Page 110 of Promises to Keep

“He inna in my pocket, he is in yer pocket! I hae demanded his allegiance, but his loyalty is tae your throne.”

“Fine, I see yer point. But two men daena make an army — will we hae enough soldiers tae wage war?”

“Aye, with Wallace and Burton loyal, we begin there, we show strength, we build an army, we wage war.”

Magnus shook his head solemnly. “Ye make it sound so easy.”

Quentin said, “I’ve been at war for a long time, and I agree with what you’re saying, there is no way Ian is accepting a challenge from Magnus. He will say no. We have to wage war, take your kingdom back by force.” Quentin added, “Though I do kind of wish he had... I don’t know, a sense of duty?”

Magnus chuckled, dolefully. “The man who has usurped m’throne inna working from a place of duty, or honor, or ethics, or morals.”

Quentin said, “Yeah, you’re right, I suppose — so we make war and kick his ass.”

Lady Mairead said, “Good, we are in agreement: my son, the king, winna die in the dirt of an arena like a bull with a sword stuck through him, like a beast.”

I grimaced.

Lochinvar was licking a nacho-flavored chip. “Och nae, here I was listenin’ tae the conversation and thinkin’ I would get tae fight in the arena. I had a whole plan: I would put m’self forward tae fight for Magnus, so he wouldna die, and I would be victorious and we wouldna need a long war, we could just hae one fight.” He tossed the chip in his mouth, chewed it, and brushed his hands off. “I am disappointed.“

Magnus drew his brow, and shook his head. “Lochinvar, ye wouldna be fightin’ for me in the arena anyway, never again, nae in a battle that Ian is definitelynaegoin’ tae accept.”

Lochie said, “Why nae? If there was going tae be an arena battle, it ought tae be me. I am well-suited for killing, I am trained, and as they say, bloodthirsty. I was told once that I hae a brain good for battlin’ but not much else. I took it as a compliment.”

Magnus chuckled. “There winna be an arena battle, but even if there were, I am nae comfortable with the idea of another man fighting my battles. Donnan had me imprisoned, forced me tae fight for him, tis a brutal and cruel thing tae ask another man tae die. Nae, put it from yer head, and tis immaterial. There is nae way Ian the Troublesome will accept the challenge. I wouldna if the roles were reversed. We must plan for war.”

Magnus had been leaning on the table, he straightened up and adjusted his shirt as he spoke.

Lochie plucked another chip from the bag, crunched it, and licked his fingers. “I honestly wouldna mind, Magnus, I want tae fight. If it means ye would get tae keep the kingdom, and the bairns would be safe, then bring it on. I am like the em-and-em-man, I hae one shot, ye ken, or I blow.”

Zach and Quentin high-fived.

Magnus watched Lochie, and slowly shook his head. “I am nae Donnan, I canna force a man tae fight for me. I winna do it. Nae, ye can stand down, Mr Em-and-em Man, there winna be any arena battle. We will hae tae find ye something tae do with a full war—”

Lochinvar said, “Fine, but if ye need me, just ask, but daena wait too long, I am goin’ tae get fat.” He poked his stomach out and patted it like a drum.

Lady Mairead said, “Then we are at war.”

Magnus said, “Aye, it sounds as if tis our only option.”

Lady Mairead raised her tea cup. “Tae gain peace we will need war. Tis the usual order of it. Then I will again take over the guardianship of the kingdom. I will be even better suited than I once was, because I hae naething better tae do, I am auld now and must sit my aching bones upon a throne because nae one wants me around.”

Magnus joked, “I see ye hae regained yer wonderful disposition.”

I said, “I’m sure after a wee rest you will be back to your old galavanting around.”

“In the meantime, I will guard over the kingdom for ye.”

Magnus looked around the room. “Who will come?”

Lady Mairead spun her spoon in her cup, daintily, “Ye ought tae bring Lochinvar, because he ought not stay here anymore.”

Magnus stopped still. “Why not?”

She raised her chin.

“Why not?”

“Naething tae think on, he is from the future, he ought tae return there.”

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