33. Chapter 33 - Magnus

Lochinvar sat on a chair across from me and sighed. He looked tense, leaned forward on his knees.

I said, "What are ye upset about? I just wanted tae discuss something."

"If this is more lecturin' I daena want tae hear it. All ye auld men hae done is lecture me: I am too young tae ken what I am doin', I am too dim tae understand Ash, I am too ancient tae ken how she thinks. I hae become weary of it."

I nodded. "Aye, ye are correct Lochinvar, there has been a great deal of it. I balk at ye callin' me auld, I feel certain I am just past thirty, but how can I keep track? There is nae way tae ken, and in what truly matters, my experience, ye are correct, I might as well be as auld as the hills. I hae lived many lifetimes."

"Daena mean ye ken all there is, ye arna always right."

"Tis true, and a bit of humility would do me good. On the other hand, I am a king, sometimes king's get tae lecture." I tapped the document case beside me, "Sometimes kings must give speeches their mother has written for them."

"So ye lecture me because yer mother lectures ye?"

"Aye, but this is an excuse, I am chagrined by yer accusation. We, the family, just want ye tae do well, we want ye tae win the lass, because we like ye, we want the best for ye."

"I ken. I am simply weary of it. And I tell ye, she is mine, I am nae wrong on it."

"Good." I leaned forward and opened and closed m'mouth.

He chuckled. "Out with it, I am listening."

"I just want… ye ken, this life is verra dangerous. The path ahead of ye is one of violence and war, ye are m'sword, ye hae already risked yer life for m'crown, ye… ye hae pledged that ye will help maintain my throne. There is a life of uncertainty ahead of ye. And taking a wife might keep ye warm at night, but ye will hae tae consider her safety. Ye will be pulled in many different ways, tryin' tae live up tae m'demands, while keepin' her safe… I hae been there, for long years I was m'mother's sword, then m'father's champion, and all the while I wanted tae keep Kaitlyn safe. Twas verra difficult, but I was driven because twas m'own throne, I had tae win it for m'son." I shook my head. "Takin' a wife, ye will likely hae sons, sons who ye will want tae protect, a wife ye will want tae keep safe, all while fightin' alongside me for my throne. I am simply wondering if ye hae thought it through?"

He nodded, quietly. "Aye, Magnus, I hae thought it through. I am yer brother, I…"

I said, "Tis often brothers who are the most dangerous tae a crown. Especially brothers who hae a family, who see themselves as worthy, who are capable of violence tae gain it."

"Ye are describin' a man verra different from m'self, Magnus."

"It seems so, but ye haena met yer son yet."

"Aye, but I hae met ye, Magnus, I hae fought alongside ye. I hae seen how heavy the crown sits, ye are auld, I am young, and?—"

I chuckled again. "I believe there is a decade between us, perhaps less, ye make me sound ancient."

He teased, "Tis yer experience. I hae seen the gravity of yer throne, and I worry about Archie growin' tae become a man who will be king — he will hae tae fight in the arena? Would Ben be his sword?" He scoffed. "Ye are right, I haena met m'son yet, but I daena want him tae be a king in this world. Not if he must fight for it, but I am not selfless, I ken that Fraoch has chosen not tae hae sons. He has pledged his allegiance and daena want tae bring sons intae it?—"

"Tis not the only reason; he lost a son, now he and Hayley hae chosen tae go without. But aye, brothers and nephews are a threat. Ye ken, it has always been that way."

His hands were folded between his knees. "But tis not my way, Magnus, ye ken this. Ye hae brought me intae yer family, I hold a sword for ye, but I ken ye would draw yer sword for me as well. I ken if I hae sons they would carry the bloodline of Donnan, but Donnan picked ye tae follow his line, and yer bloodline also carries the blood of Lady Mairead?—"

"She is a formidable champion."

"Aye, if I decided tae claim yer throne who would I hae in my corner?"

"That daena assuage my concerns or set my mind at ease, Lochinvar, ye might make alliances."

"But tae what end?" He shook his head. "Ye hae given me a home and a family for the first time in m'life, and until all the lecturin' this week, ye hae given me respect, and because ye arna verra good at fightin' in the arena, I get tae be a hero as well."

I laughed.

He said, "I will hae ten sons, we will give them the titles of dukes, they will be rich and hae power, yet they winna need tae fight tae keep their throne. They will be raised alongside Archie and Jack, they will think of them as brothers, they winna want tae usurp him. We are a clan and we will fight taegether tae keep the throne safe."

I said, "It's just that history shows, brothers may decide on treachery."

"History is also full of brothers who hae fought alongside each other for common goals, ye forget this because uncles and cousins hae fought ye, but treachery is the aberration, not the norm." He shrugged. "Ye are greatly overthinkin' the fact that I hae taken a wife."

"But that brings me around tae the beginning part, keepin' her safe is likely tae break yer spirit."

"Aye, I ken, but what good is a spirit that inna tied tae earthly love, Magnus? I deserve the warm bed, I will take the heartache in trade for a slice of her pie."

I laughed. And said, "Good, and I will do all I can tae help ye as ye keep her safe by yer side."

He said, "So how much of the speech hae ye memorized?"

"Near none. I ought tae get tae it."

He left tae go tae his rooms.