Page 55 of Long Live the King

“I fight for my brother, when I am asked. And now I hae been asked, I must go away on urgent business — ye winna see me as I will be gone for a time. I wanted tae let ye ken.”

I nodded. “Oh, that makes more sense, but that’s too bad, we were just...”

Don said, “We don’t need you anymore, Ash. Clock out, go home.”

I said, “Would you like to go get something to eat?”

He said, “I would like that verra much, Mistress Ash,” and his low rumbling voice just about made me swoon to the ground.

CHAPTER 21 - ASH

A PIZZA RESTAURANT DOWNTOWN

While we were at the door pulling our raincoats on, I said, “So you said I could pick wherever I wanted?”

“Aye.” He put his arm in his sleeves and pulled the coat on. “Anywhere at all, but... I am not a big fan of beans, all but beans.”

I grinned. “Or fish, right? No beans or fish... They’re easy to avoid, because my favorite is pizza — there’s a place with a nice fireplace right around the corner.” I picked up my umbrella. “We could run?”

“Sounds verra good.”

We opened the door — the rain was a deluge. I said, “Ready?” as I opened the umbrella and we rushed out into the rain.

We ran down the sidewalk as rain came from all directions. He had his arm around me and was ducking under the umbrella and it was bonking us both in the head and not really keeping us dry as slanting rain came at us. We bumped and stumbled together as his sword knocked against my hip. We rushed, laughing, his laughter in his low tones, as he stepped, splashing in a puddle and I squealed, my laughs high and light.

We finally made it to the restaurant and under the awning. I folded the umbrella while he pushed on the door and we blustered into a mostly empty, warm, dry, inviting restaurant.

Everyone looked up as the handsome Scot and the drenched local-chick loudly entered. I apologized as we stifled our laughter, trying to have a measure of decorum. I propped our umbrella by the door and we took off our wet coats and hung them on a hook near the table closest to the hearth. We sat down.

Lochie passed me a menu and we opened them and looked them over, ordering two glasses of wine.

The waitress kept glancing at his sword, but ignored it. But when she returned a moment later with our glasses she said, “I have to ask, the sword is real?”

Lochie said, “Aye, but if I were tae fight I would prefer a broadsword.”

She said, “And the kilt, it’s... a costume? Like Outlander cosplay?”

His brow drew down.

I said, “It’s a real uniform, he’s in the military.”

She said, “Oh cool.” And went back to the kitchen.

We sipped our wine and looked over our menus. Then he lowered his glass. “Mistress Ash, what would be yer favorite pizza?”

I said, “I like all of them, so I’m the worst person to ask, but... you look like you’re a carnivore, you like meat on your pizza?”

“I do, tis the best.”

“Then we’ll get this one, it’s got pepperoni, sausage, bacon, all the things.”

He put down his menu. “We are decided.”

We sat there for a moment, looking at each other, until he broke the silence. “Again, Mistress Ash, I apologize for causin’ ye any upset.”

“It’s okay, I think I was mostly tired. It was late and I couldn’t understand the most basic things: You’re in themilitary. I’m kind of embarrassed. Why did my brain go to like a Roman gladiator or something? I think it was the word ‘duel’, that’s my excuse. I hope you won’t hold it against me, I’m usually much more realistic.” I smiled.

He said, “Mistress Ash, yer smile upon me sets m’mind at ease. That is all I ask.”

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