Page 116 of The Dawn

We rode at a fast clip, and we were quiet, Archie occasionally wipin’ at his face with his sleeve.

I put my arm around him and tightened my hold tae comfort him. My eyes on Chef Zach’s back, willin’ him tae be a good enough rider while protectin’ his young son from the danger chasing us.

Fraoch drew his horse to a stop. “Och nae, dost ye see it? There is a storm ahead in the field of the park!”

Wallace said, “That is how Asgall travels!”

I said, “Aye, I ken, ye hae seen it?”

“Aye, and he carries terrifyin’ machines with him.”

Zach asked me, “Does that storm carry friends or foes?”

I said, “I assume a foe, but we canna look, we hae tae get the boys tae safety.”

Fraoch said, “I will go check, ye go on tae the castle. Wallace, come with me, twill be yer chance tae prove yer loyalty.”

I said, “Before ye go, we ought tae check if our vessels will work.”

I fished through the saddle bag until I found one of the vessels. It felt dead. I passed it tae Fraoch, he boldly twisted and turned it, mutterin’, “Och nae.”

I brought out the other. He tossed me the first, I tossed him the second. He twisted it as well. “Ours daena work, but how come there are storms, is Asgall able tae travel? Tis much like he is the one who has stranded us.”

I shoved both the vessels intae the bag.

“If ye find him, kill him. Get his vessel.”

Fraoch said, “On it,” as he and Wallace rode away toward the park and the storm.

Cailean took the head of the line, leading us around the park toward the castle. Along the way we caught up with many of m’men who were fleeing Kippen. By the time we came tae Stirling hill, we had about thirty men around us. Twas a relief. There was safety in numbers.

I looked over m’left shoulder tae see in the distance that there was a storm billowing above King’s Park, but then it began tae collapse on itself.

The castle gates were opened and we rode through.

CHAPTER 46 - ASH

BALLOCH CASTLE - SATURDAY AFORE THE DROVERS ARRIVE AT CLEIF - OCTOBER, 1683

Iused the garderobe, then Lochie accompanied me to our room, leaving me there with the maid undressing me, while he returned to the garderobe himself.

The maid left me with my hair undone, wearing a big billowy chemise. My shoes and socks were off for the first time in what felt like days, my bare feet on the stone floor were wonderfully cool, but then too cold. I was shivering, standing on the rug when he returned.

He glanced at me, ran his hand through his hair nervously, and took off his coat. “I canna look at ye too closely, or I will forget tae be civilized.”

I fluffed out the chemise. “Even with all this fabric?”

“Och aye. Look at ye, in m’mind ye are naked under the... dress, tis easy tae tell, tis givin’ me the...”

I laughed. “The what?”

“Ye ken, I canna think, and now ye are smiling. I am barely strong enough tae bear it while I undress.”

He placed his coat on the trunk at the end of the bed, and then he worked on the buttons on his shirt. He worked on loosening his collar, then asked, “Can ye do it, Ashy? M’fingers are large for it.”

I stood in front of him and unbuttoned the two top buttons at his neck, concentrating, which wasn’t easy with his eyes on my face, he was inches away.

He put his arms around me and pulled my hips close, his breathing had grown heavy.

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