Page 48

“He told me of Time Travel.”

I said, “Oh… wow, um…”

Torin said, “Mo leannan, careful.”

I bit my lips.

Niall leaned forward. “I am famished for the truth of it, Torin, there is a meaning here, that I kent this prince and now I hae met Lady Alexandria, ye call her a princess — I must understand. Archibald’s father, Mag Mòr, and my father, Cailean Mòr were verra close⁠—”

“The king, Mag Mòr, what happened tae him?”

“King Edward of England laid siege tae Stirling castle, and Mag Mòr was never seen again. Many say he was lost while on a great voyage… but nae one kens the truth of it. I ken the truth, because Archibald told us — twas caused by something called Time Travel. We were in a tent on the side of a battlefield and Archibald regaled us with stories, some so fanciful I couldna believe him, but he swore they were true.”

He glanced once toward the closed door, then continued, “I never believed him, not fully, but now I hae met ye, I think it must hae been true.”

Torin muttered, “Och nae.”

Niall continued, “After Mag Mòr was gone, Edward claimed victory over Alba, but Archibald fought for his rightful place on his father’s throne. He was a great warrior, but at the battle of Earnside it was King Edward who dealt the final blow, and the prince lost his life. The Wolf King was nae more.” He shook his head sadly. “Och, he was good young man. Full of plans for when he would take the throne and rule. Twas verra hard tae watch a prince yearn for his throne.”

Torin nodded knowingly.

Niall added, “Losin’ the young prince was a devastatin’ loss. William Wallace died a few years later.”

Torin said, “…also at the hands of the English King.”

“I will never forgive England for the loss of them, m’brothers. I hae spent m’whole life tryin’ tae avenge them.”

Torin shook his head, looking down at the hilt of his sword. “I still daena understand what connection ye see between Lady Alexandria and this Archibald, the Wolf King, who told odd stories about somethin’ called Time Travel.”

“There is a likeness in their expression. And yer wife has the same light.”

I looked down at my arms. “I still don’t see it.”

He leaned forward, nodding, his ginger brows drawn together. “And then there is yer voice, Lady Alexandria, ye sound the same as Archibald. Soft. Drawled. Foreign. He said he was from a land called Florida. Through the years he gained the hard, rolling thunder of a true Scot. But when he was young, my brother, Dom, mocked him for soundin’ like a lass.”

Torin’s brow drew down. “So perhaps Lady Alexandria and this Archibald are cousins, perhaps she haena heard of him — a Scot has many cousins and daena ken them all. They hae a visage in common, and their voices hae a similar sound — this is all easily explained.”

“Except tis not! Archibald was alone, and although he was an amenable lad, he had not a friend tae come tae his aid. He was adept at war, and yet could nae explain his past and told nae tales of his conquests. Much like ye, Torin. I watched ye the other night, ye were lyin’ about the battle. I could see a man who dinna ken what story tae tell because nothing was true. I ken what I see.”

Torin remained quiet, staring at his hands.

Niall said, his voice tight with urgency, “And today, we rode tae the castle ye laid siege tae the other day, and ye hae nae stories tae tell. Ye arna acting like a victor, ye are behavin’ like a man who is lost tae the ravages of time, much like my young friend.”

Torin said, “Och, I am nae agreein’ with ye, but even so, ye canna tell the king of yer suspicions.”

He leaned back in his chair, “Daena worry, he wouldna believe me, I would sound mad. I would lose m’place as his trusted advisor.” He looked down at his scarred knuckles. “I would hae never believed Archibald except that he told the story in a way that made it feel true, because the details and the history of it were so clear. But… maybe I dinna fully believe it until the other night when I saw ye for the first time. Then the recognition of it hit me: Archibald was tellin’ the truth.” He shook his head. “I wish I had told him I believed him afore he passed.”

I said, “Time travel is hard to believe.”

“Aye, Lady Alexandria, tis.” He met my eyes. “I notice ye daena deny it.”

I didn’t know what to say so I sat back in my chair.

Then I leaned forward to say, “I didn’t deny it because my mind is on my jewelry box, the one that’s missing.”

He shaped it with his hands. “Aye, tis about this long and round like a chalice. Tis how Archibald described the vessel that brought him tae Alba from his own time. I never saw it, but he described it tae me much as ye did. Tis not yer jewelry box, I suspect ye are lookin’ for yer vessel.”

Torin chewed his lip, his eyes questioning whether he should confess.