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“I know and I love you and you’re my husband and we are newlyweds, we can’t fight.”

“Aye, we can fight, but I feel it too, mo leannan, let us not argue anymore. I will be yer staid and trustworthy Torin, ye will be sweet and forgivin’ wife, and⁠—”

“…and others will think, ‘They are a great couple, look how cooperative they are.’ They will aspire to be like us, because we are so good at being a team.”

He raised his brow. “Ye say this thing, ‘team’ like tis a good thing. I hae offered tae help ye on and off a horse, given ye my undyin’ oath tae protect ye, my loyalty and my hand in marriage, and I am yer servant in all things, but ye want me tae be on yer team? Either ye are elevatin’ me tae sit alongside ye, or are ye putting yerself down tae my level.”

I raised my brow. “Um, seriously, Torin, if I’m a princess, aren’t you a prince?”

“Och, I guess I am.” He chuckled. “Some might say the prince is the better of the couple, if ye think on it, Princess.”

“Ha ha, very funny.” I grinned. “And on that note when you’re thinking you’re my equal, is our fight over? I need it to be over, I think I just wanted you to hear me and tell me that you understood that I was scared and that you’re sorry that you scared me. And I just want you to know that I’m really glad you didn’t die.”

“Aye, our fight is over. I am sorry I scared ye, Princess.”

I put my hands on my hips and looked around our corner of the courtyard, just at the mouth of the sally port tunnel. “Where are we going to find a vessel?”

Just then we heard footsteps, and Niall called out before he appeared, “I hoped tae find ye, Laird Torin, Lady Alexandria, the king is occupied with the armory and the damage tae the walls, and Douglas is seeing tae the men clearing the rubble. I wonder if ye would come tae my chamber. I would like tae speak tae ye privately.”

Torin said, “Of course.” And we followed him there.

18

ALEXANDRIA

1308 - NIALL CAMPBELL ONCE KNEW A YOUNG PRINCE

Niall’s assigned chamber was largely unaffected by our battle earlier in the week. It was small and tidy, just a table and chairs, a bed in the corner, and a stack of wooden crates to the side. “This is the room I hae been given as my own, tis full of the artifacts of the last MacDougall inhabitants.”

The walls were stone. The window looked out over the courtyard, taking in the western sun. Dude jumped up on the sill and sat with the afternoon light glowing on his orange fur.

There was a tapestry hanging on the wall, and a rug on the floor. Around the table were three wooden chairs.

We followed Niall to the table and he took the best chair closest to the hearth and bid us to take the other chairs.

Torin whispered to me, “Och, had I known givin’ the castle tae the king meant not getting that good seat I might hae kept it.”

I said, “Very funny.”

We all sat down.

Niall kept his voice low. “The king is below with Douglas. We hae little time.” He paused and looked at his hands. “Ye are leavin’?”

Torin and I hadn’t really discussed the plans, but still he said, “In the morn.”

Niall said, “I think that will be for the best. The king will be troubled that ye are gone, but twill be better that ye are. The longer ye remain in his company, the more questions he has.”

Torin said, “Tell him we returned tae the priory, I winna tell ye where we are goin’, and ye ought not ask.”

Niall nodded. “Now for the reason I wanted tae speak tae ye… I believe I ken something that might be of use tae ye. I believe Lady Alexandria is of the same family as my friend. The more time I spend with ye, the more certain I am. I spoke of him the other night. We called him the Wolf King. He was the son of Mag Mòr… His name was Archibald.”

I said, “But I don’t see how, last night I assured you, I have never met him…”

Torin leaned back in his chair. “Och nae, we are goin’ tae need a round of ale for this.”

Niall did not smile, he kept his voice quiet and urgent. “Archibald, a prince, kept a great many secrets.”

Torin’s brow drew down. “What secrets do ye mean?”