Page 31 of Promises to Keep

She grinned. “Also, there’s a loch. There’s a stable.”

Magnus asked, “Will there be enough bedrooms? All I want is a bedroom for each of us.”

“It sleeps all of us, look,” she turned the screen, “look at the big timbers. It’s like a big log cabin with bedrooms all over the place.”

“Good.”

“Oh and its address is, get this, you ready?”

We all waited.

She grinned. “It’s on Attitude Adjustment Road.”

We laughed.

Lochinvar said, “What does that mean?”

Fraoch said, “An attitude adjustment is much like a do-over.”

Quentin said, “So that sounds like a plan for almost everyone, but we didn’t mention Lochinvar. What’s he doing, going with us to the compound?”

We all turned to Lochinvar, who was still sitting straight in the chair after being reminded by Fraoch.

Magnus said, “I haena decided what tae do with Lochinvar, yet.”

Lochinvar grinned. “Ye ought tae put me where the sword is needed most, as I am the best in the room.”

Fraoch groaned.

Magnus chuckled. “We ken ye are good with a sword, Lochie, we daena need ye tae remind us at every turn.”

Lochie said, “Ye’re irritated with me, Og Maggy, but ye needed m’sword—”

Magnus said, “Afore ye continue, Og Lochie, and firstly, ye canna call me Og Maggy, only Frookie calls me that.”

Fraoch chuckled.

Magnus continued, “I am Magnus tae ye, or ye might call me Yer Highness, I will answer tae either. The thing tae consider afore ye continue is that I am deliberatin’ where ye will be most useful, ye might think on how ye would survive better in a compound in the middle of nowhere, in the year 2024, with no swords — or would ye like tae go somewhere better?”

“Better,” he said solemnly.

“Good, I am thinking ye can go tae Balloch and stay with Sean, ye would be able tae look after them, he can look after ye. I am sure ye will hae plenty of swordplay there—”

"How would the food be?”

Fraoch said, “Shite.”

Lochie said, “I daena like the sound of that.”

“Good, so ye can see that while I deliberate, ye ought tae shew me some respect.”

“Aye, Magnus,” Lochinvar said, then added, “Please, Yer Highness, where the food is nae shite. I grew up with naething much and I would like tae eat what I want for a—”

Fraoch said, “Careful, Og Lochie, ye will grow soft and then nae one will need ye tae fight as ye will be fat and—”

“Fat as ye, auld man?”

Fraoch said, “Och nae,” he tossed his half-eaten bagel back in the basket. Then he huffed and said, “I daena care what ye think of me, boy, I can still kick yer arse and enjoy a proper bagel.” He pulled his bagel out and ate half with one bite and said, with crumbs flying. “Ye need tae be careful how ye challenge me, a little respect for yer elders, this is all I’m sayin’.”

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