Page 27
“Right, undressing… did you have that happen a lot…?”
“I believe I had the ordinary amount, more than Max as I was, as ye could guess, more handsome and affable—”
“You are more handsome than Max?”
“Och aye, he is verra fine as kings go, but that is not a maiden’s type of man, ye ken, ye prefer the warrior.”
“I guess I do, yes.”
He continued, “Max did verra well with the ladies as he was broodin’. Sometimes the maidens like a man who broods, but an affable man can convince an otherwise tentative maiden tae undo his belt.”
“This is scandalous.” I buckled the belt.
“Tis the musing of a wounded man, ye hae tae allow it.”
“Do I, as your wife?”
He laughed. “Probably nae, but I tell ye, the memories of maidens hae gone from m’mind, receded intae the haze of the past, eclipsed entirely by the image here,” he tapped his forehead, “of yer arse, Princess, a-glowin’ in the moonlight in the last bed we shared.”
“When was that…?” I held out the hose for him to step in and worked it over his feet.
“Och, it might hae been centuries ago.”
“I think it’s only been a few days, but yes, it seems like a long time.”
“A few days? Och nae, tis a travesty tae allow so much time tae pass. Ye will think me unfit. Ye are helpin’ me dress, ye will think me a weak man.”
By the time he stood, testing his weight, steadying himself with a hand on my shoulder, he looked almost like himself again. A tad gaunt, and moving like an old man rather than the warrior I knew, but he was much more like himself.
“You’re not weak, you won my kingdom for me and Max.”
“True, but I think ye also want m’services in bed, I hae seen yer desires. Ye must miss me handin’ ye the Stiff and Stout, greatly.”
I laughed. “Och,” I joked, “is that what you were doing, handing me the Stiff and Stout?”
He nodded. “Not nearly enough and I want tae, I want tae verra much, I hae woken up from the healing slumber and now I am hungry for all of it.”
“I want it too, but… I’m more hungry for the food. I think the fates are against us.”
“The fates! Och nae, Princess, ye are a princess and I am yer warrior, we just won a battle against great odds, won yer throne, and ye think ye hae a fate against ye because ye dinna get yer Torin tae bed ye? Och, ye are randy outside of all reason.” He smiled broadly.
“I guess that is a wild thing to say.”
“Aye, ye are so used tae havin’ yer way and winning that not getting yer Albannach tae give ye the Stiff and Stout has ye blamin’ the fates!”
“Yeah, that’s not—”
He continued smiling. “Tis much more likely the fae that are interruptin’ us. When was the last time ye left honey and milk out for the fae?”
I laughed. “I don’t think I have ever…”
“Then see, there is yer problem.”
“Alright, I will do that today.”
“Maybe by nightfall ye will hae yer desires quenched. I intend tae do it as soon as we hae a moment alone, and if the fae will allow.”
I said, “That’s a deal! Ready for that meal?”
