Page 115 of Only a Breath Away

Fraoch agreed, “The good news is, Wallace daena remember ye, which means he has also forgotten Quentin along with the training and all the guns. I think tis safe tae say history is protected from our machinations.”

I rubbed the bandage on my shoulder. I had stitches, I was told that I dinna need tae wear a bandage if I could keep the area clean, but Kaitlyn had forced me tae wear the bandage as she considered the entire thirteenth century as unclean as was possible. “Unless I kill him, I could go over right now and cut him clean through, then we could jump away.”

Fraoch said, “Aye, ye could, but inna he important tae history?”

“How important could he be?”

Fraoch said, “I daena ken, Hayley told me there is a famous movie about him.”

I scoffed. “A movie? About that sniveling, thieving, conniving arse?” I drank. “It canna be a good movie.”

Fraoch chuckled. “I hear tell tis verra good, and that the star is verra handsome in it. Hayley said he wears a kilt and he is brave and…”

I scowled. “I daena understand why they would tell the story of that man, centuries later — now I doubly want tae kill him.”

Fraoch leaned back and stretched his legs out, near my feet. He raised his brow. “Ye try and I will trip ye tae yer stomach and then everyone will be laughin’ at ye, Og Maggy. Ye will be ridiculous.”

I laughed. “Let me understand, Fraoch: the man who cut m’shoulder and almost killed me is sitting right over there, and m’brother has said if I stand tae kill him ye would knock me tae the ground, then laugh at me? Och, ye are an awful person.”

He shrugged. “Ye ken ye want history tae be unchanged, ye ken it, ye daena want tae be the king. Ye daena want tae fool around. Ye want tae find Haggis and get the hell out of here without—”

My eyes drew tae William Wallace, standin’ and approachin’.

He said, “I am Wallace, who are ye?”

I said, “I am Magnus, and this is m’brother Fraoch. We are travelin’ through and hae stopped for a drink.” I placed my hand on the hilt of m’sword and saw his eyes dart tae the movement.

I asked, “Did ye get the ale m’brother purchased for ye?”

“Aye.”

“Good. I will return tae m’friendly discussion with m’brother, twas good meetin’ ye.”

He said, “Daena cause any trouble here, m’men and I are—”

“We arna here tae cause trouble, we are simply passin’ through.”

Fraoch said, “Speakin’ of which, hae ye seen a dog? He is about this high, and has an expression about his face as if he is tryin’ tae decide whether tae eat ye or tae just lick ye.”

“Nae.” His face clouded over. “What color dog?”

“He is brown, if ye see him will ye tell him Fraoch and Og Maggy are lookin’ for him? We hae a deal tae settle.”

“With a dog?”

“Aye, with a dog.”

Fraoch held his stare.

Finally William Wallace said, “If I see him.” He stalked back tae his seat.

I chuckled. “That was tense.”

“Aye, and now he is mystified about the dog. He went from fightn’ tae confusion verra quickly.” He drained his ale and wiped his mouth with his arm. He looked down at the wet space on his linen sleeve and brushed it with his hand and made a dark mark there. “Och nae, daena tell Hayley, I am a mess a’ready.” He continued, “What do we ken? We ken the king is nae Mag Mòr, ye are in the clear. Ye daena hae tae be king of this long ago barbaric land anymore, nae one kens ye, ye can come and go without hassle. This is all good.”

I shrugged. “Except we haena found Haggis yet.”

He went for more ale and returned. “We daena even ken where tae look.”

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