Page 36 of Promises to Keep

It was one of the main reasons I had Magnus go to the store, so he could have the fun errand for once: to dote on his nieces and nephews, to be proud of delivering treats to his brother and sister.

I held on around Magnus’s arm, tucked my head against his shoulder, while Lochinvar held onto his other. Magnus and I had the gold threads on the back of our heads, but even so... I braced—

CHAPTER 22 - KAITLYN

Iwoke up first down in the dirt. I mumbled, “Ugh, it never gets easier.”

I rubbed my eyes, and realized Magnus was sitting up, arms easy around his knees, talking casually to...

I lifted my head—

Sean was on a horse. He laughed. “How often do I find ye in the dirt, Madame Kaitlyn? Ye ought tae make yer husband care for yer traveling better. He ought tae see tae yer bein’ in a proper carriage instead of lyin’ in the muck of the forest floor.”

I grumbled, “I keep telling him that.”

Sean continued, “If I dinna ken any better I would think there was somethin’ afoot as I see a storm, so many storms around here, and then people waking up in the dirt under them — tis a magical thing I think.”

Magnus groaned. “Ye ken — ye ken what is happening. I told ye long ago, yet here ye are, once again, demandin’ the proof of it again.”

“I ken ye told me, but here ye are once more, and I think there must be more tae it, beyond travelin’ back and forth tae yer kingdom. By the air! How are ye tae be flyin’ through the air? Ye daena hae wings! And I hae always wanted tae ken, how dost ye create the storms? Tis yer flatulence?”

Magnus groaned.

Sean laughed. “However it happens, I wouldna choose it, brother, ye are always makin’ life difficult for yourself.”

Magnus said, “I do wish I was better at makin’ my life easy, like ye do, brother, with yer horse, while I am here on the ground without a horse.”

“Ye ought tae travel with a horse! Or one of the, as Black MacMagnus used tae call it, aytuvees. How come ye dinna bring an aytuvee?”

His horse stamped.

“Because I am out of my mind.”

“Ye hae brought a stranger with ye, pink as a young muc, down in the mud.”

I turned to look and there was Lochinvar, groaning. He said, “Och nae, I daena like it.”

Magnus climbed to his feet. “Sean Campbell this is m’brother through Donnan, Lochinvar. Lochinvar this is m’brother through Lady Mairead, Sean.”

“Pleasure tae meet ye, lad Lochie, we are brothers then.”

I said, “Not sure that’s how it works.”

Magnus said, “Ye ken, Kaitlyn, a brother of Magnus is a brother of Sean in any land.” He added, “I think ye will get on well taegether, Sean, Lochinvar is a fine warrior, willin’ tae battle with sword in an arena or with axe in a hedgerow with equal dexterity.”

“He daena look like much.”

Magnus said, “He saved m’life in battle, he is enough.” Magnus nudged Lochinvar with his foot.

Lochinvar groaned and slowly rose to his feet. “Thank ye, auld man.”

Magnus laughed. “I’m standing straight and ye are still whinin’ like a bairn. Who’s the one who ought tae be insultin’ the other?”

“Tis a fair question.” Lochinvar cracked his back and groaned happily. “Hopefully I winna need tae save yer life for a time, ye are on yer own while I recover from the travels.”

Magnus laughed. “Weak as a bairn.”

Sean said, “Ye hae a lot of gear with ye?”

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