Page 153 of Long Live the King

I chuckled, looking at my bandaged hands, “You don’t have to pray for me — I feel great!”

He smiled down on me. “Ye hae been out of yer mind.”

I said, “Did I say something stupid?”

He shook his head, with his eyes cast down.

“Ugh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it, whatever it was. I don’t know, I feel sane, but this all seems maddening. What is happening, Lochie?”

“I am a time traveler.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Time travel doesn’t exist.”

He shrugged. “Then how dost ye explain that ye hae been in the thirteenth century, that now ye are in the eighteenth century? What is yer explanation, Ash?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’m a time traveler, the brother of a king.”

“Who was the man who kidnapped me?”

“His name is Asgall, we daena ken much about him, but he is tryin’ tae outmaneuver Magnus.”

“Why me?”

“Because I love ye, and?—”

“You love me?”

“Aye, I promised tae protect ye and I... dinna.”

I was looking at my bandaged hand on the pillow beside me. “You didn’t promise me anything.”

He said, “I did in m’heart. When we did the thumb oath, I swore I would never?—”

“You swore you would never beguile me, Lochie, youpromised.” A tear spilled down my nose. “And you have donenothingbut beguile me, so much beguiling, everywhere, beguiled.”

“I am sorry, Ash...” He shifted in his seat. “I dinna ken how tae tell ye. Ye wouldna believe me if I had. Tis a fanciful tale and I hoped that if ye fell in love with me first, ye might believe it later.”

“Exactly. That is beguiling, Lochie.”

He nodded.

Then added, “In m’defense, I hae been lost since I met ye and dinna ken how tae behave. I wasna certain what tae tell ye.”

“So you didn’t tell me — I could have died.” My eyes went wide. “Is everyone worried about me? Where do they think I went?”

“I daena ken, but ye can return tae the next day, most people winna ken ye were gone... twas good ye called Kaitlyn, tis how we kent ye had been taken.”

I relaxed my head back to the pillow. “So you’re a time traveler, and you have beguiled me, and now I’m caught up in it too?”

“Aye, Ash, I am verra sorry. I dinna mean tae draw ye in, I will take ye home as soon as ye are well enough tae travel, and then I will leave ye alone and ye can go back tae yer life. I winna bother ye again. I promise ye will be safe from harm once I am gone.”

I watched him speak, marveling at the planes and angles of his face, his jaw, with its newly grown beard.

“I don’t want you to go. Why would you leave me?”

“Because I am dangerous, I am the brother of a king, and I daena ken how tae keep ye safe. I am an orphan, ye can see that yer bed is small, and this is beyond what they would ever offer me, because ye are a guest ye are given yer own room, with a small bed, but when I come tae visit I am made tae sleep with the men in the barracks, tis all I am, an orphan who was found by Magnus, his half-brother by blood, but he dinna ken I existed until he was forced tae take me on. I grew up fightin’ for my life, being beaten when I dinna fight well enough. I hae given Magnus my oath tae be his sword, and in exchange I hae the treatment of a lord, but not the respect. I daena hae vast armies, I canna command others tae my bidding, I only fight. I am verra good at fighting, Ash, but that also means I attract battles, whatkind of life does this mean for ye? Tis not a good enough life, ye deserve more.”

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