Page 104 of Long Live the King

If I collected bread tomorrow, the following day I would be ready to leave.

Another night passed. When I woke up the wind had calmed, so I explored the compound, looking inside the different buildings and stalls, getting the lay of the space. I left the spike leaned against a fence to climb up a ladder leaning against the outer wall and looked out over the landscape. I was going to go west. I peered out in that direction, my eyes following the path as far as I could see. There had to be a town out there.

A police department.

In the meantime I wanted a bag to take my food with me when I left. I climbed down the ladder, picked up the spike again, and began exploring the different buildings searching for gear. I found a long building, low and thatched, with a large fire going, smoke billowing up from the chimney. The interior was dimly lit, and smelled of earth and grains and yeast and smoke — casks were settled around, and a couple of vats. Big kettles boiled over a fire. It smelled like ale. Along the wall was a pile of empty cloth sacks.

There were about seven men inside, working. They paused when I entered, and bowed, deeply. I gestured for them to go back to work then went over and made myself at home, picking through the sacks, checking them for rips. I found one that had a rope that would work for a shoulder strap.

While I was busy at this, one of the men brought me a stool and another brought me a mug full of ale. So, I held my new sack on my lap, holding my spike in one hand, drinking the ale, while watching them work.

Why was I here in a compound with a brewery? Who was holding me?

It had been days.

No one was coming, it was apparent I would have to escape. But not today, today was already growing long. I would put my collected bread in the sack. I had my spike, no one had taken it from me. Tomorrow I could hike out of here.

Heading west at the fork. That was what I would do.

I left the brewery to walk around the compound, counting: there were two large buildings, and about fifteen small buildings, including the one I was being held in. It seemed like there were ten guardsmen, but I glanced in a door and saw bunks inside, with men on them, so there might be double the number. I found a kitchen and counted four people inside. Ilooked in all the rooms I could access looking for an address, a map, or any weapons.

A boy was raking hay in the stable. There were women bustling by carrying full baskets. I stepped into a large room where about ten people were sitting at tables. They all turned, went quiet, bobbed their heads.

A really weird thing was that I couldn’t find anything written down. No letters, no signs, no notes. I guessed there were about seventy people living here, and not one book. No one spoke a bit of English. And they all oddly hushed and bowed their heads when I entered rooms. I needed explanations, I needed anyone to understand one word of English.

The two young women were at the chicken coops, laughing. The sound of laughter was a relief.

One offered me a stool and I sat and watched them feed and chase chickens, laughing and talking about things, looking as timeless and ordinary as women through history. But then a deep melancholy grew in me and I stood and returned to my room to sit by myself in despair.

CHAPTER 43 - KAITLYN

THE KING’S APARTMENT - RIAGHALBANE

We were in our apartment. I stood in the middle looking around, it had been months since I had visited but it hadn’t changed at all.

I said, “Wow, that is a lot to think about, huh?”

“Aye,” Magnus looked down at a pen in his hand, then tossed it on the table near the door. “Tis remindin’ me of when I lost ye in the past and had tae find ye.”

“Which time?”

He chuckled sadly. “I tried tae warn Lochinvar, that the way forward with a wife is tae always be frantically trying to keep her safe.”

“But he wouldn’t listen?”

“Aye, he wouldna listen.”

“Would you have listened?”

“Never. I wouldna hae changed a thing.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought you’d say.” I tilted my head, “Why did Fraoch take him to the chapel?”

“Because we are about tae ride intae battle and though tis m’nature tae raise m’sword, it might not be what is called for in this instance. We must find her, Fraoch is likely urgin’ Lochinvar tae think it through and pray first.” He exhaled. “Fraoch is wisein this. And while Lochinvar is in the chapel I wanted tae take a breath, tae ask if ye are well, mo reul-iuil, were ye frightened?”

I nodded. “Can we sit on the couch?”

He sat down and pushed the coffee table away. I climbed onto his lap, sitting astride, my arms tucked in, he wrapped his arms around me. I pressed my cheek to his shoulder. “This is what I needed, thank you...”

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