12. Chapter 12 - Magnus

CHAPTER 12 - MAGNUS

STIRLING CASTLE - JUNE 17, 1291

I sent men out tae scout for English trespassers and then I held meetings all mornin’. Sean and I met tae talk about the building project. Cailean and I discussed bringing more guards tae the castle, building and maintaining a larger standing army.

My soldiers returned — they hadna found any English, but they found the leavings from an encampment at the base of the ben, near where I had spotted the men yesterday.

The consensus was that the English had left the area already. But we carried on with plans anyway, strengthening the guard, protecting the castle. Anyone leavin’ the gates needed a full guard. Messengers were sent tae the lairds at the borders, and more men were sent tae scout farther out.

Sean, Fraoch, and I met in my office at midday. “Och nae, Sean, I am sorry ye hae arrived in the middle of this — I would prefer tae take ye for a hunt.”

He rubbed his hands together. “This is the kind of excitement a man relishes. King against king? This is stirrin’!”

I laughed. “Tis only stirrin’ ye tae excitement because we arna outmatched.”

“True. I do admire that m’brother is a powerful king.”

“Did ye just say ye admired me, Sean?”

He said, “I admire yer power . Daena get full of yerself, Young Magnus, ye are m’wee weak brother. Everyone can see it.”

I chuckled.

“And because of yer weakness, ye need me, and I daena mind buildin’ yer walls — though I would enjoy ridin’ out over the lands, marveling at an older Scotland. Tae see the power and wealth. The far-flung lands?—”

“Tis my power and wealth! Tis my land!”

He rolled his eyes, and joked, “Alba belongs tae all Scotsmen in their hearts.”

I said, “Och nae, ye will never give me m’due.”

“Never. Tis m’duty as yer elder brother not tae allow ye tae think too highly of yerself.” He drank from a mug of ale.

I said, “What dost ye think, Fraoch, this is the duty of an older brother?”

“Aye, tae kick yer arse, talk down tae ye, put ye in yer place, but all the while protectin’ ye from yer enemies and helpin’ build yer power. Tis a lot tae do, we are selfless. We daena even get tae hunt and fish, we must spend all our time helpin’ our wee brother survive.”

I exhaled. “Och, I feel verra put upon by ye gangin’ up on me.”

They both laughed.

Sean spun his mug. “I am only havin’ fun, Young Magnus, I am impressed with yer power, tis a far cry from the lad kneeling in front of me, beggin’ for m’forgiveness.”

“Ye doled it out quite painfully.”

“Aye, tis as older brothers hae always done. But all teasing aside, I would love tae go on a hunt, tae see with m’own eyes that Alba is yers. But my time is better spent helpin’ ye build yer power than marveling in it. Replacin’ the timber with stone on yer walls is crucial. The English King needs tae see he winna get through yer gates.”

“Tis why ye came?”

“Aye, this is why I came — tae help ye hold yer crown. Might as well be here when the English King threatens ye, tis bound tae be much more interesting?—”

“Ye think Eddie is threatenin’ me?”

He and Fraoch both said, “Aye,” at the same time.

Fraoch said, “Ye canna take Englishmen on yer lands any other way.”

I nodded.

Sean said, “Och, and rudely — he haena given me enough time tae strengthen yer castle first.”

“Aye, he is a craven tallow-faced sack of mold, I hae just begun m’rule and he is sendin’ his men tae trod upon the m’lands and threaten the realm? Och nae, I am feelin’ murderous — did I tell ye I met him at a tournament?”

“Aye, aye... ye won the joust — ye forget Young Magnus, ye hae told me of it numerous times. Ye are always boastin’ on yerself — we might want a bit more humility.”

I chuckled. “‘We might want a bit more humility,’ Yer Majesty .”

He groaned and teased me, “Och, the wee man must be called ‘yer majesty’ or he will feel poorly.”

“Aye, I will feel poorly, like I did the morning I awakened and prepared for the joust. I was already exhausted, havin’ competed in many games already, yet I still beat the champion of the King of England.”

Fraoch shook his head, “Och nae, ye are determined tae tell the story. I was there, I lived it!”

I laughed, leaned back, and continued, “...of course beatin’ the King of England is worth the ridicule of m’brother — twas a proud moment and I will tell the tale of it again and again, the King of England is a be-slubberin’ mule, and we must remind ourselves he can be beaten. I hae done it before, I will do it again. Regardless of the state of m’walls.”

We nodded, but then Fraoch said, “I am certain we will prevail, but the state of the walls is dismal.”

I said, “Aye, all it will take is a catapult and we are beaten.”

Sean scowled. “The only savin’ grace is twill take months tae bring a catapult up that terrain. It buys us time.”

I nodded. “And ye forget that I can bring a catapult by time travel.”

“Och, I dinna think of it — we could go get some fine cannons, though I am not certain if we hae the time.”

I said, “All we hae is time. We can send someone for more weapons, I can send the women and children tae safety. Lochinvar arrives today. Colonel Quentin will arrive day after tomorrow. He will bring weapons and begin tae strategize. Master Cook will lend a hand with the build... there is a great deal tae do, but I need m’men around me afore I plan m’next step.”

“What time will Lochinvar arrive?”

I looked out in the direction of the King’s Park. “Any minute now.”

Sean scoffed, “He is liable tae cause more trouble than he solves.”

“Ye are verra hard on him for someone who caused all the trouble in the world when he was a young man. Ye used tae terrorize the auld men of the castle, especially the ones who stood in yer way, and here ye are, an auld man, standing in a young man’s way.”

He chuckled. “I ought tae kick yer arse for callin’ me auld.”

“‘I ought tae kick yer arse for callin’ me auld,’ Yer Majesty .”

He groaned. “Och nae.”

I laughed. “Besides ye daena hae the strength or the army tae do it.”

Sean said, “Fine, but ye helped me terrorize the auld men. Ye remember when we were working on the walls at Kilchurn? Ye would distract Baldie and I would move his tools a bit tae the left and he kept wondering why they were shifting?—”

“We did it for days.”

“He never caught on until I finally moved them across the room. He was furious, ye remember?

I said, “Aye, his face turned deep crimson, I thought we would hae tae revive him.”

“He was yellin’ that he would tell the Earl tae hae us both whipped!”

I stood and acted it out, “He stamped his foot! Remember how we laughed? And he stamped his foot again!”

I sank back intae my chair.

“He never would tell the Earl on us, he was too fond — he would strike us himself tae keep the larger trouble from our door.”

I said, “Och, I miss that man.”

“I do as well, a good man, the best we could hope for with a mother like Lady Mairead.”

“Tis the truth.”