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“I think ye hae broken yer treaty with the King of Scotland.”

“Yeah, this really sucks. I gave Robert the Bruce my word. I promised I would return with men. I signed a treaty, my first official act as Princess of Riaghalbane. Now the road is closed and I can’t keep my word.”

Torin was quiet for a moment. Then he said, “Ye gave yer word tae a king who needed allies. Ye meant it. The Bridge was not yers tae open or close.”

“It still feels like breaking it.”

“Aye, I ken.” He turned the cup in his hands. “And I left the Wolf King’s heart in the kirk at Clackmannan. I told Niall I would see it safe, but now I canna go back for it. Douglas carried Bruce’s heart all the way tae the Holy Land because the king asked it of him and died with the box still on him. I carried Archibald’s heart a few days and left it behind in a humble sacristy in an auld kirk.”

I said, “Unless we have a Trailblazer. But Archibald asked for it to be put somewhere safe. You did that. It was what he wanted.”

“I ken. I just wish I could do more. Douglas would hae carried it farther.”

“And maybe it’s already been found,” I said. “It’s been hundreds of years. It might be in the history books. We’ll look later, I promise. But you did what he asked.”

“I ken, I just wish I could do more.”

We ate our meal quietly, and turned down the offer of dessert, because chocolate cake did not seem right.

I dropped my head on Torin’s shoulder. “This is really hard.”

“Aye, the future seems verra uncertain.”

“I can’t really think past today.”

He nodded and leaned his cheek on my head. And we both breathed deeply.

I said, “We won a war, just a week or so ago, and we’re in the dining room, enjoying the spoils, but it’s so sad. Max really needs to pull through⁠—”

Then Madame Ward rushed up and hastily whispered, “Princess Alexandria, Dr Thornberry has asked me to send you⁠—”

“What… what happened, did Max⁠—?”

“He did not say, Your Highness, except it was urgent.”

Torin and I shoved our chairs out from the table and rushed to the door.

48

ALEXANDRIA

MY UNCLE DYLAN AND I ARE REUNITED - SEPTEMBER 23, 2185

We ran down the corridors, our steps softly thudding on the thick carpet, my heart was racing. Breathless, halfway down a hall, I asked, “Is this the right way? I kind of forgot the direction.”

“Aye, follow me.” Torin jogged past me, turning at a corner, passing numerous doors and other hallways, until finally we came to the waiting room of the infirmary.

The uncles and Aunt Claray were all standing, talking to the doctor. We rushed up, panting, and Dr Thornberry bowed his head. “Princess Alexandria, my apologies for interrupting your meal⁠—”

“No problem, how’s Max?”

I was prepared for the worst news, but I could tell by the faces surrounding me that it wasn’t the worst. No rejoicing, but also, and with a relief, I noted no tears. “What happened?”

He said, “The king had a bad turn, but we have steadied him.”

“Oh, thank God. Is it⁠—?”

He continued, “He is stabilized. He is not out of danger, not yet, we have changed his medications. But I believe we can keep him stabilized…”