Page 83 of Torin and the Princess

His eyes went wide.

I blew out the match and handed him the box. “You try it.”

He fumbled until he got out a matchstick and struck it. It flamed up, first try. “Och, this is verra… this is a miracle.”

“You can have that box, keep it, it’s yours.”

“Are ye certain, Mistress Lexi? It must be verra valuable.”

“Honestly, Torin, it’s inexpensive, no worries. I want you to have it, plus this...” I dug through the drawer and pulled out a disposable Bic lighter. I held it up and pulled my thumb down the spark wheel. The flame rose.

His eyes widened even more. I looked at it against the light. “This one has plenty of fluid, should last for a bit, but it won’t last forever.” I passed it to him and helped him get the hang oflighting it, wishing I had thought to buy him a nice refillable one when we had been at the store. “This is called a lighter, these are matches. Don’t let the matches get wet.”

I pulled out a plastic pencil box, big enough for both, and dumped the pencils into the drawer. I put the lighter and matches into it. “This is waterproof.”

He shook his head.

“I won’t listen to no, I want you to have it.”

“Aye, thank ye, Mistress Lexi.” He took the box and clutched it in both hands. “Master Cooper winna be upset that I hae been given these gifts?”

“No, he would want you to have them, speaking of…”

Cooper came into the kitchen. “Ah, everyone is here.” He kissed me on the cheek, hugged Jen, and nodded at Torin. “Torin.”

Torin bowed his head. “Good morn, Master Cooper.”

I said, “Coop, will you pour the coffee? I’m cooking the bacon.”

He took down some mugs and asked Torin, “Cream or black?”

Torin said, “I daena ken, what is it?”

Cooper said, “Coffee? Have you never had coffee before?”

“Nae, how dost ye drink it?”

Cooper said, “Oh, this will be fun, introducing you to coffee. First, just taste it black.” He poured some in a mug and passed it to Torin.

I smiled, enjoying the fact that Coop was actually being cool,finally.

Torin immediately sipped and then dribbled it out, “Och nae, hot!”

Cooper said, “I’m sorry, I kinda thought you would know?—”

Torin grimaced. “Also, tis bitter.”

I said, “You’ll want lots of cream, plus a spoonful of sugar.”

Cooper said, “...or just a dash of cream.”

Jen said, “I like a vanilla latte.”

Cooper said, “What we’re saying is everyone takes their coffee differently, but I think you seem like a cream man, no sugar, not after the way the sweet got to you last night.”

Torin nodded, “Aye, I agree.” He passed his mug to Cooper who added cream to it.

Cooper and Torin both drank.

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