53. Chapter 53 - Lochinvar

Iwas torn between bein' famished and wantin' tae go. A bowl of chowder was put in front of me, I said, "Och nae, it smells so good, I am hungry, and yet, I am ready tae go, ye ready tae go, Fraoch?"

"Ye ken ye ought tae finish yer chowder, ye never ken when ye will get another warm meal."

Magnus said, "We will go as soon as dinner is over, Lochinvar. Ye said ye were hungry, fill up."

"Fine," I ate the chowder, then the poached salmon with two slices of eel pie, wishin' twas peach. Then I ate stewed grouse, followed by custard with brandied cherries on the side.

I leaned back in my chair, patting my full stomach. "Och, I am full, can we go now?"

Fraoch was puttin' a bite of custard in his mouth. "Let a man finish his dessert, Og Lochie, we will go as soon as the meal is over, tis still light outside, we hae plenty of time."

Magnus said, "We hae all the time in the world."

I was impatient. I patted my stomach once more, and decided tae drink from the beer bottle that I had kept beside me at m'place. The lid was one of the ceramic stoppers, held on by a metal wire. I popped it open and swung the stopper off.

Fraoch said, "Ye are goin' tae drink it — how auld dost ye think tis?"

I sniffed it. "Smells good." The scent in my memory, the dream, flashed in my mind. The boiling of hops... It had smelt similar tae this. I took a swig. I grimaced. "It turned."

They all laughed.

John called down, "What did ye say?"

Lady Mairead said, "We are speaking on a family matter."

"Good, good." He asked, "Hae ye been tae Edinburgh lately, Lady Mairead?"

"Nae, but I hae been tae London. I met with Anne, she is embroiled in war, as ye ken. I was asked my advice."

The Earl leaned forward, "Ye met with the Queen?"

"Aye, she was keen tae ken m'opinion on the colonies."

The Earl whispered tae John, "Ye ought tae go hae an audience with the queen, give her my thoughts on the matter."

"Aye, father."

Lady Mairead straightened her back haughtily, having won the conversation. She whispered tae Magnus, "That ought tae hold their attention, so they will leave us alone."

She turned tae me, "Ye ought not pick up odd things and drink it, ye never ken what might hae been placed inside."

My eyes wide I said, "Like what, like poison?"

Magnus said, "There inna poison in it, tis just auld."

Fraoch said, "Aye, I told ye the beer was auld, but ye drank it anyway, and there inna a good hospital for centuries."

Lady Mairead said, "He daena need a hospital, he has a fine constitution. Twill give him the belches, possibly a case of parasites. He will likely survive it."

I said, "Worms?"

Magnus said, "I remember once when Auld Ian-Morgy had the wee-writhing beasties, dost ye remember Sean?"

"Och aye, his stench-emittin' flatulence filled the castle. Lizbeth said if we smelled it the worms might get in our nose."

She shrugged. "Tis true enough, ye ought tae run, nae harm comes from caution."

I was looking from one tae the other then down at the beer.

"I daena want worms."

Fraoch said, "Nae, Og Lochie, use yer brain, the worms would die in the beer, ye daena need tae be concerned. Ye drink it down, yer stomach might pain ye, but ye will grow from the experience."

Kaitlyn said, "My grandmother used to say, you have to eat a peck of dirt before you die."

I looked down intae the neck of the bottle. "Nae dirt." I took another big swig. Stuck my tongue out and smacked my lips. "Och, tis growin' on me."

James said, "Hopefully nothing is growing in you."

"Verra funny." I leaned back in my chair and held the bottle up and admired the label.

Kaitlyn said, "What does the label say?"

I spun it around, there was the image and the words, Tree of Life. I read it aloud. "Tree of Life." In verra small print I read, "Founded in Fortingall." I asked Magnus, "Tis nearby inna it?"

"Aye, just north of the loch, near the auld tree. Could be what the tree is about. We hae a good jump spot there we use sometimes."

I peered at the number below it, "Est. 1296." "Twelve ninety-six? Inna that the date for?—?"

Magnus grabbed the bottle and pointed at the label. "See in the trunk twists? It says, Asgall. 1296 was when Asgall was crowned king."

I grabbed it back and looked, "I daena ken why I dinna see it before."

Quentin said, "So Asgall has a brewery in 1296?"

Fraoch said, "Och nae, that is a verra auld beer."

Kaitlyn whispered, "He's a time traveler. The beer's probably not so many centuries old."

Lady Mairead said, "Probably. Though if ye kept a bottle of beer for five hundred years it might make ye a great deal at auction."

I said, "So I might be drinkin' Asgall's auction beer? Now I will finish it." I chugged a bit then gagged and belched. "It grows worse."

I banged it down on the table, causing a sharp look from the Earl and John at the other end of the table.

And then a vision flashed in m'mind — the scent of hops, a kettle boilin' over a fire. "Och nae." I looked at the label again.

Magnus said, "What is happening?"

"I am seein' where she is — there is a brewery. I can smell it and sense she is there."

"Ye think he is hidin' her in a brewery?"

"Aye, here." I tapped the label on the bottle. "In Fortingall in the year 1296. It has come tae me with certainty, this is where Asgall is hidin' her."

Magnus' brow drew down, then he called down the table. "M'lord, is there currently a brewery at Fortingall?"

The Earl shook his head, "Nae, there once was, but nae more."

I said, "She's there, I ken it."

Fraoch leaned forward. "But how do ye ken?"

"I prayed and waited for an answer, just like ye told me, Fraoch, and now I hae this beer bottle with a place and a year, and I can sense it, the aroma of hops, when I close m'eyes I see the kettles boilin'. Tis because of Ash that the brewery is called Tree of Life, I can see her there, Fraoch, tis clear in m'mind."

Fraoch said, "That is good enough for me." He wiped his mouth with a napkin.

Lady Mairead said, "Tis verra far back, he must hae used theTrailblazer — but, make certain we carry one along in case."

Magnus raised his brow, "This is the royal we, Lady Mairead?"

She smiled, "Aye."

Magnus said, "I doubt we will need tae use it, but I hae mine with me. Did ye bring yers?"

"I dinna bring it, and I winna tell ye where tis, but I can get my hands on it verra easily."

"Alright then, good, if we somehow get stuck make certain ye hae yers ready tae press intae service for our rescue."

I pushed out my chair. "Tis time tae go."

Magnus glanced at Kaitlyn for a moment, then nodded. "Aye." He pushed his chair back and stood.

Fraoch stood up. "Looks like we are goin'." He kissed Hayley goodbye. "Love ye."

"I love you too, safe travels."

"Aye."

Quentin said, "We are still waiting here, Boss?"

Magnus said, "Aye, we will return promptly or ye will be in charge of our rescue."

The Earl said, "What's that ye say, Magnus — ye are leaving in the middle of the meal?"

"Aye, sire, we must attend tae an important matter?—"

"In the night?"

Magnus looked at the window, twas light outside still, and would be for an hour more. "Tis early still, but aye, we must go... my regrets and we will return in four days."

The Earl said, "Well, we winna be here, we are removing tae Edinburgh tomorrow, there are plenty of people here, more than can be accommodated comfortably..." He continued on while Magnus stalked toward the door leading us away.