Page 7 of Only a Breath Away

I turned m’horse twice but found nae one there. Then I led the men back tae the castle, approachin’ from the south.

Stirling castle was verra different from the lavish palace Kaitlyn and I had visited in the year 1552. Now, in the thirteenth century it was made up of a few stone buildings, surrounded by timber walls. The castle wasna concerned with royal courts and comfortable rooms, there was a stone chapel, a low stone building for kitchens and storerooms. And there was a three-story stone building that held the royal bedrooms and offices, that we called the King’s house. The Great Hall, the barracks for the men, and the stables were all built of timber.

The castle was built upon steep, craggy cliffs, making it strongly defensible. In 1552, the stone walls stood at the edge of the cliffs on three sides, an imposing insurmountable wall. But in the thirteenth century, the timber walls were pulled back, surrounded by sloping fields between the walls and the cliffs. The cliffs were imposingly high, but I wished m’walls were higher and made of stone.

Once I stabled m’horse, I climbed the wooden stair tae the walls tae watch for another storm.

CHAPTER 5 - HAYLEY

The next day and the next Fraoch came to visit. He attended meetings with me, though I told him he didn’t have to. “You don’t need to do anything but see me for lunch.”

“Nae, this is fun!”

“Fun? You think it’s fun to go to AA meetings? You, sir, are very confused.”

“Tis much like gathering ‘round the fire in front of the tigh-dubhs—”

“What, my love, is a te-duh?”

“I think ye might call them a blackhouse, ye ken? The low houses at Loch Leven? The men would gather around the fire, sometimes the women as well, and there would be grand stories told.”

“What kind?”

“About hunts and battles, stories stuffed full of lies, ye haena ever heard so many lies, m’bhean ghlan, but nae one was listenin’ tae hear the truth, twas the telling of them would be the point of it. My uncle, Aymer, after becomin’ verra drunk, liked tae tell a story or two. His twists of a tale were astonishin’. He once had me believe that a fish caught him by the foot and swallowed him whole, but he convinced the fish tae spit him out by assurin’ him he was rotten. But always there was m’Aunt Margar, and she would talk back tae the storytellers. She would say, ‘Nae, tis nae true!’ and, ‘Ye canna tell it that way, tis nae the way tae tell it!’ Uncle Aymer would say, ‘Wife! I am tellin’ the story, no’ ye!’ And she would humph and then become so upset at the next part of the story — she was incensed about the fish story. She claimed that she would stuff Uncle Aymer’s pocket with bitter herbs, and she felt sure this was why the fish spit him out. Just between us, m’bhean-ghlan, she put the bitter herbs in his pocket tae keep the ladies away, as Uncle Aymer had been known tae wander. But, the point of the story is that tae hear Margar and Aymer bicker meant the world was turning well. And Aunt Margar dinna just criticize Aymer, she kent all the stories, they had been told many times over. Though she had heard them many times, she wanted them told well. She believed a story had a beginning, a middle, and an end and twas how ye got from the one tae the other, in order, without a long blather, much like I am doing here.”

I sighed, “This is the longest story ever told, but I can’t wait to hear what this has to do with AA meetings.”

Fraoch chuckled. “When asked, Aunt Margar would say, ‘I just like m’stories, I want tae hear them the way they are meant tae be told.’ So, now when I come tae the AA meetings and I see some of the fellas get up tae tell their story, I think,och, it will be a harrowing tale of crime and punishment and brawling and bawdy behavior,andoch, I wish m’Aunt Margar were here tae yell at them for nae tellin’ it right.”

I laughed. “Fraoch, have I told you today how much I love you?”

“Ye hae nae told me but three times this day and twas a rainy evenin’ and verra lonely in m’tent, so I think I ought tae get at least one more.”

We grabbed our coffee cups and entered the meeting room and chose a row near the front.

After introductions, a new person raised his hand and offered to tell his story. The leader of the meeting called him up.

He began with, “My name is Tyrone, but my friends call me the Goatman.”

Fraoch muttered under his breath. “Och, this one will be good.”

CHAPTER 6 - MAGNUS

In the afternoon I took another turn around the lands around Stirling Castle and returned near time for the evening meal in the Great Hall.

I sent m’horse tae the stables and crossed the courtyard, m’guard pulling in behind me. Caillean rushed over tae walk alongside. “Did ye find what ye went for, Mag Mòr?”

“Nae, but the morrow will come.” I meant it tae sound comforting, but twas terrifyin’. I dinna understand why Kaitlyn hadna been at our meetin’ place. She could hae come at any time,fromany time, and arrived at that point.

Caillean said, “The hunting park has a lot of deer at this time of year. I ken ye love tae hunt. It would take yer mind from yer worries.”

“Aye, I will consider it later in the week.”

In the Great Hall I sat in the chair at the head of the long table with Caillean beside me. “How did ye spend yer day, Caillean, while I was on m’pointless errand?”

We were passed flagons of ale.

He said, “I met with Uilleam Uallas. He has been gatherin’ an army tae fight the English king.”

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