Page 119 of Torin and the Two Crowns

I laughed. “Dost ye remember how much we laughed, brother? The ditch was only a foot deep, maybe two if I think on it, but then ye said, ‘Och nae, now we will never get out.’ Och, I laughed until tears rolled down my face. We carried on for a long time, complaining about how high the cliff was, and how nae one would find us but the buzzards, and how twas an impossible near-death experience, laughing and joking until we both fell asleep, unable tae do anything as useful as walk.”

I wiped the tears from the brightness of the lights and the emotion from my eyes. “At dawn we sat up and our heads were sticking up out of the ditch, and the first thing ye said was, ‘I could hae rolled out.’ And we both laughed again. Twas verra true. We lumbered tae our feet, stepped from the ditch, and found ourselves a verra close distance tae the castle. Our beds were right there, the whole time — och nae, our heads hurt. We were hungry and yet we couldna stop laughing about it.”

I looked over at the wall. “If I remember it, twas midday when we realized we had tae walk back tae the pub for our horses…”

I sighed, feelin’ the melancholy of tellin’ the story tae my friend who could nae hear me.

I finished, sadly, “…and then we stayed for a few more rounds of ale, telling the story tae everyone who would listen, as we liked tae do…”

I sat quietly for a long time, then asked, “Are ye goin’ tae be well, m’laird? I daena ken if ye understand what ye are askin’ of me. If ye die, ye will leave yer sister tae be queen, and I will be forced tae become a king.” I looked down at the ring on my hand. “I married her, ye ken, in the Clackmannan kirk. I came tae the thought that she needed the proof of it. I would do anything for her, ye ken, except... och, I daena want tae become king. And I ken ye daena want it tae happen, ye remind me all the time how ill-suited I would be, and though I argue, tis true. I canna do it, not many men can…”

I shifted forward so my elbows were on my knees and stared at my feet, then I put my arm back on his, my elbow on his hand, my hand clamped to the crook of his arm. “This is how I would pull ye up, whenever ye fall down. Sometimes I need tae heft ye tae yer feet, this is how I do it. I grasp yer arm and pull ye up, and och nae, m’laird, I wish I could do it now.”

I added, “Ye are the best of men, ye will be the greatest of kings…”

I wiped my eyes once more and leaned back in my chair. “I wish ye would awaken so I could tell ye of the kings I hae been dealin’ with, not one but many kings. I met Robert the Bruce. I hae dined with him, in the flesh, at the priory in Ardchattan. Ye ken the one, with the monks who daena eat meat? We were there for days while they saved my life. I am verra grateful tae them, we must send coin tae thank them, if we can get back there…”

I said, “Ye are likely wondering how I met Bruce. He had come with plans tae sack the castle of Dunstaffnage, but I had already done it. We had already done it, but I was the last man there tae take the credit and the blame. Ye winna be surprised that he dinna trust me, perhaps rightly so. He beat me soundly. Dost ye see it?” I tapped my cheek. “Bruce ordered it. His man James Douglas served it. Ye hae heard of him, Black Douglas, some say. He is an arse in person, I winna deny it. Then Bruce put me under guard because I wouldna make an oath tae serve him.” I sneered. “While I was in the dungeon, yer sister was alone in the castle, I hae told them ye will be furious. I daena ken what revenge I want, but I am still verra sore about it.”

There was a pitcher of water on the table, I poured some into a cup and took a sip. “Dost ye remember the stories of the Wolf King, the young prince who fought with William Wallace? I was entrusted with a casket containing his heart and his gold crown. He wanted it put somewhere secure so his father, the lost king Mag Mòr, would find it. I also found out he was a time traveler. That’s the second king.”

I added, “I left his heart and crown at the sacristy in the kirk of Clackmannan, and I daena ken if that is what I should hae done… but I also dinna ken what else tae do.”

I took another sip of water and replaced the cup on the table. “Then, I also met a Prince of Riaghalbane, yer great grandson or something, Artair. He was kind enough, but arrived long after the worst of it, and told us that he had been sent by King Magnus. Magnus was mighty enough tae send a rescue, but he was also the man who sealed the road that stranded us.”

I looked at Maximillian’s immobile face and added, “If ye are keeping count, m’laird, that is at least four kings I hae been dealin’ with: some are indebted tae me, some I owe a great deal, and not one of them has the wisdom ye hae… Ye are the best of men, the spirit of a king afore ye even had yer throne. I am proud twas I, yer brother, tae deliver yer crown. I would rather serve ye than any king I met.. but now ye must wake, m’laird, then I will tell ye the rest.”

I patted his arm, overcome with emotion, in the quiet room, where he was unchangeable.

Then I heard a sharp out of place chime, followed by a sudden run of verra fast chimes and an amber light turnin’ red. Twas alarming tae hear it from the machine, but then Max’s body gave a hard jerk, and I jumped from my seat, backing away, frightened. He was reachin’ the end of his road — the door slammed open and the physician and the nurses rushed in.

They were all alarmed, barkin’ orders at each other. I heard the word ‘pressure’ and someone said ‘saturation’ but I dinna understand what was meant. People filled the room as a nurse herded me taeward the door.

I asked, “Is he well, is this the end of him? What is happening?” But nae one answered, they sent me from the room and the door closed behind me.

I found Alexandria, sittin’ looking verra worried and crossed tae her. I sank intae the seat beside her, and leaned across her lap with my head against her chest. She folded down over my back, and held me, embracing my shoulders and smoothin’ my hair and whispered sweetnesses and solace intae my ears — He will be okay, the physicians are seeing to him, this is just a setback.

But I couldna believe her.

I dinna hae it in me tae hope. She hadna heard the sounds of the machines, and seen how he dinna move as if his life were drainin’ and he was too weak tae fight. She dinna see the face of the physician as they sent me from the room.

I was glad she dinna, she would be frightened, and I had lost all strength tae comfort.

All I kept thinkin’ was that Artair had said we were his kin — uncle, cousin, grandfather, he hadna known which — but I feared someone in our family dinna live long enough tae make the line simple. I thought that someone was Max… I couldna bear it.

ALEXANDRIA

THE DINING ROOM - SEPTEMBER 23, 2185

Soon enough we were all in the waiting room, quietly sitting, waiting for news. Ryan kept checking with the nurses for information. Charlie had his arm in a sling and asked for pain meds. Aunt Claray told him, “Ye canna hae anymore, the physician told ye nae.”

Charlie huffed. “I guess if I want morphine I gotta sneak around my sister-in-law?”

Ryan said, “And your older brother.” He added, “We need to talk about the coronation. He’s the king, but we need a ceremony, we need to make sure the crown is secure.”

I nodded, staring down at my hands as I was petting Dude wondering how to deal with the fact that if something happened to Max I would be the Queen. I could think of three different people in this room right now who would be better suited.