39. Chapter 39 - Magnus

CHAPTER 39 - MAGNUS

THE FIELD IN KING’S PARK - JUNE 20, 1291

T was the middle of the night and we were headed back tae the field tae send Fraoch, Hayley, and Sean tae Balloch. The rumble of our horses and the shifts and movements of the other riders surrounded me, lulled me almost tae sleep.

Sean pulled his horse beside mine, “Wake up, King.”

I jerked m’self awake. “I am not sleepin’, I never sleep on a horse.”

“Och, when ye were a bairn ye slept all the time on horses. I used tae hae tae pinch ye tae keep ye from slumpin’ off tae the ground — we would ride taegether and I would be blamed if ye fell.”

I chuckled. “Of course ye would be blamed — twould be yer fault, I was younger.”

He said, “Maybe I pinched ye because I wanted tae. I canna remember, twas a long time ago, travelin’ from Balloch tae Kilchurn — dost ye remember, Young Magnus, the name of the horse?”

“Aye, twas Fiadh.” The image of him flashed in m’mind, a verra fine horse. “Ye say he was the regular size of a horse, yet I remember him a giant, large enough tae carry the largest most heroic men across the harsh highlands of Alba. But yet he carried us, wee lads, and seemed proud tae do it. Och, he was fine. I am glad I was livin’ in London when he passed, it might hae broken m’heart.”

“Ye were always soft toward the horses and Fiadh was one of the best.” Sean was quiet then said, “I am sorry I am leavin’ ye, Young Magnus, I ken tis a difficult time...” His voice trailed off. He pulled the horse off the path and slowed tae allow me tae pass.

I said, “Daena worry, Sean, tis not something ye need tae dwell on, I agree with ye, ye hae tae go home, ye must make certain Maggie and yer sons are well. We need tae ken of Lizbeth.” He pulled his horse behind mine.

I added, “If ye daena check on Lizbeth she will hold it against us.”

“Aye, that she will. Tis the whole reason tae do anything, tae keep our good names with Lizbeth.”

We continued on.

We came tae the field and settled around the boulder. They were going tae leave the horses with me, we would need all we had tae move men tae the meeting with Eddie.

They were taking a gun each and some small supplies, but they dinna need much because they were going to Balloch. That castle would hae what they needed, and Liam would meet them in the clearing.

Fraoch said, “I hate leavin’ ye at a time like this, Og Maggy, it goes against m’better judgement.”

“I ken, but we decided already — ye will return on the morrow, without the three day buffer, I will regale ye with stories about my meeting with Eddie in Kippen. I will hardly miss ye, tis only a parley with the English King, he is an arse, but nae match for me.”

Sean said, “I ken ye think high on yerself?—”

I joked, “‘I ken ye think high on yerself, Yer Highness. ’”

He chuckled. “Yer arrogance might be yer undoing. I wish ye would demand tae speak tae him on yer terms, Young Magnus, ye could send a messenger, refuse tae parley until we return.”

Fraoch said, “I agree with Sean. Ye could refuse.”

I said, “Och, this sounds like yer arrogance, not mine. Dost ye think me incompetent tae negotiate on a battlefield? Ye think I need m’older brothers around me for a good outcome? Ye think I might fail!”

Fraoch and Sean looked at each other and nodded.

I scoffed.

Sean joked, “Tis not that we daena trust ye, Young Magnus, tis that we think ye are but a wee lad who needs our wisdom and guidance.”

Fraoch grinned. “Aye, Og Maggy, daena fret over it. We arna insultin’ ye, we just daena think ye can do it without our help.”

I scoffed louder. I said, “Madame Hayley, what dost ye think?”

“I don’t want to get in the middle of it — between my husband and the king and his older brother? Nope. But I will say this, we’ll be back tomorrow. It’ll be more helpful to have us here, and the sooner we go, the sooner we get back.”

I reached in the saddlebag on Dràgon, pulled out a vessel, and passed it tae Fraoch.

He looked down on it while Hayley and Sean drew around him. Hayley slung her bag over her arm.

Fraoch flashed a light beam on the vessel, and asked, “Tis set?”

“Aye, tae Balloch.”

“Are ye certain — it feels odd.”

“I am certain.” I dug through the saddlebag for another vessel. I turned on a small penlight, held it in m’mouth pointed down on the vessel in my hands, looking it over. “This one is set tae Florida, that one is...”

I held the vessel up tae his. “Aye, see, that one is set tae Balloch. I ken it, I set it earlier in the day.”

“Feel it though, it daena hae the heft. It feels dead.”

I felt the one in my hand, it also felt dead. He placed his vessel in my palm, I weighed them both. “They feel the same, but tis not... they daena feel right.”

Hayley poked it, nothin’ changed.

I was tired, and grew exasperated. I shook my head. “Tis fine, tis ready tae go. I am goin’ tae draw the horses over there, then ye will twist it.”

I passed the vessel tae Fraoch and drew the horses tae the side.

I chewed my lip as I watched.

Sean clamped his hand on Fraoch’s elbow, Hayley had her hands around Fraoch’s other arm. Fraoch was looking down on the vessel.

I called across tae them, “Why arna ye goin’?”

Fraoch said, “I daena want tae say?—”

“Why not?”

“Because ye are crossed.”

I huffed. “Why inna it goin’? Ye ken how tae do it? Daena ye ken?”

“Aye.”

“But och nae, nothin’?”

“Nothin’, tis dead.”

Sean said, “What does this mean?”

I stalked across the field tae them, put out m’hand, and throwin’ caution tae the wind, twisted and turned the vessel. It remained idle, without any stir, still and lifeless.

Sean said, “I canna go home?”

Without answering I twisted the other vessel, then I shook my head. “Nae, we are all stuck. This has happened before. It involved Lady Mairead, controllin’ us. But I am certain she wouldna block us from travelin’, tis unsafe tae block a man from his free passage.”

Fraoch said, “As well as bein’ infuriatin’.”

“Aye, tis. I daena like tae set out on a voyage and hae m’vessel break down.”

The sound of horse hooves rumbled, growing closer through the forest. I drew my gun and turned Dràgon tae meet the men as a large group of them came at a fast clip across the field.

Sean tensely asked, “Who is it?”

I watched for a moment, then relieved, answered, “My soldiers, I sent them tae scout.”

The leader pulled up in front of me. “Yer Majesty, we are returnin’ from Kippen.”

I asked, “What did ye find?”

“Their encampment, they hae raised a tent for yer parley with Longshanks.”

“How many men?”

A different soldier said, “I counted fifty.”

Sean said, “Young Magnus, ye will need tae take seventy-five.”

I said, “That is a great many men tae peacefully negotiate.”

The men said, “Aye.”

I said, “Return and keep watch, report tae me if ye see him gainin’ more troops.”

The soldier turned his horse tae his men and began directing them, while I said tae Fraoch and Sean. “We need tae return tae the castle, prepare for the meeting.”

Fraoch said, “That is the one fortunate part of this, Sean and I will be here for the parley.”

Sean said, “Aye, at least there is one good thing…”

We crossed the damp field, cool in the darkness.

Fraoch said, “Och, we are goin’ tae be doused with rain, the weather is turning.”

Sean said, “Change is upon us.”

I had been quiet.

Fraoch said, “What ye thinkin’ on, Og Maggy?”

I chuckled. “I think I fell asleep again.”

Sean laughed.

I ran my hand up and down on my face, tryin’ tae reinvigorate m’self.

Fraoch said, “Maybe the vessel not workin’ was by chance?—”

I said, gruffly, “Two vessels.”

Fraoch said, “‘Two vessels’ not workin’ was by chance, maybe . I will try it again in a few hours, perhaps twill start workin’ again.”

I said, “By chance.”

Fraoch said, “Och, ye are in a mood. I am sayin’ we need tae keep checkin’.”

Hayley said, “Man, I hope everyone is okay.”

Fraoch said, “Aye, we are the rescuers and we are stuck, I hope someone is out there preparin’ tae rescue us.”

The thing that kept turnin’ in m’mind is that somehow I had lost m’upper hand.