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The crossing was short but rough, cold spray soaking us anew. Torin kept one hand on my knee, the other clutching the side of the boat, his jaw set against the pain.

I talked to make myself feel better, because seeing his face was freaking me out. “You’re going to rest when we get there. Rest a lot, until you’re all better. We are going to have a huge meal, and the uncles will be here tomorrow, maybe Max, probably Max. He’ll come for us as soon as he can.”

He closed his eyes. “…aye, Princess.”

“Tomorrow, easy, just survive until tomorrow.”

“…twill take… three days... a healing slumber.”

“Three days! I just need you to make it until tomorrow, promise me.”

He lifted his head and met my eyes. “I…promise.”

The priory’s stone walls rose ahead. In the distance, a monk wearing a simple robe was coming down a path toward our boat.

Cathbarr shook water, Dude yowled.

I stepped onto the shore and tried to help Torin out of the boat but he slipped, falling forward onto the bank. I wasn’t strong enough to pull him to his feet as he tried to crawl up the bank, his arm crumpling under his weight. He lay there, breathing heavy in the mud.

The monk was running toward us now, and behind him emerged four more monks also running.

Torin, on his hands and knees said, “I can walk. I just hae tae…”

“It’s a twenty minute walk, Torin, you can’t. Stop it, you’re scaring me.”

He quietly said, “…I canna hear ye…”

He got up tae his knees. “I need tae be on my feet when they get here.” He held my hand and pulled himself up from the mud with a groan.

2

ALEXANDRIA

1308 - ARDCHATTAN PRIORY

The monks were almost there, when Torin said, “...we are likely tae draw suspicions…” He took a staggering step. “…there will be news of the battle, and I am battle weary, wounded, and covered in blood. If I were alone they would suspect I was a part of the siege…”

“But I’m with you.”

“Aye, I am travelin’ with m’wife. Tis why they will trust us and help me tae the priory.”

I wiped my face with my sleeve and plastered my wet hair back from my face. “See, I am useful — aren’t you glad I stayed?”

“Aye, I had tae get ye tae safety, I wouldna hae had the strength… I would hae died back there outside the walls of Dunstaffnage.”

I took a deep breath. “That scares me. I command you as your wife and the princess to stop saying scary things to me.”

“Aye… princess.”

We were quiet, he weaved a bit, occasionally stumbled, and groaned.

I didn’t know how he had the strength and then the group of monks surrounded us and he moaned and collapsed against them. Two monks leant their shoulders to support his weight and half-carried, sort of dragged him to the walls of the monastery.

No one spoke. It was very quiet for the next ten minutes while I followed the monks carrying Torin up to the priory. We passed a small farm, and two women emerged from the house to watch us pass by. Then they returned to their cottage and emerged a moment later with a bundle of cloth in their arms. They fell in behind us, following us up the path.

I sped up to ask Torin, “Women are following us, do you know why?”

Torin’s head lolled. “Canna hear ye, what?”