Page 48 of Long Live the King

I sighed.

“Tis useless? I hae ruined m’chances?” He dropped his head back. “I will move back tae Dunscaith Castle and marry a farmer’s lass, she will be dim but she winna hae many thoughts on me. I can tell her what to do.”

Now it was my turn to groan. “There have been so many terrible thoughts on women here tonight, I can’t bear another word of it. You’re all monsters.”

Magnus said, “But ye love me.”

“True, I do, even with all your old fashioned notions, and it is not as dire as all that, Lochie. You don’t have to live in a hovel in the sixteenth century.”

Fraoch said, “I hae done it, tis terrible, Og Lochie, ye daena want it.”

“I ken, it sounds terrible, but perhaps tis all I hae open tae me. I ought tae give up the time travel, move tae a long ago time, and find a maiden and live a simple life.”

Magnus said, “Ye think ye ought tae give up bein’ m’brother, the brother of the king? I daena think ye get tae decide it, Lochinvar, for better or worse, tis yer role.”

“I lent ye m’sword and now ye winna allow me tae leave?”

“Ye dinna lend me yer sword, ye owed it tae me because I saved yer life and ye saved m’throne, and ye spared Fraoch and we are brothers. Tis not that I winna allow ye tae leave, tis that ye canna, ye must stay. Ye need us and ye are needed.”

“Tis a terrible thing tae be such a great warrior. This is a verra dangerous life tae bring a bonny lass like Mistress Ash intae.”

Magnus said, “Ye ken, Lochinvar, all of life is dangerous, tis all a trial and tribulation, and ye hae one purpose, tae honor God by livin’ yer life well. Ye must love yer family, care for the bairns, protect yer hearth and home. This is yer life.”

I nodded. “Our lives are very dangerous, and although it has calmed a great deal from the last evil turns of time, I am still on edge. But humans always have dangerous lives: they explore,they travel, they compete, and far too often they go to war. You are doing a disservice to decide for her that she can’t handle it. She’s brave. If you like her, she might like you, too. She deserves to decide for herself.”

Magnus slapped his hands down on his thighs, “Tis verra verra late…”

I said, “Are you going to be okay, Lochie?”

“Aye, I will stay up for a wee bit longer, I will take the first watch.”

Fraoch said, “We hae guards for that now.”

“Aye, but I canna grow used tae it.”

We all said goodnight and left Lochie alone on the porch staring out at the diminishing rain.

CHAPTER 17 - KAITLYN

THE KITCHEN

The following morning, I came downstairs for breakfast carrying Jack in a sling. He had woken up as soon as I had hit the bed last night and needed me desperately so I had brought him to our room.

Magnus, Fraoch and Lochie were animatedly talking around the kitchen island with mugs of coffee in hand. I said, “Good morning!”

Jack started leaning out trying to get a spoon off the counter. Then he tried to get a dishtowel. Then he wanted a mug. I handed it to him, and he swung it almost hitting me in the face. I passed him the spoon. He threw it down, then he wanted the salt shaker. I passed him the candlestick.

Zach said, “It’s crystal!”

I pouted. “I don’t know what else to do! I’ve been up for ten minutes and I’m already at my wits end.”

Fraoch said, “He just wants his Uncle Frookie, tis clear.” He put his hands over his eyes and then drew them away. “Keeky-bo!”

Jack giggled.

Fraoch ducked behind the counter, then hid behind the door, saying, “Keeky-bo!”

Jack laughed and laughed and reached out for Uncle Frookie who drew him into his arms with much more patience than I had that morning.

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