Liam said, “That is a good answer, thank ye Amos for not givin’ anything away.”
I said, “But ye told them I was here?”
“Aye.”
I exhaled, angrily.
The men all got up and left the hall and Liam and I remained tae speak privately. “Ash and I must run an errand afore we go tae Stirling, twill take a few days, while we are still here we need guards on the walls, we canna allow any strangers through the gate?—”
Liam said, “I ken, Lochinvar, I ken how tae protect the castle, but we need tae send men with ye wherever?—”
I scoffed, “Ye think those men will protect me, Amos and Craigh? I daena need them, I can protect m’own. Just put more men on the walls. Guard the gates, I will take care of m’self and Ash.”
He chuckled. “Alright, but when are ye goin’ tae get Black MacMagnus and Master James?”
“Now, I will wait for them in the clearin’.”
“I want more men tae go with ye, or they will blame me for not sendin’ enough men.”
“Fine, I agree, but if the men ye send bother me I will kill them and blame it on the fae and I winna regret that I lied.”
He said, “Lochinvar, how am I tae keep ye safe if ye threaten tae kill everyone who is tae guard ye?”
I shrugged, “I daena need a guard.”
“Fine, but I will send extra guardsmen with ye, not Amos,othermen. Daena kill them, that is an order. I was told by Sean that I was allowed tae give ye orders and ye were tae understand they were direct from him, dost ye understand it?”
“Aye.”
I left for the clearing with four guardsmen following me.
The guardsmen stood on the periphery, watching the path up tae the clearing, while I sat on the edge, waitin’. Twas boring work, especially after havin’ spent the night in a cold passageway. I had barely slept. I was irritated by havin’ been banished from Ash’s bed, because I wanted her and felt I had made m’self clear. I had married her in m’heart, and felt as if m’word ought tae be good enough.
I dinna like that m’word was not good enough.
I wanted everyone tae accept m’oath, and I wanted her, I wanted tae bed her and was havin’ trouble concentratin’ on much else. I had risked m’life tae rescue her and thought I ought tae get the prize that I believed I was goin’ tae get a few hours ago. I had been lookin’ forward tae it, but now there was naething, nae prize, nae warm bed, just m’mind mutterin’ about how I was not being rewarded well enough.
And taunted by her bonny smile… I had taken her on, as m’wife, and dinna think she ought tae send me from her bed.
Back in Dunscaith when I was growin’ up I kent the older men were sent from their beds verra often, if they were covered in the sweat from brawling, or reekin’ of drink, or with the rage of battle still upon them — they would be verra bitter. We would hae tae force them tae sleep or they would fight shadows. But the young men, with new wives, they got tae bed their wives.
They were welcomed.
And danger was followin’ us, Asgall wanted Ash, and I stood in his way. Twas another reason why I ought tae hae woken up in the warm arms of the bonny lass.
I huffed.
I had made a comfortable place tae sit with my back leaned on a tree, beside the cart, waitin’ in the clearin’ tae drag the gear and supplies that Colonel Quentin and Master Cook would bring with them.
Och, they would tease me mercilessly when they heard that I had been sleepin’ outside Ash’s door.
Twas an affront tae me. I was never respected. It caused me discomfort that Ash was also disrespectin’ me...
I took a deep breath and exhaled... on reflection though, Ash had been right in this... she was right tae hae sent me from our bed. She was right that nae one believed I had married her, they dinna take m’word, and by sleepin’ in her room I was ruinin’ her good name. She deserved better than tae be whispered about by a castle full of Campbell men.
The men of Balloch castle thought of me as a brainless lad, prone tae brawlin’. They thought I was only deservin’ of respect because of m’proximity tae Og Maggy. How could I let m’failings tarnish the moral standin’ of Ash? She was too bonny for such a fate. She was quick tae laugh and full of light, I couldna allow darkness tae settle upon her, not after the kidnappin’.
She had been kidnapped because of me, and she still loved me, she hadna left me.
