“What?” I pressed a stack of socks into the suitcase.
“When I gave Max the vessel at Muckhart, he wanted to rescue ye when ye were a bairn and I told him ye wouldna want it… I… I spoke for ye, mo leannan, I knew at the time ye hae agreat deal of heartache and that ye might want tae unmake the day and make it anew. Ye would want tae if it meant ye would be happier. I should have wanted that for ye.” He looked down on his hands. “We werna married at the time, I had nae reason tae speak for ye, but I was selfish, mo leannan. I dinna think ye and I would find each other again, so I said ye wouldna want it, that ye would want yer life as tis. I am sorry I took the decision on myself.”
He exhaled. “Now months later Max is tormented by the question, and if I hadna said nae that day at Muckhart, ye would hae already been in yer royal life, without a care.”
I took his hand in mine. “You made the right decision, Albannach, that’s what I would want. It is very seductive, the idea of living a life over, the promise thatthistime my heart wouldn’t suffer so much loss, but I think, Torin, that loss is part of every life, and I am who I am because of it. And God, I would miss never knowing my parents, the ones who raised me. I loved them and they loved me. I don’t really get how changing all of that would work, but I’m glad you didn’t do it. I wouldn’t give up meeting you for some vague idea that my childhood might be more comfortable…”
He said, “I am grateful, ye forgive me?”
I nodded. “I don’t think we should do our lives over, we should make that a promise to each other. I promise I won’t do your life over, unless you ask for it.”
“Aye, I promise it as well. And I will always counsel against it.”
“I’m relieved that Max decided as he did.”
“I as well, mo leannan, now we just need tae kill Rannald. We winna need tae think on doin’ things over, we will hae yer kingdom back and all will be well.”
He kissed me on the cheek and returned downstairs
An hour later,I was standing beside Torin. I hadn’t been able to decide what to wear so I had put on slacks and a silky shirt to try to look presentable, but I was also wearing thick socks and my hiking boots, to be practical. I had no idea what to expect in a future kingdom. Would this be like Star Trek? I was carrying a hastily packed suitcase, with mostly toiletries, clean underwear, lots of socks, and a roll of toilet paper, just in case. And the old prayerbook and some things I had found in the attic. I had no idea what to expect.
Torin was wearing his kilt and had his sword sheathed across his back, looking like he was headed to some ancient war. He was holding Dude in his arms. I had packed up a suitcase, he was only bringing the cat.
Torin said, “I hae one regret, we ought tae hae saved the Visigoth manna pizza.”
I raised my brow. “Why?”
He smiled, “Think how wondrous it would be tae eat it where we are goin’.”
I said, “We could have ordered another, but I think since we’re out on the grass in the moonlight we don’t have the time.”
Torin said, “We are goin’ tae the future, tis likely they hae pizza anyway, so I will save the experience for another time. Help me remember, Alexandria, we will carry a pizza with us tae the past, and open the box right then. Twill be magical.”
“As long as we are making a wish list, why can’t we bring my car?”
Torin shook his head. “If we daena need horses, we daena need cars.Thisis certain.”
I said, “Right, cars are not practical in the past, probably not in the future.”
He said, “We hae discussed this many times, we must be sensible.”
I laughed. “Torin, you’re standing there with a cat in your arms!”
Torin chuckled. “Aye, but he is the most sensible of cats.” He drew me close with his arm. “I hae my m’sword, my wife, and a loyal cat, what else does an albannach need?”
I giggled.
His face frowned. “Horses, an albannach needs horses. Are ye certain I daena need my horses in Riaggy?
I said, “Max said you didn’t.”
“Fine, I will stop complaining.” He pulled the vessel from his pocket. “Are ye ready?”
Even though I knew what was going to happen, my stomach still dropped. “I don’t want to, I changed my mind.”
Torin gave me a sad smile. “Ye ken, I am going tae say all the usual things.”
“I need to mount up?”
