Torin’s voice came softly from the darkness. “Dude returned?”
“Yes.”
Torin rose, went to the window, and closed the shutter. Then he lay back down on the floor, tugged the plaid across his shoulders, and stretched his hand out once more to the edge of the bed. I found it in the dark and held on.
“Good night, Torin.”
“Good night, Princess. Sweet dreams.”
“Can you sing the song to me again?”
“The one from earlier, about the naughty Scotsman stealing the kiss from the lass?”
“No, the first one, about the heather on the moor.”
He began to sing low, the tune weaving through the dark:
“…Oh, all around the bloomin’ heather, oh my Lassie, will ye go? I will twine for thee a bower, by the clear silver fountain, and cover it wi’ flowers from the mountain... Will ye go, Lassie, will ye go…?”
I mumbled sleepily, “That’s really beautiful.”
And with Dude warm behind my knees, Torin’s hand clasped in mine, and the lull of his song, I fell asleep.
14
LEXI
1558 - THE FORDMAN’S REST NEAR ABOYNE
Iwoke to the scrape of leather and the soft thump of packs being shifted. Torin was crouched in the half-light, sorting through our things, while Dude wound around his legs, tail flicking.
“Good morning, Torin.”
“Good morn, Princess.” He closed a pack and straightened, bumping his head against the low ceiling. “I need tae step out tae relieve m’self. Can I leave ye?”
I stretched. “I need to go too, should I come with?”
“Ye may use the chamberpot, there.” He nodded toward the shadow under the table. “I am sparin’ ye the sight of me doin’ it.”
I followed his eyes to the bowl under the table. “Wait…thatbowl?”
“Aye.”
“So I’m supposed to crouch over it and… go? Then what?”
He hunched, already heading for the door. “Then ye just ignore it. The innkeeper will dispose of it. It winna matter much, we are leavin’ for Glenesk as soon as possible. It looks like rain.”
I swung the covers off me. “You learned all this since you woke up?”
“Aye, twas tae keep m’mind off how much I need tae pish.”
I waved to the door. “Okay, yes, go.”
“As soon as I am out ye will bolt the door.”
“Yes.”
He slid out and I dropped the heavy bar into its groove, locking myself inside, and the bad guys out.
