Max dropped his head on the back of the chair and sighed. “Aye, I am goin’ tae be the hero. I will let all the inconsequential cousins who hae been born since ye and I were exiled continue living their wee comfortable lives, and I will let Torin hae his wife, and for Alexandria tae hae her past, and the Princess and I will carry on from now?—”
A tear slid down my cheek.
“This was a hard decision for you.”
He nodded. “Tis, but ye ken, Alexandria, the uncles told me our father said there are rules, that it is nae possible tae bring someone back from the dead. I think we ought tae behave as if we ken it tae be true.”
“If our father said it, it must be.”
I drew a tissue from my pocket. Ever since I had been to the past I always had one stuffed there for my constant crying. “What was his name? I don’t remember our parents’ names.”
“Our father was King Normond, but everyone called him Nor. Our mother was named Olivia, but all called her Livvy. I called them Da and Ma.”
I dabbed at my eyes.
He added, “You were too young to remember them when you were sent away, I am sorry about it.” He gave me a sad smile. “If I were only thinking of myself I would go kill Rannald’s grandfather so ye and I could grow up in the castle ofRiaghalbane, with our parents dotin’ on us, but I hae decided tae be selfless and think on the cousins. The verra inconsequential nobody cousins.”
I said, “Thank you, Max.”
“Ye are welcome, and I daena want tae talk about it anymore.”
I said, cheerily, “So there’s going to be a battle?”
“Aye. The battle is nigh.”
Torin said, “Killin’ him is going tae be verra satisfying.”
I looked at Torin, “So you’re going with him, where am I going to be?”
“Ye are goin’ tae come with me.”
Max said, “As we hae two vessels, I will go ahead and leave, ye will come as soon as ye are packed, we will begin the offensive as soon as possible.”
I cocked my head to the side. “And you’ll be there, you won’t get sidetracked by a side quest?”
“Nae, trust me, Alexandria, I will meet ye in our Kingdom.”
“Good, I will see you there.”
14
ALEXANDRIA
JULY 8TH, 2004 - LEAVING LAUREL RIDGE
While I was packing, Torin came up to sit on the bed. “If we are leavin’ the horses, ye hae someone tae care for them?”
I nodded. “I just called the stables, they’ll send someone in the morning. I told them we’d be back in a couple of days, right? And Jen knows, she’ll watch over everything. I told her we were taking Dude, so she won’t be worried about him.”
I added, “I want you to know, I left a note for Cooper, so he’d know I was gone, I promised.”
He nodded. “And we will be back soon, I canna leave the horses for long.” He sighed. “It daena sit right tae leave them, but Max says we daena need them in the encampment.”
“They’ll be safe here.”
He nodded.
“And there is something I need tae tell ye.” He bit his lip and didn’t meet my eyes.
