Page 88 of Torin and the Princess

“Aye. That is what spurs me, I yearn tae return home.” He picked up his fork and took another bite, then continued, “On the third day, the rain ceased and I emerged from the tavern. I had been in a battle with m’self. I hated the device. I loathed the idea of usin’ it again. Therefore I decided tae bury it in the forest floor and leave it there tae face m’fate, but I was also verra far from home, and I would never see m’family nor friends again. I wouldna be able tae join the fight tae liberate Alba from the English. There was a struggle in m’mind. I walked out intae the woods and dug a hole.” He showed his fingertips, they were cracked and sore from digging.

“You didn’t have a shovel or anything?”

“Nae, dug with m’hands and a rock. Then I dropped the vessel intae the hole. I stood looking down upon it when the dreadful apparatus began tae vibrate once more, twas faint, yetI could see twas alive. Twas beckonin’ me tae use it and twas the only way home. I knew it, but tis verra painful. I dinna want tae touch it, but I couldna bear being lost in time. I struggled with what tae do, but ultimately I reached intae the hole and as soon as my sore fingers grasped it, it latched down upon m’hand. The pain spread up m’arm and I was pulled through time and deposited here once more. Ye dinna hear any of it?”

I shook my head. “I must have drunk a lot last night, I crashed out.”

He continued, “Once I woke up, I said good morn tae Dude, who looked as if he had been waitin’ for me, and all but dragged m’self tae yer back-shack. There I slept briefly, all the while wonderin’ if I was days or weeks late for breakfast. I came by tae see if I was on time.”

“You didn’t miss breakfast, you didn’t seem to be gone but for a few hours, we talked at like 10:30 pm, I think, I was in bed by 11:15, so you were gone by midnight, returned the next day.”

“Aye, somethin’ like it.”

Cooper said, “Funny, you’ve seemed in good spirits all morning.”

“I dinna want tae sour the pleasant meal and I dinna want tae hae tae mention tae Mistress Lexi that I lost the clothes she procured for me.”

“Did you, where?”

“Aye, I dinna hae the bags on m’shoulder when the vessel dragged me away, they hae been left near the forest path headin’ south through the lands of Ferindonald.”

I said, “Well, that is fine, no big deal. There are more clothes and Nikes.”

He said, “Tis a relief, I was worried ye would find m’carelessness indefensible.”

Jen said, “But just imagine, hundreds of years ago, someone coming across a plastic bag with a pair of Nikes in it!”

Cooper said, “Thatis a crazy thought...”

I asked, “And that’s why your shoulder isn’t as sore, Torin? You haven’t needed pain relief, it looks like you’re feeling better.”

He put down his fork and rolled his shoulder around, gingerly. “Tis feelin’ much better, but not completely healed.” He went back to dipping a strawberry in whipped cream.

Cooper put down his napkin and said, “Babe, can I speak to you for a moment?”

“Sure, of course.”

We both stood from the table. “Excuse us, please.”

Jen looked at me with her eyes wide. Then she joked, “Um, what are we going to talk about Torin — the great new album from Blink-182?”

He grinned, “Och, I daena ken any of those words…”

31

LEXI

2004 - THE PORCH

Cooper led me out to the porch.

I asked, “What’s this about?”

He frowned. “I don’t know, I just needed to, I don’t know, talk to you…”

I frowned back. “How are you doing?”

“Not good. Super bummed, and instead of a good spiral I’m dealing with Torin’s senseless bullshit.”

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