Page 4 of Promises to Keep

“I trust James, he is a wildcard in battle, but he will always be on m’side.”

“I know Zach is completely trusted by you—”

“Och aye, I would lay down m’life for the chef.”

We both chuckled.

“What about... what about Hammond?”

He lay quietly for a long time.

Then he finally said, “I daena understand how he can be devoted and loyal despite the terrible treatment by my mother, but he is. I ken he would hae a possible motive, tae get back at her, yet he remains steadfast, and though I sometimes wonder that he remains loyal, I ken he is — he has been. I hae looked intae his eyes. We fought alongside each other in the kingdom when we were at war...”

Magnus’s brow drew down. “That happened dinna it?”

“Yes, you were at war for a long time. In one or more of the timelines.”

He nodded.

“When I was in battle with Hammond we grew tae trust each other and I remain that way. I believe he is a true guardian of the kingdom and I believe he is honorable tae m’mother. But... I am still concerned.”

Then he finally said, “I daena ken about Hammond.”

I looked at his face in horror.

He said simply, “There are many things that hae happened recently: us appearin’ at the stadium for instance, mid-battle, that hae the feel of some kind of treason.”

“For a long time he wasn’t involved in the time travel.”

“Aye, but now he kens all about it, and... I am wary.”

CHAPTER 3- KAITLYN

That night there was a loud yelling down the hall from Quentin.

Magnus climbed from bed. “Ye daena need tae get up, mo reul-iuil, tis one of Quentin’s night-terrors. I will go check in on him.”

I mumbled, “He hasn’t had one in a while, but when they happen they usually mean some kinda bad time-shit is going on.”

I heard footsteps in the hall, heavy, lumbering, it was Fraoch going to check in. These men could hear in their sleep.

Magnus said, “Sounds like we are all goin’ tae check on him, in case he is frightenin’ Madame Beaty. I will be back.”

I pulled on a robe, in case the noise woke one of the kids and they needed me, but I heard Fraoch and Magnus whispering down the hall. Then I heard Quentin and James joining them.

I put my head from the door and whispered, “What’s happening?”

Two rooms down, Archie was looking out. He looked frightened. Magnus told him, “Tis alright, son, the men are needin’ tae speak taegether in the hall.”

Quentin said, “Sorry, little man, Uncle Quentin had a nightmare, it’s all good.”

I went to the kids’ door. “It’s okay Archie, everything’s fine, go back to bed, I’ll check on you in a moment.” The kids were so gosh darn nervous.

Of course they are, our lives are very often a shit-show.

I joined Quentin, Magnus, Fraoch, Zach, and James at the door to Lady Mairead’s office. They were looking down on a dark patch on the carpet.

Magnus asked, “Did ye notice this earlier?”

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