Page 128
I nodded. “I ken. Tis why I felt the need tae say them.”
I leaned back in the chair. “Och, it has been a trial returnin’ from that war.”
“Aye, we were victorious, but yet… we dinna get tae rejoice.”
“Everyone has been too busy dyin’ tae rejoice.”
“Aye.”
I pulled my collar down to the side and showed him part of m’shoulder wound.
He said, “Och, we are wounded, we haena ever been beaten so soundly—”
“Yet still we won.” I asked, quietly, “… so m’laird, ye ready tae be crowned king?”
He took a deep breath and then shook his head. “Nae, I am nae, Torin. I am feelin’ daunted by the duty, and daena ken if ye recall, but a short time ago I was a man livin’ in Glume, lookin’ for my sister. Naething ever went my way. And now I am a king.”
“Everything has been goin’ yer way: ye found Alexandria and won yer throne. Ye reunited yer kingdom and hae moved intae the castle. Ye are ready, m’laird, ye are more than capable and ye winna fail —”
“How dost ye ken?”
“Because yer brother, Torin, will save ye.”
He chuckled. “Tis always the same with ye, Torin. Ye bluster and boast, but now I hae heard ye speak at my bedside, weepin’ over me as I slept. I ken ye almost died and yet somehow ye got my sister home.”
“Aye, twas all m’doing.”
“And a man named Artair?”
“He helped a wee bit.”
He smiled. “I am glad m’sister has ye, and I am glad ye dinna die. Ye swore an oath tae me that—”
“That I would win ye a kingdom!” I waved my arms around, “I hae won it for ye, as I said!”
“Allow me tae finish. Ye swore ye would win it, but twas implied that ye would be around when I ascended tae the throne tae help me rule.”
“Och I never said it, not really.”
“Twas implied that I could count on ye, I will need ye, tis clear.”
I jokingly sighed. “Tis my lot in life, needed by all the royals.”
“Yer name, I believe, is now Prince Torin, is it nae?”
I said, “Aye, I suppose tis.”
I looked at him long, then said, “Ye ken I hae tae take her home…?”
He nodded slowly. “I suspected it.”
“Alexandria daena see this as her home.”
“How could she, she daena remember it, she daena remember our mother and father, the throne, the kingdom. It daena mean anything tae her, I see it.”
“She has suffered a great deal of loss, m’laird, and I worry on her. She has a home, tis called Laurel Ridge, and that is where her heart is.”
“So I found my sister, gained my throne, and am losing my sword?”
