Page 47 of Promises to Keep

Craigh lowered his sword.

Lochie yelled, “Are ye afraid, auld man?”

Magnus said, “His name is Craigh, and he is nae afraid, he is bein’ sensible. Are ye going tae shed blood in the middle of the Earl’s courtyard, Lochie? This is where ye are tae live! Ye canna wage a drunken battle in—”

Lochie’s face was blood red, overheating in anger. Spittal flew from his lips as he spluttered, “He started it!”

Craigh raised his sword again. “I am goin’ tae finish it!”

The crowd began to chant, “Craigh! Craigh! Kill young Lochie!”

I was wringing my hands, the crowd wanted to see someone hurt and my husband was in the middle of it.

Magnus bellowed, “Craigh, stand down —everyone stop!” He took a step toward Lochie. “Young Lochie, ye need tae put down yer weapon, ye are going tae draw blood in the Earl’s house and ye winna be able tae stay—”

From the portico above us the Earl called down, “Sean, is that Young Magnus, is he causin’ trouble again?”

Sean glanced up. “Nae, sire, ye may return tae yer rooms. I will handle it.”

“Tis disorderly, and I winna stand for it. Ye tell the men tae put down their weapons. Tell Young Magnus that there will be nae fighting in my courtyard.”

Sean said, “Aye, sire.”

I saw Magnus shake his head.

The Earl left the rail and Magnus called to Lochinvar. “See what happened, Lochie? Ye are causin’ trouble for me! Ye want tae cause trouble?”

“Nae, I want tae prove tae—”

Magnus took two steps forward. “Ye daena need tae prove anythin’ tae anyone, I ken ye can kill with yer sword. I hae seen ye fight. I ken ye would kill any man here.”

Men began shouting that Lochinvar wouldn’t win a fight against them, but Magnus just waved his hands.

He said, “I also ken ye are goin’ tae live here at Balloch — how are ye goin’ tae do it if ye hae killed Craigh? He is a good man. Ye canna let him upset ye because he has called ye a pink bawbag. He has regularly called me a disgustin’ carbuncle and I haena killed him.”

Lochinvar kept his eyes trained on Craigh but the edge of his mouth went up. “Ye haena killed him because ye arna skilled enough tae kill him.”

The crowd laughed.

Magnus chuckled. “Och, Lochie, ye are a huge pain in m’arse. I need ye tae drop yer weapon. All these men saw ye were willin’ tae duel, there are only two things that will come of this, either ye will kill Craigh and then ye will be hung, and there winna be anything I can do tae stop it. Or Craigh will kill ye, and nae because he wants tae, but tae protect himself from yer brawlin’. These are poor reasons tae die or tae kill, I tell ye, ye ought tae hae more sense.”

Magnus took another step closer. “I hae told them that ye are a champion at drawin’ yer blade. I hae warned the crowd that ye are a dangerous swordsman, haena I?”

Lochinvar said, “Aye.”

“So why daena ye drop yer weapon and—”

“They are laughin’ at me!”

“Nae, Lochie…” Magnus took another couple of steps. “Ye remember yer favorite singer?”

“The candyman?”

“Aye, ye ken how he says ye hae tae ‘lose yerself’? Ye hae tae lose yer pride, Lochie, ye only hae one moment, right? Ye only get one shot, ye ken?”

Lochie nodded and lowered his sword. “I do like that song verra much.”

“I ken. Ye are surrounded by a new family. Ye hae Sean tae be a brother tae ye, tae look after ye. Sean, would ye look after Lochie, make sure he inna goin’ tae ruin his opportunity of a lifetime?”

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