I grinned. “Perfect! He’ll know how to get me back. We go tomorrow?”
“Twill take four days.”
I gulped. “Oh, okay, sure. That’s fine. Four days. And any day now the vessel will work, easy. We just keep checking.”
“Aye.” He drained his ale with one long pull, then set it down. “I need tae relieve m’self. Dost ye need tae go as well, Princess?”
“Yes, definitely, um… where?”
“We will go out back and find a bush for privacy for ye.”
Torin pushed back his stool and rose. To the men at the end of the table he said, “Tis my seat, and there the lady’s seat. Daena take them, or ye will answer tae m’wrath.”
He offered me his arm, and I put my hand on it, and we left. The innkeeper, catching Torin’s nod, shuffled down to sit at the end of the table, keeping a watchful eye on our things.
We steppedout the back door into a dark field. The night was crisp, the stars sharp in the cool air.
Torin guided me to a bush at the side of the yard. “I’ll step just over there tae pish. Ye will be able tae see me.”
“Doubtful,” I whispered. “I can’t see a thing. This is scary.”
“Ye want me tae talk the whole time, so ye ken where I am?”
“Sing.”
He chuckled and sauntered twenty feet off, already humming. Then he raised his voice:
“Here’s tae the ale that fills m’cup, and here’s tae the lass that tops it up?—!”
His stream hit the ground with a loud rush. “Can ye hear me well, Princess?”
“Yep, that’s perfect.”
I gathered up my skirts, crouched and peed.
He kept singing cheerfully, “Wi’ a wink o’ the eye and a swing o’ the hip, I’ll drink tae her smile and a kiss on her lip!”
I shook myself dry. “Do you have the balm?”
“Nae, I left it in our bags. Dost ye need me tae fetch it?”
“No.” I pulled my underwear up and dropped the makeshift skirt. “That’s fine, I’ll put on some more right before bed.” I yawned, loudly. “I’m exhausted.”
“Aye, me as well.” His voice rose again as he finished,
“So raise yer mug, let sorrow sleep, the night is long and the drink is deep!”
He rejoined me, tucking himself in, and smiled faintly.
I yawned again.
He touched my elbow. “Princess, I will get ye tae bed.”
13
LEXI
1558 - THE FORDMAN’S REST NEAR ABOYNE
