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“Aye, I hae seen that.” His foot jiggled nervously. “Where would the vessel be?”

“I daena ken, tis in the bushes on the side of the road, perhaps?”

Torin ran a hand through his hair. “I wonder what blade I would use tae cut through the path and find the lost vessel?”

“I daena ken, Laird Torin, Archibald was resigned tae his life here. He dinna look for the vessel, nor did he consider how tae cut the path. He had found peace with his lot, I think. Though I kent he missed his family a great deal.”

He stood. “Och, this reminds me.” He crossed to the stack of wooden chests. Inside the top chest, there was a small silver chest about the size of a shoebox. It was decorated with ornate, raised floral designs. It looked royal. There was a lock on the side. He pulled a key from his coat pocket and opened it. “His casket.”

I leaned forward and peeked over the edge to see a bundle of papers, the final effects of someone who had passed away. It was dismaying.

He pulled out the papers: letters, folded, white, and yellowing with age. “They are tae his family. He told me that if anything happened tae him that I should place this casket in Stirling Castle. He assured me that if the casket was stored safely, centuries later his family would find it.”

Torin turned to me. “Tis how it would work?”

I said, “I’m not sure — a historical place like Stirling castle, holding his valuables, then historians find it, and his family hears about it… maybe?” I shook my head. “But we’re talking centuries between here and there.”

He nodded, the expression on his face morose. “I promised him I would, yet Stirling is in English hands, I hae been holdin’ ontae this casket with m’life, waitin’ tae put it intae the castle for safekeeping as he asked.” He put the bundle of letters back into the casket. “But now I hae met ye, maybe ye can deliver the casket tae his family.”

“But I… I don’t know Archibald or his family.”

Niall breathed in and exhaled. “Tis yer family, I am certain of it. But if ye canna get it tae them, maybe ye could put it somewhere safe where his family would find it, maybe ye ken of another castle, or the sacristy of a kirk where twould be safe…?”

I shook my head, “I’m sorry, I don’t know how⁠—”

The door of the solar slammed open with a bang.

19

ALEXANDRIA

1308 - BECAUSE HE REFUSED A PROPER OATH

Ijumped.

Torin stood, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Niall hastily shoved the silver casket under the table.

Robert the Bruce stood in the doorway, Douglas was just behind, and four armed men filled the corridor beyond.

The king’s face was set, his eyes cold.

I gulped.

“Laird Torin,” he said, “ye will come with us.”

My heart raced.

Torin stepped slightly in front of me, saying, “Sire, why are ye⁠—?”

Douglas said, “Laird Torin, the king and I hae spoken: Ye hae refused a proper oath. Ye hae answered our earnest questions with half-truths. Ye rode out with yer wife under the guise of searchin’ for a jewelry box while men back at the priory whispered of thunderous weapons and not one villager can place yer vanished army. Not one soldier remained behind! There are nae sightings of yer men or weapons! The king has decided ye will remain under guard until he is satisfied.”

Niall said, “Sire, I was speaking with them. There is nae need⁠—”

Bruce held up a hand. “Ye will leave this, Niall. This is between the king of Scots and a man who will not bind himself tae my cause.”

Two guards moved into the room.