Page 134 of Promises to Keep

Magnus nodded, “I agree, I am just tellin’ ye, that the situation is too complicated for me tae simply mount a rescue.” He rubbed his hands together and then clasped mine again. “We hae been fighting in the borderlands and there was…”

He told the story of the war, about how he began the fight with a small group of loyalists, and then they gained control over a battalion, and then soon enough their numbers had grown to an army, and finally, after wins and losses, setbacks that had demoralized the men and some very dark times, they were fighting in the city, street by street. Now the city was mostly conquered.

I asked, “What next?”

“I daena ken. I hae sent Ian a demand that he surrender. We are waitin’ tae hear his answer.”

Hayley said, “How long has Fraoch been held now?”

“Many long months. Long enough tae change a man.”

A tear rolled down Hayley’s cheek. “He winna change, he just...”

Magnus said, “I ken, I am countin’ on Fraoch bein’ hard-headed and immutable.”

I gulped and asked, “So Lochinvar has been a help to you?”

“Aye, he has fought alongside me, and has been an astute and strategic commander. That is nae tae say he haena driven me mad with his demeanor. He is like having an army of midges around yer face — tae bat them away gives them the scent of ye and makes them gather more. Lochie is irritatin’, overly vain, and incessantly talkin’, when I tell him tae go away he becomes worse. I hae tae turn off m’ears or I will grow mad from his bellyachin’. ‘But auld man, ye daena ken what ye are doing,’ he is always fighting me on everything.”

Hayley frowned. “I hate this situation. None of this is Fraoch’s fault, he is being held, he can’t stay there until the war is over. They’ll kill him, you have to rescue him.”

“I daena see how.”

“Then you are leaving him to die and I hate you for it.”

He nodded. “I ken, I am just a messenger, but I ken ye will need tae blame someone and it is likely tae be me.”

“If you hadn’t…”

I said, “What, Hayley?”

“Nothing.”

I said, “That’s great, Hayley, blame Magnus, he’s been at war for months, I don’t think…” my voice dragged off as I thought...

What is that feeling in my midsection?

I let out a long low breath.

Magnus’s brow drew down as he watched me then he smiled briefly and then said to Hayley, “Ye can blame me, tis a burden that someone must bear and I think it may as well be me. Fraoch has been taken, he has been forced tae… he has killed m’men, it has been…”

“You can’t blame him for it, Magnus, it’s not his fault!”

“I ken. I daena blame him, I just canna get him free from his captors, so day after day I am at war with a side that he is on. This is heartrending.” He let out a long breath. “Fraoch and I lived beside each other in the mire on the edge of a medieval battlefield, we would lay down our lives for each other— and now he has come verra close tae killing me—”

“He’s come close to killing you?”

“Aye, nae directly, but he has given orders. I barely escaped with my life.”

“How do you know?”

“Men have left that side, come tae join me on my side. They told me that he is in the strategy meetings.”

Hayley said, “So what’s your plan, Magnus?”

“We daena hae one yet—”

“Promise me, Magnus, promise me you will rescue him, promise me you will not let Fraoch die.”

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