77. Chapter 77 - Lochinvar

Itook Ash up tae the high walls tae watch the storm, so she would ken what I meant.

We stood side by side looking out over the grass tae the forests in the distance and the bens arranged around our view. She said, "This is such a beautiful place, breathtaking."

"Aye."

"If you had told me, three weeks ago, that I would be standing on a castle wall in Scotland, I would have never believed it." She leaned against the stone. "I really can't go live in Fernandina, can't go to work next week?"

"Nae, not until we solve this."

Then I saw the trees in the direction of the clearing begin to whip around. I pointed. "Dost ye see the storm, beginning tae brew?"

"Oh wow."

A large bank of black storm clouds billowed intae the air.

She grabbed hold of my arm. "Oh no, are they going to be okay?"

"Aye, they are likely gone, they winna notice the storm, and when they awake on the other end twill be wet, possibly, but the storm will hae dissipated. Tis most brutal for the bystanders."

She nodded, but watched with a look of fear on her face.

"I am sorry I showed ye, I thought it might give ye more confidence, and I promised not tae keep things from ye."

"I understand. I'm glad you showed me. It's just daunting to imagine deciding to get in that storm. But I suppose I will have to eventually."

"Aye, we daena hae tae go yet, but we will hae tae tell Don ye are well, and then if ye are willing, tae meet with Magnus."

She smiled, "And your nephews."

"Aye, and even Fraoch, he will miss me greatly while I am away."

She watched me speak. Then said, "You don't think you matter much, but I was watching them, they see you as being important. I definitely don't want to keep you away from your family for long..."

I took her hand.

"What I mean is, thank you for staying behind, giving me a chance to figure this out, learn what is happening. I think I will be able to decide to go soon."

"Take yer time, we will catch up, we hae a time machine. We can stay here for a couple of weeks and arrive there a day behind."

She squinted her eyes. "You could mess with your age, cheat death."

"Ye canna cheat death, ye canna fix it. Tis looping, and we canna loop on ourselves. We can live longer than most, ye see Magnus calls himself thirty years auld but he has lived many years beyond it, some he remembers, some he daena. I call him auld because it bothers him, but tis also true."

The storm had grown violently, but now was folding in on itself, collapsing, and the winds were calming.

I said, "Ye are saying that ye will travel with me when tis time tae go?"

She nodded. "Even though I am afraid."

"Ye daena hae tae be afraid, I will take care of ye."

"Good, I just... I'm not sure what I'm offering to do. Not exactly." Her eyes swept the landscape. "Usually the way I talk myself into doing something is by, asking, ‘Am I necessary?'"

I squeezed her hand, "Ye are verra necessary tae me, and I ought tae go, verra soon."

"You need me?"

"Aye."

"What if I said no, would you stay with me? Would you move back to Florida and live in my tiny apartment with me?"

I thought for a moment. "Aye, if I had tae, I would. Twould be at a cost, but I would, I need higher ceilings though."

She smiled. "Then I will go with you, Lochie. Let's do this thing." She exhaled. "As soon as I let Don and my family know, we will go live in the thirteenth century, something I thought was impossible only last week is now a decision I've made, but the strange thing is that I feel like I made the decision the night you spent the night."

I said, "Aye, we hae been decided since that night. I told ye the thumb oath was important."