I said, “Lady Mairead is going to try and figure it out. She’s going to go rescue them.”
We all stood and looked down at the ground.
Quentin said, “And we trust her, why?”
I said, “If she wants Magnus to survive, she’s the only one who can.”
Quentin said, “I do not like that she’s our only hope.”
Fifty-nine - Hayley
Fraoch called me to his makeshift hospital bed.
I went over and held his hand. “That was so scary. Are you okay?”
“Nae, but I will be. Tis naethin’ but a beatin’.” He chuckled and then moaned and gingerly held his ribs. “Dost I look pretty?”
“You look awful, frankly, your beautiful face.”
“I will grow a longer beard tae distract from m’injuries.” He chuckled again.
I said, “I think your painkillers are working.”
“I feel verra drunk.” He reached up and patted my cheek. “Ye are a bonnie lass, would ye like tae bed me?”
“No sir, I might break you more.”
“Och, I am too verra strong tae break.” He waved a hand to accentuate the thought and winced. “Och, I might be too broken tae bed ye properly.”
He picked up the edge of the sheet and glanced down. “I daena ken if my winglygibbon made it through, I canna feel it.”
“It all made it through, you’re just drugged up, and thankfully numb.” I clutched his hand to my cheek. “I thought he was going to kill you.”
“I did as well, m’bhean ghlan.”
“I will never forgive him.”
“Och, ye canna hold it against him.”
I looked at him incredulously. “Of course I can! Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because he was in the midst of battle, m’bhean ghlan.”
“Well, fine, you can forgive him if you want, but I won’t, not ever. And frankly I think you should listen to me. Forgiving someone who held a gun to you, threatening to murder you, is not okay.”
Fraoch said, “Nae, m’bhean ghlan, I think ye should listen tae me on it. Og Maggy had gone intae intae the darkness of battle. Tis nae easy tae pull yerself from it once ye hae descended intae it.” I watched his expression as he spoke, he was earnest. “And tis harder for Magnus than most. Daena tell him I said this, he is verra good at killin’. He has been trained tae it and driven tae it. He has been made tae take lives and has tae descend intae that darkness verra often. I think sometimes for a man there is a path tae it and Og Maggy’s path is more direct than most. He was killin’ tae protect himself, tae protect his family, and while he was killin’ he was told that I was the greatest threat tae them all. I am surprised tae be alive.”
“That means he’s dangerous, he’s—”
“Nae, he stopped himself, it means he is stronger than most. If our places had been changed I would hae killed him.”
“Really?”
“Och aye, tae hae killed that many men and tae stop afore killin’ the last? Tae stop afore killin’ the one who was hired tae murder ye, a brother who has conspired for the throne? If ye canna forgive him, at least understand him.”
“Yeah, okay. He did go after Katie.”
“Aye, he would do anythin’ for her, ye hae tae respect that.”
“I do, but I’m surprised, I totally thought you would want to beat his ass.”
“Och, I am goin’ tae give him a thrashin’, ye better believe it. He will need tae beg me for mercy, but he kens it. He will submit.”
I sighed, “Men are weird.” Then I asked, “Did you conspire against him?”
“Aye, I was hired tae kill him. I soon changed m’mind. I kent that the man who hired me was nae the side I wanted tae be on. I hae been a friend tae Og Maggy since.”
“Good, don’t keep stuff like that from me. That is a sin. Don’t do it.” I sighed again. “But what now?”
“Now we hae tae make sure Lady Mairead rescues them so I daena hae tae become king. I canna imagine a worse thing.”
“Yeah, me neither. I’ve seen what being a king is like, that shit sucks. He’s always got someone trying to kill him.”
“Exactly, m’bhean ghlan, when a man is goin’ through it ye hae tae hope ye daena get in the way.”
I nodded. “Okay, this one time, I will forgive him. He did seem really freaked out. But also, I’ll add this, I will forgive him more if he brings her home.”
“Twill depend on Lady Mairead then, ye need tae speak tae her on her plans.”
“Then that’s what I’ll do.” I found a clean spot on the side of his cheek and kissed him there. “And you know what is cool? We are Auntie Hayley and Uncle Fraoch now. Me and you.”
“Aye, I hae come upon a family I dinna ken I had.”
Sixty - Hayley
I passed Quentin and James on my way to the castle.
Quentin asked, “Where are you going?”
“I’m going to talk to Lady Mairead. I’m going to offer her help if she needs it, find out her plan.”
He said, “I don’t know, that sounds like trouble... Maybe I should do it. I think she likes me.”
“How can that be trouble? I’m just going to talk to her. It’s fine, woman to woman. I got this. Think of all the step-mother wannabes I’ve dealt with. I know how.”
They followed me to the castle and offered to lurk nearby, as he put it, in case it got dangerous. “Whatever,” I said, but then agreed.
I found Lady Mairead in the hallway. She looked her usual formidable self, giving me second thoughts about approaching her. I started to cross my arms, but then put them at my sides awkwardly. “May I speak to you, Lady Mairead?”
She said, “I am about tae leave but I can spare a few moments.”
“Oh good, I’m glad to talk before you go... wait, where are you going?”
“Tis none of your business.”
“Oh.” I followed her into a room and watched with trepidation as she closed the door behind us. I did not like having the exit blocked by a large wooden door with an iron lock. Note to self, leave first.
“I guess ‘what is my business’ is how are you planning to get Magnus and Katie back?”
“I daena ken exactly, I will need tae find the answer tae it...” Her eyes went far away.
“But you do think the answer can be found?”
“Well, if I canna find the answer, Fraoch MacDonald will be king, dost that sound like something I will accept?”
“No, not at all.”
“Then ye ken I will be trying tae stop it from happening. Until yesterday, I couldna think of a worse queen than Kaitlyn, but now I have ye before me and...” She shook her head and looked down her nose imperiously. “Why are ye inserting yourself in my presence?”
“Because I want to make sure you’re going to rescue them. As you know I run a thriving business, I have connections and skills. I want to offer my assistance.”
“If I need the assistance of a modern woman who is living out a fantasy with a man of little means in the eighteenth century, I ken where tae find ye.”