Page 101 of Long Live the King

Fraoch said, “Take a pew for a moment, I want tae speak tae ye.”

I sat down in a pew and he heaved himself intae the seat beside me.

“Ye look like a man who needs tae calm his mind, ye hae a battle ahead.”

“I need tae ride intae battle, not sit in a church because ye told me tae.”

He exhaled. “Where is the battle, Og Lochie? Ye ken where ye are headed?”

I shook my head. “Nae.”

He nodded. “Without a plan ye are likely tae lose yer life, ye must think afore ye act.”

I glared, lookin’ forward at the altar.

He seemed tae be choosin’ his words. “I wanted tae speak tae ye alone, because Og Maggy inna goin’ tae advise ye well on this, he is prone tae ridin’ intae battle, riskin’ his life without careful reflection first.”

“He is right. What doyeken?”

“Not much, but I ken the world is wide and time is long, like a loch it stretches before us, and the man ye want, he is a fish, he is holdin’ yer maiden somewhere in the loch?—”

I chuckled. “Och nae, ye are goin’ tae tell a man a story about fishin’ tae keep him distracted from battlin’?”

“Aye, and ye must wheesht because we are in a house of God and tis better tae speak on fish than war.”

I nodded.

He continued, “So if ye are looking out over a loch and tryin’ tae find one single, solitary fish what are ye goin’ tae do?”

“I assume ye are goin’ tae say tae clear m’mind and wait, but it would work tae detonate a bomb in it, I think.”

He smiled. “But then where is the maiden?”

“She is nae more.”

He clapped his hand on my shoulder. “Clear yer mind and pray, Og Lochie, ask God tae help ye find the path tae her. Then we will ride intae battle at yer side.”

So I got down on m’knees and I pled for guidance in findin’ Ash. I told God she was lost and that I was goin’ tae rescue her, but that I needed his assistance and then I asked him tae offer her comfort, tae assuage her fears, and near the end, my brow sweatin’, I repeated,I am comin’, daena worry, I am comin’. I will find ye, daena fear...

Amen.

Then I stood and walked down the aisle toward the doors, Fraoch met me there. “Feel better?”

“Aye, I do, thank ye. I will pack and dress and then I will come up with a plan, and then I will go.”

He said, “Aye, let me pack m’things, I am goin’ as well.”

CHAPTER 42 - ASH

Istood, brushed off my knees and shook out my legs. I was still lost, but I had found some clarity.

I knew there were two options: One, if you can escape safely, escape.

I had escaped, but this wasn’t safe.

I had no food, no phone, and no idea which direction to travel. The woods looked endless. There was a large lake in the distance. I could be walking for days before I came to civilization.

The second option was to stay put and try to survive until rescuers found you.

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