Page 148 of Long Live the King

Archie and I got Jack and Isla from the nursery and followed him down, making it to the courtyard as Quentin, Liam, and Sean were riding horses out the gate headed towards the clearing.

I said, “Well, this is great, want to wait here until they come?”

He nodded and sat back down on our bench, putting the book down beside him for the first time in days.

My ass was worn from sitting so long. I refused to do it any longer.

I paced around, carrying Jack, talking to him, smiling at Archie and Isla, remembering now that it would take a while, more than an hour at least.

Ben came and met us and he and Archie surprised me by deciding to go up on the wall to watch out for Magnus, Fraoch, and Lochie, and hopefully Ash, as they returned to the castle.

Jack and Isla and I waited near the door, Hayley coming to keep me company.

CHAPTER 62 - LOCHINVAR

THE CLEARING NEAR BALLOCH CASTLE

Wake up, wake up, ye hae Ash with ye, ye must wake up.I woke with a start, I had tae get up, she would be frightened. I was lyin’ beside her m’leg thrown over her hips. I pulled my leg off, she moaned. I forced m’self up and kneeled beside her “Ash, wake up, ye ken tis me, Lochie, I am so sorry, ye must wake up.”

I placed my hands on both sides of her face. “Mistress Ash, please, please wake up.”

Her eyes fluttered, then opened and focused on me, then her mouth drew down. “Owie owie, owie, Lochie, it hurts.”

“I ken it does, Mistress Ash, I am so sorry. I ken.”

She grabbed her left arm. “I dislocated my shoulder!” Tears spilled from her eyes. “I didn’t want to do it — I told you I didn’t want to. It hurts everywhere.”

I said, “Someone will be here for us in just a minute, all will be well.”

She became aware of our surroundings, looking all around at the trees. “We’re surrounded by woods — what woods are these? Where are we?”

“We are in Scotland, Ash, at Balloch castle, the home of the Earl of Breadalbane.”

She looked directly at me, “What year?”

“The year of our Lord, 1710.”

Horses were coming up the path.

I scrambled up and stood over her, with my hand on my gun and waited.

Twas Quentin, Sean, and Liam.

Quentin said, “Dammit, Lochie, where’s Magnus, is he okay?”

I said, “He’s good, Fraoch is good, they helped me get Ash.”

“Why the hell didn’t they come back with you?”

“Magnus thought he could solve everything by taking his throne once more.”

Sean said, “Andwhydo you have their horses?”

I shook my head, “I daena ken... I think... Magnus said they might hae tae use the Trailblazer, but I canna remember the details. We were bein’ chased. They tossed the reins at me and told me tae jump.”

“So you don’treallyknow where they are?”

“The last thing we talked about was his throne, I am certain they are returnin’ tae...” I glanced at Ash, she had gone pale. “More pressin’, Ash is injured.”

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