We peeked around the corner to see Torin rush him, charging across the room and forcing Max up against the wall. His forearm pressed across Max’s neck. “Stop sayin’ it tae me!”
“Stop sayin’ what? That ye arna good enough, that ye hae been dishonorable?”
Torin’s face was up against Max’s and his face was red in fury. “I hae been honorable! I hae made an oath tae her, that I would keep her safe and get her home and reunite her with her brother, and I hae done all of it!”
“And what of her brother, hae ye been honorable tae her brother, the Prince?”
“In everything! Tis why I canna hae her, because I am bound by duty tae her brother, and I canna even try tae win her!”
Max’s brow raised, “Ye goin’ tae fight for her?”
“I will, I will fight ye.”
Max laughed. “I would like tae seeyetry.”
He exhaled. “But I wouldna fight ye, Torin, I wouldna hae the heart.”
He placed his hands on Torin’s shoulders, centering him. “Ye see, my friend,there’sthe Torin of yore. Are yefinallygoin’ tae start actin’ like the man I hae lived and fought alongside my whole life?”
Torin’s arms dropped. “What dost ye mean?”
“I mean, ye haena been yerself since ye returned tae Muckhart. Ye hae been defeated by yer heart. If ye are goin’ tae proclaim yer love for the Princess ye will need more fight.”
Torin shook his head. “Nae, I canna.”
“Ye hae been loyal tae me, aye, but ye forget that I hae been loyal tae ye as well. I hae always gotten ye from trouble and I hae seen these past few days that ye are in the deepest trouble ye hae ever known. Ye hae lost yer heart, and ye were weakened by it. I am tryin’ tae get ye tae find yer strength again.”
Torin cut his eyes toward where I was standing in the shadows of the hallway.
Then he said to Max, “Are ye saying that I… I persuaded ye?”
“I am sayin’ tae ye, Torin, that I saw ye loved her the first moment ye sat down at the table in Muckhart, and I hae been tryin’ tae get ye tae say it with yer full chest.”
Torin nodded, looking down on his feet.
Then he raised his eyes to Max’s and asked, “Are ye sayin’ I hae permission tae speak tae her on it?”
Max chuckled. “I am saying that ye had my permission from the first moment I met ye, back when we were verra wee, just beginnin’ tae live in Castle Glume, running down the halls, bangin’ our wooden swords taegether. When ye told me ye got her home and left her in the care of another man because ye wanted her tae live beyond yer own happiness, Torin, I was reminded what I already knew, that ye hae a deep and abiding honor toward the people ye love. Myself included.”
Torin said, his mouth grim, “I wish I hadna behaved this way in front of her.”
Max said, “I am glad I got tae speak my peace in front of her. She ought tae ken the man ye are.” He called to me in the hall, “Dost ye see it, Alexandria, the honor in him?”
I came back to the kitchen, nodding, tears welling in my eyes. Jen followed me. I wiped my eyes and said, Jen, this is my um, brother, apparently, Max.”
He gave her a curt nod. “Madame Jen, ye hae found us in a tense standoff, but I believe we hae solved it.” He asked, “Haena we solved it?”
Torin nodded.
Max said, “I am goin’ tae step from this wee room and go stand in another wee room.” He looked all around at everything. “I daena ken what anything is, I will go stand in a corner and try tae make sense of it.”
He patted Torin on the shoulder, and bowed toward Jen and me. “I am grateful ye were found, Alexandria. Twas good tae meet ye, Madame Jen.”
And then he left and Jen watched him go, then looked at Torin and looked at me. “It’s very hard to figure out what’s going on, but that’s fine, unless you want to tell me?”
I shook my head.
“Fine, I don’t need to know. I’m taking off — glad you came back, Torin, Lexi missed you.”
