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Just then trenchers of food were brought to Torin and me.

The king gestured with his spoon, “Eat, my men brought in the fish and prepared it because the monks refused.”

There was fish stew with vegetables, heavy on the beans and peas, stretched out with turnip and rutabaga. On the side I was grateful to see salad greens and some wild berries, no dressing though, but butter on the thick bread.

Torin, after eating a big spoonful of stew, asked, “How did we end up in a monastery at the same time as the King of Scots?”

Douglas said, “We are fresh from a battle at the Pass of Brander.”

“Ye won?”

Douglas said, “Aye, we beat the MacDougalls soundly.”

The king said, “After, we followed them tae Dunstaffnage tae finish them off, but ye beat us tae it.”

The three men raised mugs in Torin’s direction.

The king drank then put his mug down on the table. “Ye did a great service at Dunstaffnage, Laird Torin. The castle fell hard. I hae walked its walls. The work was thorough.”

Torin said, “I did what I had tae do.”

Then the king added, “Ye remember, Laird Torin, that ye hae given us the castle?” He dragged his bread through his fish stew, nonchalantly.

Torin chuckled. “I dinna remember, Sire, but it does sound like something I would do.”

“Ye stand by it? Ye hae given it tae yer king?”

Torin’s brow raised. “Aye, I hae given it, Sire, I daena want it, I canna hold it.”

Douglas said, “As long as the MacDougalls daena hae it!”

The three men held up their mugs again, “Slàinte!”

Douglas’s mouth curved, not quite a smile. “A man who takes a fortress and then walks away from it. This is rare.”

I felt Torin’s hand rest lightly on my knee under the table, as if steadying himself. He inclined his head. “I claim nae right to it.”

The king said, “Ye fought with a skill few men possess. Yer weapons… and the way yer men decamped so thoroughly once yer campaign was over. It leaves questions. A king must ask them.”

Torin’s voice stayed even. “Ask what ye will.”

“Where are yer men now?”

“Gone home,” Torin said simply. “I canna call them back as I hae been gravely injured.”

Douglas leaned forward slightly. “We could send messengers. What direction did they go? We will ask them tae join the cause of yer king.”

Niall’s eyes flicked between us, thoughtful, but he said nothing.

Torin looked down, “I promised my men they could return home after the battle. I told them not tae wait for my recovery, for they fought with honor for the cause. They hae returned tae their villages.”

He finished, with a disarming laugh, “I can call them up if they are needed, but I ought tae let them get home first for a fuck and a feast afore I ask them tae fight once more. Ye ken how soldiers get after a battle.”

The king said, “Aye, they need a full meal and a warm bed.”

Douglas said, “Aye, but, Sire, then why are we here in a monastery after warrin’? The brothers rarely serve meat and there arna any women.”

The king said, “Ye ken why…”