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The king said, “Speak, man, yer king is waitin’.”

“Och, I am searchin’ m’words, as ye could hae m’head for misspeakin’, Sire⁠—”

“Misspeakin’? Ye canna misspeak, yer king is demandin’ yer oath, it should be a simple request met by a man with a clean conscience.”

Torin’s head hung weakly. “But a forced oath is worth less than the breath it takes tae say it. Ye want men who kneel because they choose tae, Sire, not because they are bleedin’ on yer floor.”

The king narrowed his eyes even more. “Hae ye given yer oath tae another king? Tis a simple request, Torin.”

“But I need m’strength tae make it.”

Douglas said, “Ye were just claimin’ ye had all the strength! Ye sat there denyin’ ye needed a guard, and now ye are refusin’ tae make an oath!”

Torin raised his eyes to the king. “I will ride with ye against the English, Sire. M’sword is yers for this cause. But I canna swear myself body and soul tae a throne while I am too weak tae stand.” His shoulders listed to the side.

Douglas leaned forward and punctuated his words with his finger on the table. “We wanted the oath tae set our suspicions aside, but here ye winna give it, Laird Torin. Are ye duplicitous? Och nae.”

Torin’s face had gone pale, a sheen of sweat at his temple. He said again, quieter, “...I am too weak for it...”

Douglas said, “Why should we trust a man who will not bind himself?” He turned to the king. “What dost ye want tae do with him? There is a cell we can put him in. I will take him at yer word.”

Niall’s gaze stayed on his mug. His freckled brow drew down. His scarred hands did not move. Then he spoke, “A man ought tae swear fealty on his feet, not newly emerged from his death bed. He has a pallor on his skin, and a fever in his blood. We can see it.”

The king watched Torin, then nodded. “I agree, Niall, I winna demand it of ye, Laird Torin, not tonight. I will give ye three days, and I will ask again… then I will demand yer compliance.”

Torin’s fingers tightened around mine under the table. “Aye, Sire, three days…” He shoved his end of the bench back. The scrape of wood on the stone was loud. He swayed as he stood, one hand braced on the table for balance, his face had gone very pale. He mumbled, “With yer leave, Sire, we will return tae our chamber.”

The king gave a single nod.

13

ALEXANDRIA

1308 - A WARNING FROM NIALL

Itook his arm, feeling every eye in the hall follow us as we turned for the door, and he led me from the room.

I could tell he was forcing himself to remain upright, even while he staggered a bit.

Once we were out of the hall I asked, “You seem exhausted, are you okay?”

“I am well enough, just need tae rest, twas tiring.”

Our footsteps echoed on the stone as we headed to the courtyard, a slight sprinkle outside that dampened us a bit as we hustled for the guest house. Dude trotted up and met our hurried pace down the hall to our room.

I said, “Good boy, you came when you knew we were going somewhere else. So proud of you, you’re a good cat.”

Then I asked Torin, “Are we safe…?”

“I canna determine, Princess.”

I muttered, “Great. And Douglas threatened you with a cell.”

“Aye, he was menacing and distrustful.”

We went down the corridor to our room. He made sure the door was closed.

Then ran his hand over his face. “Twas a long meal.”