He patted his knee and I put my head on it again. I said, “I bet you regret making an oath to me…”
“Why would ye think it?”
“I am a great deal of trouble, possibly too much. You made the oath before you knew how much.”
“Ye are a princess, tis in yer title that ye are going tae be trouble. I knew it goin’ in.”
I couldn’t answer because I went to the bowl to dry heave again.
I was back in bed.Shivering cold, then aching and hot.
It had been a while since I had thrown up, probably because not enough water, but I couldn’t keep anything down, so dehydration was just going to have to be part of the problem.
I was on my side, so achy. It was late at night. I could hear the sounds of the tavern downstairs as the last few men were noisy, but it sounded like last call.
Madame Agnes left to rest for a few hours, leaving some clean chamber pots and warm rags for cleaning my face and hands. I was too weak to talk and so just watched as this happened.
Then I was aware that Torin was kicking off his shoes and climbing in on the other side of the bed, on top of the covers. He wrapped his arms around me, putting my head on his bicep. Spooning behind me. He whispered, “I need ye on m’arm, so if ye wake ye will awaken me as well. I am tired, I fear I might sleep through when ye need me.”
I said, “Thank you. I do need you, I need you so much.”
I felt him nod behind my head, then he kissed the back of my hair.
I snuggled in and fell asleep in his arms.
24
LEXI
1558 - THE RED BOAR INN IN KIRRIEMUIR
He sat up in the bed, jarring me awake, and pressed his finger to his lips. It was the wee hours of darkness before dawn.
He scrambled to the door. There was the creaking sound of footsteps in the hall — very slowly passing by.
He slowly grabbed his sword and held it up, tensed, listening, waiting. Then the footsteps went down the stairs.
He came to the bed. “Princess, I need tae go check the tavern.” He put on his sporran and sword belt and placed the vessel on the bed beside me.
He pulled on his boots.
“Can ye arise tae bolt the door after I hae gone?”
I nodded, more dazed than comprehending. I got up, swaying from weakness and followed him to the door.
He said, “Daena be afraid.”
I nodded, and he slipped out to the hall.
It took all my strength to replace the bolt over the door.
I got back into bed to wait for his return, clutching the vessel in my hands.
I woke up after dozing,alone, and crawled to the bowl to purge some more.
There was a banging— Torin’s voice, “Mistress Lexi! Mistress Lexi!” Bang bang bang.
I was on the ground, my face pressed to the cold wood floor.Torin?
