Page 88 of Promises to Keep

I put down the bow to watch him.

He grabbed a second, cocked his arm back and released it. The hammer flew down the field and struck right in the center, leaving a large divet.

He put up a second finger. “Two.”

He returned to the truck, grabbed a third hammer, remained there, farther away, swung his arm back, and let it fly, striking the direct center. The blow cracked the target, leaving half dangling off. He grinned and said, “Three.”

We all cheered.

Lochinvar said, “We all ken now not tae challenge the auld man tae a hammer fight.”

“This Og Lochie, is verra true.”

James said, “And this is why we don’t let Fraoch near the tool box.”

Fraoch rotated his arm, “Tis all from casting m’fishing line.”

Quentin said, “You learned to throw a hammer like that from fishing? That seems unlikely.”

Fraoch laughed. “Tis part of m’mythology. And the hammer skill is m’hidden talent, I wouldna want tae fight with a hammer man-tae-man, give me a sword, any day, but, like Kaitlyn, if I hae an adversary at a distance, they are dead.”

Quentin gave us a pep-talk standing at the edge of the field after the competition. “We were pretty relaxed up in Maine, but now we know there is a threat, it has captured Lady Mairead, and it turned Hammond into a traitor. We can’t ignore it. We are safe, but we need guards, we need to take our security seriously, and we need to practice our protection.”

James said, “Again.”

Quentin said, “Yep, again.”

Lochie said, “How many vessels are there?”

Magnus said, “There are about twenty-six, by last count.”

“How many do you have in your possession?”

“We have about six, here, there are more in the kingdom. We hae lost track.”

Lochie said, “I think the losin’ track might be an issue.”

Fraoch nodded. “Never thought I’d say this but I agree with the new guy.”

Magnus looked down at the dirt and grass under his feet and kicked some away thinking. “I had a strong safe in the kingdom and a secure guard, but without Hammond it has become verra dangerous. I daena ken what state the kingdom is in, or who is in charge.” He looked around. “So aye, I agree, the safe in the kingdom is nae the best most secure place.”

James said, “Well, we’re in a fortress at the end of a dirt road in the middle of New York, in the middle of nowhere.”

Quentin said, “There is a Walmart a twenty-minute drive away, it’s less secure than you think.”

Magnus said, “And tis built of wood, tis not verra secure, a stiff wind could blow it down.”

Fraoch said, “We hae a sayin’ back home, ye canna control the wind, ye can only control the sail—”

Magnus said, “What does that mean in this instance?”

“We may not ever hae a fortress strong or hidden enough, we ought tae be more adaptable, like a sail...”

Hayley said, “You think we should concentrate on the wind?”

Fraoch said, “Nae, not the wind, on yer boat, tis yer sail ye think on, the way ye prioritize.”

Magnus said, “Aye, I think I understand what ye mean, we must batten our hatches, by that tae mean we hae a safe place here. Then we need tae reef the sail, tae do that we must go rescue Lady Mairead.”

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