18. Chapter 18 - Ash

CHAPTER 18 - ASH

THE CLEARING NEAR BALLOCH CASTLE - MAY 29, 1710

W e left the castle at dawn. We needed to return the trailer to the clearing, so I rode on it, claiming that climbing on the horse was too difficult with my arm in a sling. Though as I watched James, Quentin, and Lochie climb on horses I could see that it was easy enough and I kind of felt like a loser in my big dress being pulled in a wagon like a child.

We were surrounded by ten guardsmen and they were watchful and cautious, looking out in all directions as they escorted us.

But we relaxed as we rode. Guardsmen rode ahead and reported back, there was no one around, no one trying to mess with us.

Quentin said, “Got your plan?”

Lochie smiled at me and said, “Aye, we are goin’ tae the Palace Saloon, checkin’ in with Don, a verra quick shopping trip for more diapers for the bairns, a game of GTA on the PlayStation, then come right back afore ye miss me.”

Quentin’s jaw clenched. “GTA? Where do you think this gaming is going to happen?”

“I daena ken, we could go tae the house? A hotel?”

“Lochie, you have no time for that at all.”

“Och aye, I ken, but twould be verra nice.”

“No, you’re in and out. That’s all and no more discussion.”

Lochinvar was quiet as we traveled along the path, then he said, “Twould be good tae practice, I hae one of the high scores?—”

James said, “Lochie, none of the rest of us can practice either, so your high score is safe.”

“Fine, I winna, I just miss it, tis all. And I am only tryin’ tae get a rise out of ye, I daena want tae waste any time. I want tae get tae Stirling castle as soon as possible.”

James said, “Why such a — oh right,” with a laugh.

Lochie glumly said, “Tis crucial we get married so I can think straight.”

I chuckled while looking up at the tree limbs stretching over our path.

Then he asked, “What if Ash and I brought one of the things, ye ken, the flat thing on the wall, the PlayStation would plug intae it?”

Quentin said, “You want to bring a plug for the PlayStation back to medieval times?”

“Aye, ye must admit, the nephews would think I was the best uncle if I did.”

I laughed, sitting in my shifting cart as it rolled down the path behind a big horse. “Now that I listen to you, Lochie, I can’t believe I didn’t realize you were a time traveler.”

Quentin laughed. “You should have met Magnus, he was absolutely clueless.”

James said, “Had never been in a strip club — remember when we took him to buy a Mustang? Can’t believe we didn’t see it.”

I said, “You took him to a strip club and car shopping?”

James said, “Yep, he had been in town for less than a week, had not a bit of paperwork, no drivers license, it was like showing a caveman around. When I look back on it I feel like an idiot.”

Quentin said, “In our defense, time travel doesn’t exist.”

James said, “True that.”

Lochie said, “Ye dinna answer, though, could we bring the flat thing for the walls...?”

James said, “Nope, Lochie, you gotta have electricity to plug it in. Not as simple as bringing the plug.”

Lochie nodded, then said, “Electricity can be made by that... I canna remember what they are called, the chargy things? The black shiny squares on the roof?”

“The solar panels?”

“Aye, if ye brought them, or a water wheel, we could plug in the PlayStation, tis how it works — daena it work that way?”

James said, “Yes, we could charge big batteries, then plug things in — we do plan to, Lochie. We plan to plug in some lights, here and there, to beat back that medieval darkness, but you don’t really want a PS5 in the thirteenth century, it’s just too much.”

Quentin said, “You’d hear it for miles. You don’t realize how quiet it is back here until you roar an ATV to life.”

I said, “You brought ATVs back here?”

Quentin said, “We’ve fought many a battle with ATVs and drones.”

“Ah yes, I met a drone in the thirteenth century. That was craziness.”

Quentin said, “Balloch was attacked by drones, we called it the Battle for the Walls, we basically had an arms race.”

James said, “Also helicopters, tanks, really any weapon, but it has to be able to maneuver the landscape. There aren’t any roads. It’d be a pain in the ass to bring a big ol’ truck, though it would be really freaking cool.”

Quentin said, “Hayley and Katie were pretty effective on the e-bikes at the battle for the Vessels and the Bridge.”

I said, “Whoa, you guys have had a lot of battles.”

James chuckled. “That’s not even the half of them.”

“Aren’t you worried about messing up history by having guns in a battle that should have been fought with spears?”

All three of the men said ‘aye’ or ‘yes’ at the same time.

Quentin said, “We do our damnedest to balance a need to keep history straight, with a need for survival. Sometimes survival reigns supreme.”

James said, “Stay strapped.”

Quentin said, “Yep.”

I said, “I heard Lizbeth mention they were running low on the battery-powered candles, the kind that flicker.”

Quentin said, “Oh good, thanks, I’ll add them to your list. But only if you have time, don’t sweat it if you don’t have time.” He stopped his horse, pulled the notebook from his pocket, and wrote, using the saddle for a surface.

James said, “Hey, Ash, did Quentin tell you about making sure the truck is gassed up after you’re done?”

“He didn’t, but yeah, that makes sense. Where’s the money?”

“Petty cash in the glove compartment, more stashed in the safe. Lochie will know all of that.”

“Got it.”

Lochie said, “Ye daena hae tae think on any of this, Ash, I ken how tae do it.”

I said, “I know, Lochie, I’m just being on your team.”

He nodded. “Good, I am glad ye are, but daena worry, I ken how tae do it.”

In the clearing, Lochie and I stood together, each carrying a bag, each with a weapon. Lochie and I looped our arms. Quentin passed us a vessel from his sporran. Lochie worked the device.

I said, “I hate this. I don’t want to do it.”

Lochie said, “I ken.”

He tightened his hold around my back. I saw the machine twist in his hand. I stepped back and pushed him away. “Wait, hold on.”

Lochie said, “Ash, ye canna let go, if I jump without ye, what would ye do — survive here by yerself?”

James joked, “Quentin and I are literally right over here!”

Quentin said, “That’s not his point.”

I said, “I know. I know. That was dumb, just hold on.” I jiggled from foot to foot, rolled my neck in a circle, swung my uninjured arm.

“Okay, I’m ready— no, wait... hold on.”

I got down into a one-armed plank and started doing push-ups. “One... two...”

James called over from his vantage behind the trees, “Lochie, ye gonna let your girl do one-armed push-ups while you stand there?”

Lochie said, “Nae.” He dropped and started doing them too. I counted two more, it was hard to do with an injured arm. I sat up. Lochie finished twenty push-ups, saying, “Two-hundred seventy two.” Then he jumped to his feet, put out a hand, and heaved me up. “Put yer arm through the crook of m’arm.”

I did as I was told. He put his strong arm around me, and before I had a second to think, he twisted the vessel. Pain shot up my arm, spread through my body, and my brain filled with my own screams.