Page 151 of Promises to Keep

Colonel Quentin and I walked Lochie tae the arena door. He was mentally and physically prepared for a fight tae the death, I watched his jaw set, the coldness forming behind his eyes. I had said my piece: how he was tae workwithFraoch instead of against him, but I dinna truly ken which Lochinvar would do. In the heat of battle he might be unstoppable. This was always a possibility.

And the time for talking was over — we had soldiers alongside, a load of armor carted between us. I was quiet. This felt verra familiar, tae be led tae the arena, and I couldna square the feeling with the idea that this young man would be fighting in my stead.

Had Donnan ever felt a moment of regret for havin’ me kill so many men in his name? He had forced me tae kill brothers, a cousin, an uncle. I glanced at Lochinvar, his eyes up, his jaw set. He had a bounce tae his step. He was energetic, lookin’ forward. I felt heavy and worn beside him.

My fears for Fraoch and for Lochinvar were based in experience, for me these fights were nae a philosophical act — I had lived through them. I knew what it was like tae kill a man while a crowd cheered. It caused a deep psychic and moral disturbance.

Castle guards searched us for unauthorized weapons and then sent us through the tunnels tae the waiting room. We had hours left before the battle would begin.

Trays of snacks and drinks were spread across a table. The soldiers accompanyin’ us partook of some food, but Lochie refused. He faced the door, sitting in a chair sometimes, watching his hand dance with a sword-fight playing in his head, or sometimes standing, bouncing and shifting — his focus never wavering. He said, “Nae, I want tae stay hungry.” He pounded his thighs and shook them out.

Colonel Quentin said, “You want to have calories to burn, though.”

“I will be all right, I am Historic, I am at m’most vicious when I haena been fed.”

Lady Mairead and Hayley arrived and it was nearing time for us tae take our seats.

“Dost ye want me tae stay with ye until the battle begins?”

“Nae,” He bounced from foot tae foot. “Go ahead tae the skybox, I will join ye as soon as I hae handled him.”

I clapped him on the back. “Thank ye, Lochinvar.”

He nodded.

Lady Mairead put a silk scarf printed in the Campbell tartan, in his shirt pocket. “For luck.” She kissed him on the cheek.

We banged on the doors tae signal to the guards that we were ready tae go tae our seats and were escorted down a back hall toward the door of our skybox, Lady Mairead noting as we walked, “Along that corridor is ourroyalskybox, Magnus.”

I ignored her, having other things on m’mind: life and death and friends and enemies.

She continued, “Arna ye incensed that they hae stolen our skybox? I had just had the seats recovered with a fine silk!” She stopped still, her eyes wide. “Dost ye think Agnie has the class tae keep them clean?”

Hayley’s eyes went wide. “Why are you focused on theskyboxat a time like this?”

“Because this, Madame Hayley, is the final insult, and I hae—”

“Well, I’m not listening to any of it, Fraoch is about to fight to the death and...” Hayley took a deep staggering breath. “Stop distracting me. I need to focus.”

“Aye, ye must focus, weallmust focus — Agnie has won, she has taken everything from me: first Donnan, then Hammond, my youth, the kingdom, years of stress, always siding with my enemies against us, and now she means tae drive a blade through Young Lochinvar using the arm of your husband. I haveplentythat I am dealing with.”

Colonel Quentin held the door open for us and we entered the skybox.

All around us, the videos of the crowd were focusing in and out, a hundred thousand faces, a stamping cheering howl that pained m’ears.

Lady Mairead looked wildly around the box. “Och nae, dost ye see this, Magnus?” She wiped a finger along the rail. “There is grime and dirt! We are being treated like the poor relations put up in the worst room.”

I took a seat.

“Ye are going tae sit there, as if all the arses of the kingdom haena sat there before — the unwashed entourages of the losing sides of your challenges... Och! I daena ken if I can...” Her eyes swept across the side windows. “There is a smear, it haena been washed!” She fanned herself and then her eyes focused onto the larger, royal skybox higher up along the wall.

“Agnie is sitting in my skybox!”

I said, “Ye kent she would be.”

“Ye daena ken what I ken and what I daena ken — ye are ridiculous! Akingallowing himself tae be ushered intae a small grimy skybox! Tae sit upon a common chair. I am nae standing for this!”

She yanked the door open on the skybox and left.

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