Page 129
“We are time travelers, I think we can come and go, m’laird. If ye need me I will be right beside ye.”
He said, “I will hold ye tae it. Ye will also take her tae meet yer father?”
“Aye, Laird Elphinstone will be paid his respects.”
“He will be verra pleased tae hear ye are the brother of a king.”
“He will be expecting large payments for his silence on the matter.”
“I will see ye hae them.”
Then he exhaled. “Och nae, Princess Alexandria wants tae live in a house in a long ago century, how many guards will that require?”
“Probably a great many and they will need tae be better than the last ones.” Then I narrowed my eyes. “Is it safe now, are there new dangers?”
“How would I ken? I almost died an exiled prince and hae awoken a king. I am certain my Minister of Defense is desperate tae inform me of all our dangers. Ye will be next tae know them.”
I nodded.
He said, “I will make a list of all the state ceremonies and meetings that ye canna miss.”
“Good.” I said, “… and ye will be able tae do this without me, m’laird, ye hae yer uncles.”
He said, “I ken, and I understand… go enjoy yer idyllic life in… where was it?”
I shrugged. “The New World.”
“I will visit ye there.”
I said, “Och, how many guards will that require?”
“If ye daena live here, ye will spend all yer time protecting Alexandria.”
“I ken.”
“Ye said ye met Robert the Bruce, or was I dreaming?” His hand stroked down Dude’s back.
Dude purred.
“Aye, he also petted that cat.”
“Did he? I would hae liked tae hae met him.”
“Nae, ye canna say it. Ye canna see m’wounds verra much anymore, but he had his men beat me and throw me in a dungeon.”
“Then he sounds like an arse! I never want tae meet him. I look forward to all your stories once I hae recovered enough tae raise an ale while ye recount them.”
We looked fondly at each other. Then he said, “Thank ye, Torin.”
“Ye’re welcome, m’laird.”
The door opened and Dr Thornberry entered, then Alexandria, the uncles, Aunt Claray, and a few others I hadna met. They filed into the room without speaking. I stood and moved my chair away. Alexandria came to my side and we took our place at the foot of the bed.
Max remained in bed, the machines keeping their quiet count. Happily the mood was not so dire, but there was something very formal about us all standing looking down on the man in bed, who looked frail and wounded. But we were making the king.
Uncle Ryan said, “I can take photos, Max?”
“For the record, but daena share. I look terrible.”
