Page 116 of Only a Breath Away

I said, “Aye, this could take a long time.”

CHAPTER 75 - MAGNUS

We drank a good deal, because the pain of jumping was still on us and we enjoyed it for auld times sake. Then Fraoch looked in the corner, bleary-eyed, and hiccuped. “Looks as if William and his men are about tae leave. We ought tae leave first so they winna lay in wait. I am in nae mood for an altercation.”

“Ye are in nae condition for an altercation with four men, we are outnumbered and I only hae one good arm.” I stood, accidentally knockin’ the bench over and then stumbled tryin’ tae raise it again.

I chuckled. “Och, I was tryin’ for.. tae be stealth-like.”

Fraoch said, “Ye were a stealth, ye were like a great… a great… what was it…?” He opened the door and we stepped out intae the medieval night.

“I daena ken, what are ye talkin’ on?”

He looked up at the stars. “I daena remember.” He added, “Tis good we got Sophie home, inna it?”

“Aye, and we fixed the timeline. We are verra good at what we do. We ought tae get a special award for how good we are.” I hiccuped.

He grabbed m’arm and pulled me intae the shadow beside the building. “Wheesht, they are coming out.”

I tried tae be verra quiet. They were singing and weavin’ down the path headed away from the inn. One said, “Where did they go?”

Another said, “I daena ken, we will find them on the morrow.”

Fraoch and I listened tae them leave and then we stepped from the shadow. He said, “Och, twas close. I daena think I could fight them as there were… how many?”

I said, “At least ten I think? Or I was seein’ two where there were one.”

He said, “Elephant!”

We began walking toward the woods. “What elephant?”

“Tis what ye were like in the pub, ye ken.”

“I daena hae any idea what ye are talkin’ about.”

“Me neither.”

We stumbled intae the clearing where our things were hidden under a camouflage tarp with some leafy branches spread on top. There was little ambient light but enough to drag the limbs aside while Fraoch pulled the tarp, stumbling against a tree. “Och nae! Did ye see the tree grab me? It has…” He looked down at his shirt. “It has ripped m’shirt.”

I fumbled in a box for my headlamp, turned it on, and we found the tent.

He said, “We ought tae hae paid attention when Quentin told us how tae erect it.”

We unzipped the bag and dumped out the tent and sticks intae a big disordered pile. I said, “I daena ken how tae do it, the one I used tae put up dinna look like this.” I picked up the instructions, pulled it close tae my eyes and moved it away. Even in the headlamp the words were impossible tae make out.

Fraoch looked up at the sky. “It inna goin’ tae rain.”

“How far hae I fallen, once a king here, that I will sleep on the ground without a shelter?”

“Ye daena need a shelter over ye, ye need one under ye. Tis the hard ground and the dew that will make us regret our decisions.” He lay the tarp out on the ground and then our sleepin’ bags, side by side, while I found the flask of whisky I had brought.

“For warmth.”

We removed our shoes, took shots of whisky, and climbed in our bags. I propped m’arm under m’head and looked up at the starry night. “Tis a lovely night sky, I daena mind it a bit.” A bug landed on my cheek and I smacked it. I laughed. “I forgot my face was under the wee beastie.”

Fraoch laughed. “Remind me if ye mind our sleepin’ arrangements in the morn.” He added, “I’ll take first watch.”

I woke up a bit later tae the loud snores of Fraoch. I pushed his shoulder, “Och, ye are wakin’ me with yer frightful...” I groaned.He was sleeping without waking me for guard duty.I pulled my legs up to sit, but there was a heavy weight on them. Twas something alive. I scrambled up out of — a dog barked.

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