Page 58 of Long Live the King

“Tis something else ye ken about me, I say odd things.”

“And you are an orphan.”

“Aye, and m’brother is Magnus. He has many responsibilities and I carry a sword for him.”

“You serve in his military.”

“Aye, tis a better way tae say it.”

“... and you are really close to your brothers and your nieces and nephews.”

“Aye, I am verra fond of m’nieces and nephews. Dost ye want tae see a photo of the new bairn?”

“I’d love to.”

He worked on his phone for a moment until he pulled up a photo and turned it around to show me. “This is Sophie, holdin’ him, we are goin’ tae call him Junior. That is Master James Cook, he’s the father.”

“How is James related to you?”

“He is no relation, but the same clan. He was an old friend of Queen— I mean, Kaitlyn, they were in a relationship, now he carries a sword for Magnus as well. Though, daena tell him I said it, he inna good at the sword, he is far better at building.”

I teased, “I guess building things isalmostas good as sword fighting.”

He said, “They are all necessary. If ye erect great buildings, ye will want tae protect them, ye canna allow yer enemies tae take advantage.”

“And who are these enemies?”

“I daena ken now, we are in a time of relative peace.”

“Good, I’m glad.” I passed him back the phone. “The baby is perfect, I can’t wait to meet him.”

“Aye, I look forward tae when ye meet all the bairns. But enough about me, tell me about yerself, where is yer family? Ye daena live with them?”

“They moved to North Carolina now. They bought a house in the mountains, and rent out the house here that I grew up in,which makes me a little sad. I miss them, but I didn’t want to go with them. I had gotten out of the military and Don offered me a job and I grew up here, you know? I didn’t want to move to a new small town and start over.”

“I’m sorry, tis a difficult choice tae make.”

“Sometimes I wonder if I am just stuck here, for good.”

He shook his head, “Tis unlikely.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What makes you say that?”

“I want tae take ye tae see Scotland, and I generally do what I intend tae do. And tis clear ye intend tae go with me.”

“And it’s clear because...?”

“Because ye are holdin’ my hand.” He smiled.

I said, “I suppose that does sound good. I would like to see Scotland, it sounds really different from what I thought...”

He asked, “Do ye hae any brothers or sisters?”

“No, my family is very small.”

“It sounds lonely, Mistress Ash.”

“I am often alone. My dad used to call me Little Miss Do It Herself. He would give me a task and just leave me alone to get it done.”

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