Page 77

The man spat to the side of the path, and then answered, speaking for a while, gesturing up and down the road.

Then he journeyed on.

Torin said, “We are about tae pass Dalrigh. Hae ye heard of it?”

I shook my head.

“We call it the King’s Field, because Bruce fought there and lost, two summers past.”

“Bruce, the king, the one we were just hanging out with?”

“Aye. He once lost most every battle. Now he is winning. We hae seen both battlefields on this journey.”

“Who was he fighting when he lost?”

“The MacDougalls again. They were allied with the English. That was a verra rough time for Bruce. After losin’ at Dalrigh he was a fugitive, hunted by all his enemies.”

“Wow, he’s a different man now. Not worried at all.”

He chuckled. “He’s suspicious, tis a form of worry. But aye, he has won a battle. He is crowned king and has gained confidence as a leader. Now that we hae given him a drone and guns, he will likely win all of the next battles. He will never again be hunted through the strath.”

He was quiet for a moment, then said, “There is a story about Bobby Bruce that Max and I hae heard. When he dies — and he will die, for all kings do — he will ask James Douglas tae take his heart on crusade⁠—”

“Douglas, the man just now who…?”

“The one who beat me, aye. The same.” Torin shifted in the saddle. “He is a hard man. He has no softness for strangers, and will put them in a cell if the king nods, as we hae seen. But he is loyal past reason, and he will burn his own castle before he will allow the English tae keep it. There is honor in that, even if I am still bruised by him, I hae tae admire how fiercely loyal he is tae his king. I see a lot of m’self in him.”

His eyes swept the sky and then continued, “Accordin’ tae the story, Douglas carried Bruce’s heart in a silver casket tae the Holy Land, so that the king’s heart could fight even after the man was gone. They say Douglas died with it still on his person, and that the king’s heart was carried back tae Scotland. I believe twas buried at Melrose.”

I glanced at the saddlebag where the small silver casket rode. “Like the one we’re carrying.”

“Aye, much like. Archibald’s heart is in a box, travelin’ with us, waitin’ for his family. Bruce’s heart will travel even farther someday, and come home. Tis a strange thing, mo leannan, what men do with the hearts of the dead.”

He shifted in the saddle and said, “See the lochan tae the south?”

I nodded.

“Legend holds that after they lost the battle, when Bruce and his men fled, their heavy swords made it hard tae escape. Right about here Bruce told them tae cast their swords intae the water.”

“Really? A pile of swords in there?”

“Aye, verra deep, that is what the story tells, but Max and I hae looked — we canna find them. But tis just as well. The Lady of the Lake guards over them, and I dinna want tae discuss it with her. She has moods.”

I laughed. “Yes, that’s probably a good reason to steer clear. I’m surprised you even looked.”

“Max was enticed. Alongside the small swords of his men, Robert the Bruce’s claymore is said tae be restin’ at the bottom. Max wanted the glory of havin’ Bruce’s sword.”

I smiled. “He’s going to be jealous when I tell him Bruce gave me this horse.”

“Did ye name him yet?”

“I’m thinking Mustang. It’s a type of horse but also the name of a fast car.”

“Now we hae Cathbarr, Lambo, Trì, Dà, Ferrari, and Mustang.”

“So many horses!”

“Aye, we hae become verra wealthy, it portends a good marriage.”