I pulled the pin from the side and the spring-loaded hinge opened, and the shovel was about two feet long when it was open.

I passed it to him. “This pin on the side releases it and closes it up.”

Torin held the shovel across his knees. “Och, this is verra fine!” He ran his hand along the wooden shaft. “Tis too fine, Mistress Lexi, I canna take it.”

I said, “I don’t mind, it’s from my dad, but I have a full-size set from him too. I want you to have it, you’ve still got the matches and the lighter?”

“Aye, I do, thank ye.”

He ran his hand along it again. “Twill make the work much easier.” I showed him once more how to use the pin to fold the shovel. He said, “I can fit it in m’bags on m’horse.”

“That’s what I thought.”

His fingers stopped on letters hand-etched into the handle. “What are these for?”

“I carved that, a while back, it’s my initials, for my name.”

“A and D?”

“Yes, my full name is Alexandria Davis.”

The color left his face, he looked like he had seen a ghost.

“Alexandria?” He looked ill, he gulped, his face looked like he was anguished, he began to mutter under his breath, “Domine Deus meus, gratias tibi ago quod eam vivam inveni!”

I was standing by his chair, wondering what the hell I should do. “Yeah, um… That’s my full name, everyone calls me Lexi.”

“Och, I give thanks tae ye, Lord, she has been found alive!” He shoved the shovel off his lap, it fell clattering to the floor, and he pushed his chair back, knocking it to the ground. “Da mihi fortitudinem et fidem, so I may fulfill m’promise and keep her safe.”

His big hulking mass of a form yanked his dirk from the sheath at his waist and he dropped to his knees with a thud.

He was at my feet, praying, his eyes closed.“I swore tae guard her, and now I fear, Lord, that I may fail.”

He held the dirk before his face, clutched at the hilt on the top, a leather bound hilt with a blue stone at the end, its blade pointing down, catching the bright light streaming through my kitchen window. “I vowed tae shield her, Lord, and I am weak with fear — Grant me strength and faith to fulfill my vow.”

I looked around at Cooper and Jen, they both looked as shocked as I felt.

I said, “What is happening, Torin? I don’t understand!”

He whispered, “Holy Mary, mother of mercy, protect her from all harm! Help guide m’sword in her protection.”

“Torin,what…?”

He lowered his dirk, and bowed his head, his voice low and trembling with awe. “M’lady Alexandria, hear me: ye are Princess Alexandria, Yer Highness — yer brother, the Prince, has sought ye through many a long and bitter year. I am sworn tae him, and now tae ye, by the grace of God and Holy Mary. I pledge m’life, m’sword, and m’honor tae shield ye from all harm. Tae guard ye till ye ken yer rightful place. Fear not, for I will stand by ye, come what may.”

I stood numbly, my mouth opening and closing. It was like my brain had stopped working, I couldn’t compute.

Cooper asked, “What are you saying, Torin?”

Torin glanced over his shoulder, and said, “M’laird Maximillian, and I hae been searchin’ for Princess Alexandria, and she stands before me —och nae, I should hae seen the familiarity in yer visage. Ye are the Princess we hae been searchin’ for! I hae sworn tae find ye, now I am sworn tae protect ye — yer life is as my own, I will lay down m’life tae keep ye safe.”

I took a step back. “What is going on, why are you saying this?”

Cooper said, “Jesus Criminy, this is one more level of crazy. I keep thinking we are at the end of it, and looky here, new depths.”

Jen said, “Look, Torin, you have her confused with someone else. This isLexi,she was born here, she has… a family. They were all born here, she grew up here her whole life.”

I gulped.