Page 24 of Promises to Keep

Fraoch said, “But everyone is there though, right? Zach, Zoe, Beaty… Hayley, all the people? We arna missing anyone?”

Quentin said, “Everyone is there, we aren’t missing anyone but Lady Mairead.”

We picked up our bags and packs and walked toward the hotel.

In front of the Park Lane hotel Lochinvar gaped up at the height. “How many floors up are we goin’?”

Quentin said, “We’re on the forty-second floor.”

The lobby was very grand, and we were a spectacle because all the returning men were stinky and dirty, but especially because Fraoch was covered in a layer of dark coal from the smoke of some distant fire.

Fraoch didn’t seem to notice the stares, while Lochie was gaping at the marble and opulent splendor, the flower bouquets, and crystal chandeliers, he said, “Och, ye are goin’ tae love the elevator, Og Lochie. This is goin’ tae be fun.”

“I canna run up the stairs?”

“Tae the forty-second floor? I daena think ye can.”

The doors slid open and we crammed in with all our bags.

Lochinvar grasped hold of the railing as if he might be flung out.

Quentin pushed the button, and the elevator rose.

Lochinvar closed his eyes and began to pray.

I tucked my head to Magnus’s shoulder. “I’m so glad you’re home, it’s always so dangerous, but with a time shift it feels like a very close call.”

He said, “Aye,” as the doors opened on the twenty-seventh floor, but the person there, on seeing all five of us and three of us disgustingly dirty, said, “No thank you.”

Lochinvar tried to exit but Fraoch held him back. “We must go higher.”

“Och nae.” Lochie prayed even more feverishly as the elevator continued to rise.

We arrived at the forty-second floor and the kids, along with Haggis with his tail wagging, were waiting at the elevator doors. Archie and Isla leapt onto Magnus. Haggis jumped up and down, maniacally.

Quentin led us down the hall to the sitting room of our suite.

CHAPTER 15 - KAITLYN

First thing James said was, “Damn, boys, that looks like it was an ordeal.”

Ben asked, “Did you rescue Lady Mairead, Uncle Magnus?”

Magnus sank onto the couch. “Nae, I dinna, and Ben, I tell ye, I am nae used tae not rescuin’ someone when I set m’mind tae doin’ it. I am disappointed.”

Ben said, “That sucks.”

Magnus said, “Aye, it really does.”

I sat down beside him.

Hayley said, “But you saw Lady Mairead, you just couldn’t get to her?”

Magnus had both Haggis and Mookie with their chins on his knees. He pet both of their heads. “I saw her on the steps of the museum. I told her nae tae go inside, but there was somethin’ off about her. She dinna ken the name Lochinvar, for instance.”

Lochinvar said, “And how could she forget me?”

“Aye, and so I asked tae see her book and flipped through it, twas barely filled, and she looked younger but... I had nae time tae investigate further — the museum exploded and Lady Mairead disappeared intae the crowds.”

---