Page 131

TORIN

I WILL TAKE HER HOME

Alexandria and I were led tae the end of the hall by one of the staff, and she said, “We can go alone.” as I looked around for the stairs.

He bowed, “Yes, Your Highness,” as we stepped intae a small room.

She asked, “You ever been in one of these, Albannach?”

It dinna feel as grounded as the floor so I planted m’feet and crossed m’arms. “Nae, what is it?”

“An elevator, it will carry us up to the roof. It’s about to move, there might be a jolt.”

The doors slid shut.

I muttered, “Tis supposed tae close us in?”

“Yes, hold on.” She pushed a button on the wall.

The elevator slid upwards, my stomach lurched. I grunted, starin’ at the crack between the doors. I could see parts of the walls moving down.

When we came tae the roof, the doors slid open, and we stepped out.

She asked, “What did you think?”

“I prefer the stairs.”

“That’s just because it’s new to you, you would still be climbing, but instead we have a coffee and… pastries set up for us on this roof.”

Servants bowed.

There was a tent, with strings of lights, but twas sunrise. The sun was brightenin’ so the lights were faint against the navy blue sky, pink-blushing tae the east. There were plenty of chairs tae sit in, and out beyond the edge of the roof were the castle gardens. A fine view of the grounds lay behind us where the military encampment had been set up tae protect the castle, and above us drones swooped in the sky. Off in the distance a…

“Remind me what that is called?” I pointed.

She said, “A military helicopter, it can probably hold about eight people.”

“Och, if we had used it at Dunstaffnage we would hae won handily. War has changed over the years. Tis a wonder anyone ever loses.”

She said, “I will have to explain the concept of an arms race.”

We stood at the table eating pastries and drinking coffee. I said, “Yer brother, the king looked well.”

“He did, what a relief.”

“This is a beautiful castle.”

She said, “True.”

I watched her face, distant, finding underneath there was a sadness, so I said, “Leave yer pastry, come with me.” And led her tae the roof-edge tae look out over the land.

We stood there, a slight breeze tussling our hair as the sun rose tae brighten the landscape.

I put m’arms around her. “Alexandria, I am goin’ tae take ye home.”

“You are?”

“Aye, I spoke tae Max — we hae a few things tae do. I need tae attend a few meetings, ye will be required tae do some events, I think. Ye hae tae let yer subjects see ye are back and well. And I think we should wait until we see Max up from his bed, think on it like a small respite, but then we will gather our herd of horses, that I believe are in the stables, right over there,” I pointed, “and, Dude, our cat, and then I will take ye home.”