I said, “If we want tae live tae fight another day we must leave. I hae tae get the prince tae safe lands.”
A man said, “My men will ride along tae protect yer passage.”
One of the men in the back said, “I will take m’men tae the south, send men tae the west, we will gather an army.”
Cailean said tae me, “We will take the princes and princess tae Innis Chonnell, my son is there, he has men, tis protected.”
I said, “I was thinkin’ the same thing, Magnus will ken tae find them there.”
“Aye, he will ken, he would expect it I think. If I am alive he kens I will take his bairns home tae keep them safe.”
Wallace said, “I will ride with ye, Cailean and Fraoch, I will lend m’sword tae the prince’s cause.”
Chef Zach and Hayley emerged from the chapel. She asked, “What are we going to do, Fraoch?”
“We need tae gather all we can carry, we must get the bairns tae safety.”
Zach said, “Fuck, that sounds dire, he would hurt a bairn?”
“A bairn in line for the Scottish throne? Aye.”
Zach looked up at the ruined Keep. “I’ll go see what I can salvage from upstairs.”
I said, “Hayley, go with him, grab whatever ye can carry. I’m goin’ tae get the horses readied. Tell Emma tae gather the bairns. We hae a long night of travel ahead of us.”
Cailean yelled, “Gather any blankets ye can find, as we will be sleepin’ along the way.”
I announced tae the group, “load them up!”
The courtyard and castle were rushin’ and chaos as we loaded horses with all we were able tae collect. We got the bairns up intae saddles; Ben and Archie on a horse, Isla rode with Emma, Zoe rode with Zach. Hayley had Jack wrapped tae her front. He had cried so hard he fell asleep and missed all the activity. Isla was exhausted from weepin’. Archie looked terribly frightened.
He asked, “Uncle Frookie, what are we doing?”
I said, “We are gettin’ on horses, goin’ tae stay with Cailean’s family.”
“Will Da know where we are?”
“Aye, he will ken where we are. He will come right there as soon as he can.”
When we were in the big group, about tae go, I saw him looking around everywhere, a look of panic on his face.
I rode up. “Ye well, Archie?”
He asked, “I daena see them — where is Isla? Where is Jack?”
“Isla is with Aunt Emma, dost ye see? And Aunt Hayley has Jack. We are goin’ tae ride slow, and all stick together. As soon as we leave the gates, it will be easier to see them.”
“I wish you were holding them.”
“I ken, Archie, but I hae tae ride guard — nae worries, we hae this. I winna allow anything tae happen tae ye or yer brother and sister. Ye will ride in the middle of a large guard. Twill be slow, but all will be safe.”
He nodded, anxiously.
I was on m’horse on one side of the gate, Wallace was on the other as the large group rode from the castle en masse. Archie said, “You’re coming?”
“Aye, I will be right in the back, with m’eye upon ye. I will catch up as soon as I ken tis safe.”
We watched them go, then I said tae the English King and his men, “Daena follow us, or we will kill ye.”
