Page 7

TORIN

O ch, the harsh, unnatural illumination of the world stung m’vision. I was disoriented, squintin’ my eyes, desperate tae see clearly, tae understand where I was and how tae find m’way back home.

I had tae get home. Max was supposed tae hae the vessel — twas his, not mine. He had been haunted by its loss, desperately searchin’ for it, and yet, here I was, with it in m’possession.

Except I dinna hae it in m’possession anymore — I could see a pale white bag with m’few belongings on the chair beside m’bed. I had struggled tae reach it and pulled it close, feelin’ around the bottom before lettin’ it go. The vessel wasna inside it.

Max and I had been working tae get our hands on it for long months, I had mistakenly spirited it away, and now twas no longer with me. I dinna ken where it had gone or how I had ended up here, in this hellish chamber.

Och nae.

And m’sword was missin’ as well. Where was m’sword?

I kept my eyes closed while the physician worked upon me, only openin’ m’eyes when a nursemaid yelled “Sir!” intae m’face.

Their shrill voices made a piercin’ clamor that vexed my ears. The room was filled with an endless din and jangle, so I could scarce hear. They cast a blazing beam intae m’eyes, and all about was a wild uproar.

I shook m’head or nodded in answer when they forced me tae speak — who were these people ?

They asked numerous questions and demanded answers. What had happened tae me? What had happened tae Max?

Och, he would be so disappointed in me. He had received a message tellin’ him where tae find the vessel and that had been the first time I had seen him with hope in his heart.

Where was he now? He had been near me. Now I couldna tell where he had gone and this place was a quandary, twas confusin’ tae be in a bed in the middle of it — when a bonny maiden entered the room.

She was radiant, most of her skin bare, and she smelt like sunshine beaming upon a field of blossoms. Her presence was a blaze of brightness, almost blinding, clashing with the glare of the chamber. The light she emanated overwhelmed m’senses, making it hard tae focus.

And then she handed me the vessel.

Twas a moment of grace in a terrible day.

She stood beside m’bed, speakin’ tae me, I asked her where I was, but her answer increased the mystery.

And then she withdrew when the guards entered and forced me tae press m’finger tae their ink and then their paper. I hid the vessel under the covers.

The men asked who I was and where I lived. I answered, “Torin,” and that I was, “From the Highlands.”

One of the men said, “Highlands, that’s right up the road. His prints are clear, he’s got no record.”

The other said, “Do you have a way to get home?”

I opened my eye. “Aye.”

The other man said, “As soon as you are released, head on home. Don’t stay here causin’ trouble.”

“Aye, I will.”

After a time of extreme discomfort and confusion, the guards left the room. Then Mistress Lexi spoke with me further, and then she left. And through it all I had gained an awareness: I was being held captive. They wouldna allow me tae leave this strange place.

I couldna remain if I wanted tae be free. M’shoulder ached, but I had tae go.

I opened an eye as best I could and scanned the room. I could leave through the window, but best tae go down the hall. I had seen the direction Mistress Lexi had gone, I simply needed tae go that direction.

I shoved the vessel intae the wrappin’ on m’shoulder so that twas hidden at m’chest, under m’arm and dropped m’feet tae the floor. Takin’ brief glances, moppin’ m’burning eyes with m’wrist so I could see. I found m’boots under the chair.

A nurse rushed in. “Sir! You have to get back to bed!” She made me lay back and lifted m’feet up tae the end of the bed and patted my knee. “There, we have some paperwork before you can leave.”

I said, “I need m’sword, dost ye ken where tis?”

“It’s a valuable, we are sending it down to the locker. You can pick it up there when you’re free to go.”

“Tis nae there yet?”

“No, it’s still in the nurse station, it’ll get picked up in a few minutes?—”

I said, “I am famished.”

“I will see if I can find you something.”

She left.

I swung m’feet tae the floor again and the movement sent spasms of pain through m’body. I looked down tae see the buckle on the front of m’belt was undone. I tried tae fasten it with one arm, the ache stealin’ the breath from m’lungs.

I gritted m’teeth as I pulled the bag of m’belongings tae m’good shoulder, threw m’cloak over m’other, and shoved m’feet in m’boots, my heels crushin’ down the back.

All of this was takin’ too long a time.

The man sharin’ the chamber asked, “Where you going?”

I grunted, “Home.”

He said, “I don’t think you get to leave yet.”

I held ontae the front of m’kilt and lumbered tae the door. “They canna stop me.” I added, “Tis probable they canna stop me.”

I watched for a moment from the shadows, peerin’ intae the intense light.

I needed tae run, but m’kilt would fall tae the floor, m’boots would fall from m’feet, and I wanted m’sword.

I could see the glint of light upon its hilt on a table across a wide empty hall. There was only one person sittin’ near it.

A woman with her back tae me. Another person neared in the passage, so I slipped intae the shadows, and got m’belt buckled, securin’ m’kilt, grittin’ my teeth against the pain. I got the cloak twisted so it was secure. Then I leaned down and pulled the back of m’boots on.

I would need tae run.

The man behind me sayin’, “You’re going to get in trouble.”

I took a deep breath, ridin’ the waves of pain. “Nae… for what?”

“I don’t know.”

“Aye, they canna hold me.” I rested my shoulder against the door, waves of anguish rollin’ through me and forced out, “I am well, tis time tae go.”

I watched until the passage was clear, then I counted three, muttered under m’breath m’clan’s war cry, ‘Cruachan!’ and rushed from the room.

It took ten steps tae cross the passage, and made it tae m’sword and dirk. I was tryin' tae be stealthy, quiet and careful in spite of the pain. I reached tae gather them in m'hand, but the woman turned and exclaimed in shock, “No, who said you can touch that!”

I yanked m’sword and dirk free and began tae run.

I ran down a long passage, through doors intae another, lamentin’ that I might be lost in a maze, but then at the end of the passage there was a glimpse of green grass and sky.

Nae one made chase, but many people leered as I raced by.

I made it tae the door and shoved through, m’eyes stingin’ from the sun.

I hastened down the steps and raced across a wide field tae the woods — twas a long way, my breaths staggerin’, m’heart pounding in m’chest. With every thud of m’feet pain shot up my shoulder, causin’ me tae gasp for air. Noise roared in my ears.

I made it tae the woods and kept running until I felt certain nae one could find me while I rested and figured out how tae work the vessel.

I dropped tae my knees behind a boulder but in the descent knocked m’breath from my lungs with the pain.

Och nae. I collapsed tae my side and blew out puffs of air gripping my elbow tryin’ tae keep the pain from draggin’ me away from the conscious livin’ world, but that was the last thing I remembered for a long time.

When I woke m’shoulder was throbbin’ with pain, but I had been injured before. It took a few moments for it all tae calm enough tae pull the vessel from the wrappings on m’chest.

I laid it beside me on the boulder and then tried tae calm m’self, the pain was unbearable.

My breaths were bullish — och, how my shoulder ached.

I had tae pray and override it, but more concernin’ was that I was verra hungry.

The ache of it causin’ my middle tae scream louder than my shoulder… almost.

I mopped at my brow and relieved m’self and then sat on the boulder tae use one hand tae sheath m’dirk at m’right hip and sheathed m’broadsword on my left. I removed m’belongings from the pale white bag, coins, a few jewels, and a piece of bread wrapped in a cloth and ate it hungrily.

I pulled the cork from my small ceramic jar and guzzled down the last of the cider.

“Och nae, I am still thirsty.” I capped it once more.

When I arrived back in Scotland, I would need tae solve m’thirst problem first, then m’hunger.

I placed everythin’ I owned in m’sporran and attached it tae m’belt.

I managed tae get the silver brooch fastened tae pin m’cloak at m’shoulders.

I was goin’ tae toss the bag away, but it looked useful and rare so I rolled it verra small and put it in m’sporran as well.

Then I looked down upon the vessel. I had only seen it from afar, until yesterday, and I hadna had a chance tae really look it over. I needed tae get from here. Twas bright and unsettling, but the trouble was I dinna ken how tae work the vessel.

There were grooves and markings, some numbers, and though I was in cool shade I had tae squint tae make them out — my eyes still burned by the brightness of light filtering through the leaves of the trees overhead. But it dinna matter, I had nae idea what their meaning was.

I thought... I wouldna be able tae figure this out, but likely it dinna matter much. If the vessel had dragged me here, then it ought tae drag me back, twas only fair.

I held it in m’good hand and raised it tae my eyes. “Go on, lad, do yer magic.”

I closed my eyes tight waiting for it tae turn on. I opened my eyes, “Tis time, do what ye need tae do — let us go, wee friend.”

Naething.

I huffed. “I ken ye can do it, ye hae done it afore. Just yesterday, ye ripped me away and injured m’shoulder, look what ye hae done tae me. Let us do it again. Now.”

I looked around at the woods and considered. Twas a verra sheltered spot, I had been in a field, runnin’, when I had been lifted.

I wasna interested in returnin’ tae the building I had left, so I headed the other way, picking a path toward a break in the trees, comin’ upon a creek.

I knelt beside it and drank from m’hand then filled the jar, and replaced the cork.

Twas nae easy with one hand. Then I straightened, holdin’ the vessel once more.

“Alright vessel, do yer best. Ye can see the sky above us. Tis day. Dost ye need darkness? Or…” I looked all around.

“I was runnin’ last time — daena ken how it happened, but I will try.

” I clutched the vessel in m’fist, with all m’belongings banging against m’body, I began joggin’ down the bank of the creek, leaping from rock tae rock, concentratin’ tae keep on m’feet.

Then I drew tae a halt and addressed the vessel again, “The jostlin’ is injurin’ my shoulder anew, and for what purpose? Ye winna do yer part! And I look like an arse if someone comes upon me! They would see a grown man, an accomplished warrior, beggin’ a rock tae carry him off.”

I huffed.

And dropped m’arm, bangin’ the vessel on m’thigh. I felt it move, it seemed tae twist and grab ahold of m’hand. It felt as if twould rip m’limb from my body. A storm rose around me and I was torn asunder.