Page 150 of Promises to Keep

Quentin said, “He would never pick it to fight Lochie in an arena.”

Magnus said, “He chose it tae throw it. He’s planning on a target — but Lochinvar, we need tae behave as if this is still a true challenge tae the death. The soldiers are watching me for m’response, will ye crow for their morale?”

Lochinvar said, “Aye, of course, besides killing, this might be m’greatest talent.”

He set his face in a glower and stepped in front of the crowd. With his eyes on Fraoch’s image he rolled his neck, shook out his arms and legs, and pounded on his thighs. He bellowed, loud enough for the soldiers around him to hear, “Och aye, see that, men? Tis the face of a dead man.”

A soldier from the back yelled, “Lochie! Can ye take him?”

“Can I take him? Och aye, I am goin’ tae kill this man, Fraoch, and return the throne tae our true ruler, Magnus I.”

They cheered.

Lochie climbed on top of a tank and put his arms out, “Tomorrow Ian the Bawbag’s man will meet God at the end of m’weapon, and Magnus will once more be seated on the throne!”

Magnus kept his expression impenetrable, as he watched Lochie crow.

The soldiers cheered.

This whole army, all these soldiers, they were desperate to see Lochie win.

Lochinvar jumped from the tank to stand beside me. He bumped his shoulder against mine, “Tis goin’ tae be all right.”

Quentin put out a low fist and I bumped my fist down on it.

Magnus nodded. “I see a glimpse of a gold band on his neck, Lochie, dost ye see it?”

“Aye.”

“Lady Mairead will show ye how tae get it off, ye must remove it the first chance ye hae.”

Quentin said, “A ceasefire has been called, now we just get Lochinvar ready for the arena.”

* * *

The night was long. Quentin told me to stay close, so I shadowed him, and then when I was too tired I went to lie down in my cot.

Quentin’s cot remained empty all night, because, as he said, “Who can sleep?”

I could not sleep. I stared at the ceiling thinking about Fraoch and what his plan might be and how the hell it would work and all the ways he could die.

Quentin came in near dawn and sat on his cot. “This whole thing is so crazy, we’re dealing with the advisory board that runs the arena battle, but are they neutral, or on Magnus’s side or on Ian’s? We have no idea. When I’ve seen these battles before it’s always from the king’s point of view, with the challenger’s army sitting outside in case they win the throne. Spoiler, they never do — Magnus is impossible to beat, but he’s not the king. Lochinvar is not Magnus. Their fighter is Fraoch. He has a plan. We don’t know what will happen.”

I said, “We have to be ready for anything. We have to keep Fraoch alive.”

“Aye, and I’ve been talking in circles all night. Around the commanders I’m talking about winning the battle, around Magnus and Lochie I’m talking about supporting Fraoch’s plan, a plan we’re only guessing at. Tomorrow, Hayley, not one word about the sign from Fraoch. Not one word about how he might have a plan.”

I said, “Yeah, we have to pretend like it’s a full battle, it still might be, we don’t know-know.”

He scrubbed his hands up and down on his face. “I’m worried and exhausted.”

I said, “Me too.”

“But just between us, it’s not as tiring as being around a newborn for weeks.”

I laughed.

CHAPTER 72 - MAGNUS

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