Page 147 of Long Live the King

The man said, “What ye want?”

“Two drinks, and some food, sire.”

He grumbled as he drew ale intae mugs.

I said, “Tis too cold tae sit inside.”

The man waved his hand at us. “Och, tis warm enough!”

“Even so we will sit outside in the sunlight.”

Fraoch and I both chugged down our ale. I asked for more and passed him a silver coin.

“Tis crucial that we are fed, verra quickly, or I winna be able tae stand.”

“Alright, alright.” The man went tae the back of the room and Fraoch and I went outside tae sit on a bench in front of the tavern, with the sun warming it.

We watched a farmer working on a plot of land before us, and a cart being pulled in the direction of the castle.

The man appeared a few minutes later with bread and cheese and a bit of meat. I paid him three pieces of silver, too much, but I felt verra generous. I stuffed a piece of bread in m’mouth and chewed. He held up a coin, and said, “Long Live the King!”

I blinked and swallowed the bread. “What did ye say?”

“God save him — the king, with a long life.”

Fraoch said, “And this king is...?”

“Mag Mòr?—”

Fraoch leaned forward. “Och, that is right, Mag Mòr, yet dinna I hear he was dead, that another was eying his throne?”

“Nae, he has been away from Stirling, but I haena heard anyone tryin’ tae take the throne.”

Fraoch said, “Och, this is verra good.” He smiled at me, “See Og Maggy, there inna a usurper eyeing Mag Mòr’s throne.”

“Aye, I see.”

Fraoch said, “Tis verra good — pray Mag Mòr will return soon, and set all our minds at ease. In the meantime, I think we will need more ale, it has been a long night.”

The tavern keeper left tae get our drinks.

Fraoch ate a hunk of meat. “This is good news, Og Maggy, if there were a usurper, the tavern keeper would be one tae ken.” He chewed and swallowed. “How’s the chantin’?”

“Still fillin’ my mind.”

“Maybe tis because we are in the shadow of the castle, perhaps when ye get tae the top of the hill twill silence.”

“Again, we can only pray it will.”

CHAPTER 61 - KAITLYN

BALLOCH CASTLE

Zach was running down the corridor as Archie and I were going up to the room to get ready for dinner. “The monitor! Someone is coming, the men, a storm!”

I hugged my arm around Archie, and smiled down at him. “This is good news!”

Zach jogged down the stairs, “Going to tell Quentin!”

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