“That’s the best part, Torin — we’ve figured out how to eat in bed without any vermin bothering us.”
He leaned forward to look at my face. “Tis true? Nae, that is sorcery. Such luxury must be for kings and queens, Princess.”
“Nope, anyone with money can stay there.”
“I will never understand yer world, but I would like tae sleep at least one night in such a place.”
“Next time you visit, if thereisa next time, I’ll get you a hotel room so you can see for yourself.”
“As long as ye promise tae roust me out afore I grow as soft as the bed.” He fell quiet for a moment, then added, more seriously, “Even yer peasants hae such beds? Soft, vermin-free? Tis all over the world?”
I shook my head. “Not everywhere.”
He grunted. “Then ye invite envy. Ye are askin’ for enemies tae come against yer walls. Tis why a man canna sleep too many nights on down and silk, he must keep himself ready tae fight. Else there will be wars all the time.”
“Kinda,” I admitted. There have been a lot of wars. We’ve had two world wars, almosteveryonefought.”
He was silent, thoughtful. Then said, “I would like tae hear that story next.”
I said, “Okay... where to begin?”
He asked, “What kings were involved?”
“It wasn’t kings, it was nations, millions of soldiers.”
Torin said, “Millions... what sort of number is that? Tis greater than ten thousand?”
I nodded. “Much greater. Think of ten thousand men, then another ten thousand, and another… until you can’t count anymore. That’s why we called it a World War.”
Torin was very quiet for a bit, then said, “Och, tis a wild tale, Princess. Did ye fight in it yerself?”
“No, that was before my time. But my grandfather fought in it. He would have been about our age — just a young man with a rifle, shipped across the ocean to France.”
“France, ye say? Scots hae long fought in France. Many a lad left our glens tae stand with the French against the English.”
I asked, “So Scotland and France were allies?”
“Aye, the Auld Alliance — twas forged in 1295, and still holds. Our Mary herself was sent tae France in the year 1548, just a lass of five, tae be raised for the Dauphin’s hand. She is the bond that keeps the alliance strong.”
He faltered, then his voice was very low. “Och… but I learned too much of her fate. I canna bear tae think on it.”
“I’m sorry you heard about her future.”
“I still believe I could go and lend my sword tae protect her.”
He was quiet then added, “Tis better tae fight with the French than bow tae the English. I pray the men of Scotland daena forget it. The English are ever lookin’ tae claim what inna theirs.”
“You really don’t like England, but I will say this, in this World War, England was our ally, they were allies with the French too.”
“Och, ye canna trust them, they are deceitful.” He asked, “When yer grandfather fought, was he all in armor?”
“Not armor. He wore a hard hat, a coat, thick boots. I’ll show you a photo of him if I ever get home... my grandmother said she took one look at him in uniform and almost swooned.”
We were quiet again, plodding down the road, then I said, “It’s weird to talk about my grandmother and grandfather now that you’ve told me they weren’t actually mine.”
He said, quietly, “Yer grandfather told ye stories from a war he fought, yer grandmother told ye stories about how handsome he was. I daena think ye ought tae think less of those stories just because I hae told ye that yer bloodline is royal. It daena change anythin’ — ye were their granddaughter, ye still hold their stories.”
I nodded, blinking back a tear. “Yeah, I think that’s a good way to think of it. ‘I hold their stories.’”
