so I may fulfill m’promise and keep her safe.”

His big hulking mass of a form yanked his dirk from the sheath at his waist and he dropped to his knees with a thud.

He was at my feet, praying, his eyes closed. “ I swore tae guard her, and now I fear, Lord, that I may fail.”

He held the dirk before his face, clutched at the hilt on the top, a leather bound hilt with a blue stone at the end, its blade pointing down, catching the bright light streaming through my kitchen window.

“I vowed tae shield her, Lord, and I am weak with fear — Grant me strength and faith to fulfill my vow . ”

I looked around at Cooper and Jen, they both looked as shocked as I felt.

I said, “What is happening, Torin? I don’t understand!”

He whispered, “Holy Mary, mother of mercy, protect her from all harm! Help guide m’sword in her protection.”

“Torin, what…? ”

He lowered his dirk, and bowed his head, his voice low and trembling with awe.

“M’lady Alexandria, hear me: ye are Princess Alexandria, Yer Highness — yer brother, the Prince, has sought ye through many a long and bitter year.

I am sworn tae him, and now tae ye, by the grace of God and Holy Mary.

I pledge m’life, m’sword, and m’honor tae shield ye from all harm.

Tae guard ye till ye ken yer rightful place.

Fear not, for I will stand by ye, come what may. ”

I stood numbly, my mouth opening and closing. It was like my brain had stopped working, I couldn’t compute.

Cooper asked, “What are you saying, Torin?”

Torin glanced over his shoulder, and said, “M’laird Maximillian, and I hae been searchin’ for Princess Alexandria, and she stands before me — och nae , I should hae seen the familiarity in yer visage.

Ye are the Princess we hae been searchin’ for!

I hae sworn tae find ye, now I am sworn tae protect ye — yer life is as my own, I will lay down m’life tae keep ye safe. ”

I took a step back. “What is going on, why are you saying this?”

Cooper said, “Jesus Criminy, this is one more level of crazy. I keep thinking we are at the end of it, and looky here, new depths.”

Jen said, “Look, Torin, you have her confused with someone else. This is Lexi, she was born here, she has… a family. They were all born here, she grew up here her whole life.”

I gulped.

I blinked.

I asked, “Why are you saying this to me?”

Cooper jumped from his chair, came around the table. “Lexi, it’s okay… he’s just saying one more crazy thing.”

I could barely see him, the blood rushing around my head made a loud sound that drowned out everything else as I looked down at Torin. “What the hell, this isn’t real. I just have the same name, Alexandria, it’s common .”

“Nae, ye are her, I see it.” He kept his eyes down on the ground in front of my feet. “I am vexed. I dinna detect it afore, but tis clear. Ye are the Princess Royal. We hae sought ye for long years.”

“Get up.”

He shook his head, his eyes still down on the ground in front of my feat. For some reason I was scared, and as my blood pumped my anger started to rise.

“Get up, Torin. Now. ”

“Aye, Yer Highness.” He rose to his feet, but kept his eyes down.

I said, “Look at me.”

He shook his head.

I was furious. “What the hell, Torin, explain yourself! This is all bullshit and I told Cooper that you were telling the truth, and now look! Why would you say something so crazy?”

He mumbled, staring at the ground, “I am deeply sorry, Yer Highness, that I hae vexed ye.”

He put his dirk into the sheath at his belt.

“So what, I have the same name as this Princess? A princess that you likely just made up, right now, and you want me to listen to you on this, holy smokes!”

“Yer Highness, ye must listen tae m’earnest plea — ye are in danger, and I will do m’best tae protect ye while I try tae reunite ye with yer brother, m’laird?—”

I looked around at Cooper and Jen, “Can you believe this bullshit? What the hell! I regret all the effort I put into you, Torin. Holy shit. This is bizarre.”

Torin said, “Yer Highness, I promise ye, I am sworn tae protect ye. I daena mean tae cause ye?—”

I looked at Cooper for help.

He said, “Look, I’ve about had enough, I get that you’re looking for someone named Alexandria, but this is not her, it’s just a coincidence. She was born here, right, Lexi? This is her family home. She has lived here her whole life. Tell him, Lexi.”

The whole time he spoke, Torin stared at the ground in front of my feet, and I stared at his lowered lids, his strong nose, his beard on his downturned face.

I repeated, “I’ve lived here my whole life.”

“Cannae be true, I am certain ye are the Princess, Alexandria.”

“How?”

“Because ye hae the same name and yer visage is just like yer brother’s.”

I huffed.

Jen said, “But… but this is all coincidence. She is a local, raised in North Carolina. This is her family home.”

“I canna explain it, but tis true.”

I said, “Try.”

“Try what, Yer Highness?”

“First, try to stop calling me that. I greatly prefer Mistress Lexi, and also try to explain what you claim is ‘true’.”

“When Prince Maximillian was a bairn, his father was killed in battle. I daena ken the full story, but Max was verra young at the time, his sister even younger. Their kingdom was lost. They were bundled away in the night and hidden in the past, so they wouldna be found by the new usurper of their throne. Max was brought tae Castle Glume, which is how we became known tae each other. His sister was given over tae another household, and he never saw her again.”

I blinked.

Cooper asked, “How old was she at the time?”

“I believe she was verra young.”

Cooper said, “Do you think she was a baby, or like three years old, or eight — what are we talking here?”

“I would guess, about three years auld.”

In my peripheral vision I saw Cooper glance at me.

I had to keep my voice steady. “What do you mean, ‘given over to another household’?”

“She was tae be raised by a landed baron, in a caput, a day’s ride from our castle.

Max was too young tae visit her, but by keepin’ them separate they were protected from those who would be searchin’ for them.

Max would receive news, and then one day he told me the messages had stopped and he dinna ken of her whereabouts or if she was safe. ”

I gulped.

Jen asked, “Where did she go?”

“Max dinna ken. He couldna find her. He prayed she had been rescued by someone in his family and returned tae his kingdom, but he couldna find her and as the years passed he grew tae believe she was lost for good.”

Cooper said, “This still doesn’t explain why you think this person is Lexi. She knows who her parents are. She studies her family tree. I mean come on, this is too ludicrous, even by Torin standards.”

Torin nodded, his eyes still averted.

I shook my head.

Then said, “Keep going.”

“Months ago, winter of 1558, a messenger approached Max, she told Max of the vessel that we needed tae procure, and how tae find his sister. It cost us blood and treasure tae get the vessel, but somehow I was the one holdin’ it…

ye ken the story. I thought I needed tae get the vessel returned tae Max so he could use it tae find his sister, and believed that bein’ here on yer lands was a blunder.

I dinna realize ye were the Princess we were looking for… and ye ken the rest of the story.”

Cooper said, “This sounds suspiciously like Torin doesn’t plan to leave, told you.” He shook his head. “Sorry, I joke when I’m faced with inanities.”

I just tried to breathe. My stomach hurt. Like I needed to throw up. I wrapped my arms around my middle, hugging myself.

Jen came closer and put her hand on my shoulder.

“All of this is not true, Lexi, you know it. Your parents, may they rest in peace, can’t tell you, but maybe…

I don’t know, you could call your uncle, talk to him, just tell him what’s going on, just get him to tell you some good stories about growing up. ”

A tear slid down my face.

Torin asked, “Dost ye ken ye were a blood relation, or were they fosterin’ ye?”

Cooper said, “Welp, now I’ve had enough. This is effing not cool. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” He put his hand out, gesturing toward the door.

Torin raised his eyes to mine. “Dost ye want me tae go?”

I nodded, chewing my lip.

He bowed deeply. “Tis my fervent desire tae keep ye safe, Yer Highness. I will go on yer command, but I will remain close tae keep yer life protected. Tis my oath.” He followed Cooper down the hall to the front door.

I heard them conversing but couldn’t tell what they were saying.