Page 73 of Torin and the Princess

“Do you feel better? You looked pretty green.”

“I feel much better, the sweetness in yer cream set m’stomach churnin’.” He grimaced.

I said, “Usually you aren’t supposed to eat three helpings. I’m used to the sweets, I love and crave the sweetness, and evenIdon’t eat that much.”

“Aye, twas the gluttony. I paid for it with a purge at the bowl in the garderobe.”

I chuckled. “Well, you’ll be hungry in the morning.”

“Aye, but I will do m’best not tae bother ye, I will see if I can get the vessel tae work, and?—”

“You are invited to eat breakfast first, no question. Master, um… Cooper knows, before you try the vessel.”

The corner of his mouth went up. “Tis decided?”

“Yes, tis decided.”

He nodded in the darkness looking out at the stars in the night sky.

I said, “I’m sorry he didn’t believe you, that he was rude.”

“Tis not for ye tae apologize, Mistress Lexi, tis a conversation between two men, ye canna try tae get between them.”

I said, “Men will be men, huh?”

“If ye mean men will need tae argue and come close tae blows over differences of opinions, then aye. I am learnin’ that men will be alike in every century.” He took a second before adding, “But I daena blame him, Mistress Lexi. I dinna believe m’laird, Max, when he first told me of it, and we had long traveled the same paths taegether. Master Cooper daena ken me from a spice dealer on market day.”

I said, “True. And it has been a really hard day for him, he’s usually much more chill.”

“Chill?”

“You know, like not hot-headed, not so quick to anger.”

“Aye, I see, tae be stoic. Remainin’ cool is a verra fine trait, tis important when one is facin’ down an imminent battle, but Master Cooper is done with his battle. He lost, tis tae be expected that if a man loses a battle he will be agitated after. A man who has lost a battle will pick new ones in an attempt tae prove tae the world that he can win. The trouble is, he will likely lose those too — many a man will end up in deep despair by losing over and over until he has naething left tae lose. In Scotland, we call this wrestlin’ with shadows, Mistress Lexi — fightin’ battles that arna there, when the real one is already lost. Master Cooper will come back tae himself in time. Tis on my shoulders that I dined at his table on a night when he wanted tae pick a battle.”

“Wrestling with shadows, huh? That’s a good description. He wants to keep fighting, that explains why he won’t hear of me lending him the money.”

He raised his chin and looked down his nose at me, then shook his head. “I daena understand yer time — ye are holdin’ the gold? The lady is the head of the house? He is just a man yekeep here without marryin’ him nor sharin’ yer wealth? This is verra confusing.”

I chewed my lip as Cooper’s voice went through my head.Don’t be mad, but I don’t think I want to anymore...

I said, “It’s complicated.”

“Aye, it sounds it. I am a simpler man m’self, I will throw a lass over m’shoulder and take her tae m’castle. I will share the gold.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “That’s not at all how we do it, not anymore.” Then I asked, “But you haven’t done it yet?”

“Nae, I haena found the right lass yet for it, besides m’laird Max has needed my accompaniment on his quest. Twill be a time afore I am back at Glume with the wherewithal tae heave a lass up tae m’shoulders.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been tossed over someone’s shoulders before, except maybe my dad’s when I was very little.”

He grinned. “That is why ye arna married, I suppose, a bonny lass such as ye — must be because ye haena been heaved tae a shoulder properly.”

I chuckled. “Maybe that’s true.”

Dude rubbed around his legs again.

I said, “Dude is indifferent to most everyone, I’m so surprised he likes you this much.”

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