Page 156 of The Dawn

I put it in my mouth again. “It’s good, stopped bleeding.”

“Good, now we are goin’ tae sit down.”

He shifted his feet around, checking the floor. “Sit behind me, I’m goin’ tae face the door.”

We lowered to the floor at the same time and then I hugged around his back. I kissed his shoulder and nestled my head against the back of it. “Do you think the kids are okay?”

“I think they are verra frightened, but Emma is there, and Hayley. They will take care of them for us, until we return.”

I nodded my head against his shoulder. The tears were coming, welling up. “I am so sorry about Sean, so so sorry, my love.” I held him tighter.

I felt him nod quietly. He lifted my hand and kissed my closest finger. “I ken.”

We sat quietly, until he said, “I canna believe he is gone, he has been the most important man in m’life since I can remember. He was always m’older brother, the one who would look after me. He died tryin’ tae look after me. He wanted tae build m’walls and keep m’son safe, och nae, his sons are goin’ tae miss him. He was goin’ tae be important. I was goin’ tae make him a laird of his own castle, as soon as this was over.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I kissed his shoulder and held on.

He said, “I ken we are in dire straights, and I ought tae be fightin’ our way free, but seein’ m’brother slain in front of me hasknocked me loose from m’moorings. I daena ken how tae do any of this.”

I tightened my grip.

He said, “He was always the head of the castle. He had gained the job well before twas his. He was a better leader than the Earl. He was more skilled than Uncle Baldie. And after Baldie passed, Sean assumed the position of head of the castle. The Earl’s son dinna have a thing tae say on it. He left and went tae Edinburgh, because Sean was the only man the Campbells would follow.”

“And Maggie loved him, he was a good man.”

His hand stroked the back of mine. “Aye, she will be devastated.”

We were quiet as sounds above us went fromungh, ungh, ungh, ungh, to a louduuuunnngggghhhhh.

Magnus said, “Thank God,thatis over.”

We were quiet for a moment until I said, “It was distracting at least, now I’m thirsty.”

“Aye, I hae been imprisoned before, tis the thirst and hunger that will break ye.”

Tears welled up. “Is anyone looking for us, will they find us?”

“Aye, they will find us, once they are looking, and the good news is that they will be lookin’ for us, because he plans tae trade us for something. He will tell Lady Mairead that he has the King and Queen of Riaghalbane and I expect she will find us within about three minutes. She might already ken where we are.”

I nodded. “That makes me feel better.”

He said, “And once they open the door at the top of the steps. I will fight us free.”

“Don’t die, my love.”

“I winna.” He joked, “I canna die, I hae too much revenge tae seek.”

“Plus Jack needs you. He’s barely met us — if something happens to us when he’s one year old, he will never remember.”

“He will remember us in his heart, but I ken what ye mean. It has not been enough, and goes back tae what I was saying, I will kill him for this. Asgall is maggot-food, he just haena realized it yet.”

CHAPTER 58 - KAITLYN

A BROTHEL IN STAUNTON, VIRGINIA - 1775

Ifelt Magnus’s back tense as footsteps crossed the floor above us. There was more light, streaming through a crack in the door. He lumbered to his feet, and moved to the blade. I scrambled up and stood behind him. “You got it?”

“Aye.”

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