“I need tae pack, but I will hae ye home in a minute.”
I let out a shaky breath and nodded.
He hugged me tighter, then stepped back and said, “I need tae change intae my tunic.” He picked it up.
I winced. “Ew, but that one has blood on it…”
He shrugged. “But tis dry, twill be more comfortable.” He added, “Turn around so I can change.”
I turned away, very aware of the sound of fabric peeling wetly from skin. He stripped off the damp tunic, and for one brief, burning moment, he was naked again, right behind me. I kept my eyes shut tight.
“Ye can turn around now.”
I did, and my stomach lurched. A bloody stain spread across the chest of his dry shirt.
He raised a brow. “Tis nae haunted.”
“Kinda is. I mean, you’ve literally got the blood of... ugh. I don’t even want to think about it.”
Then he smiled faintly. “Then we winna think on it, I hae important things tae do.” He picked up his plaid. “I must put on my great kilt tae cover my great arse. I daena want ye tae feel ye hae tae look at it again.”
A blush drew up my cheeks. “I just forgot to look away.”
“The sight of my great arse struck ye dumb!”
I laughed.
“Och, tis a relief, I feel a great deal better when ye laugh.”
He stepped close, and used an edge of the fabric to towel the water from my hair. His touch was steady, careful.
“I’m sorry I scared you.”
He brushed a lock of hair from my cheek, smiling wryly. “And I am sorry ye almost drowned in the shallow water.”
I raised my chin. “I almost died in a rushing waterfall but gripped the tree root and pulled myself ashore. You didn’t see, it was heroic.”
“I am certain twas.” He stepped away. “Better now?”
“Yes, thank you, Torin.”
“Ye are welcome, Princess.”
While he boundhimself into his great kilt, I said, “Don’t you have to lay it on the ground and sort of… roll into it? I saw that in a documentary once.”
Torin screwed up his face. “Lay upon the ground, Princess? I dinna hae tae lie in the dirt tae don m’clothes.” He pleated the fabric between his fingers, wrapped it snug around his waist, then belted it tight. It happened really fast. “A man kens tae pleatas he stands. Else he’d go unclad half the day. I can dress in the rain, on the march, or with a sword at m’side — no rollin’ in the muck required.”
I, on the other hand, sat down on the blanket to pull on my socks and shove my feet back into my rainboots. My dress was plastered wet to my skin. I couldn’t wait to get home.
Dude sauntered in from his sunny perch, tail high, as though he had known all along we were about to leave.
6
LEXI
1558 - BY THE RIVER DEE
Torin asked, while putting on his kilt, “Did ye see my sporran in the bags? I feel undressed without it.”
