Quentin said, “Look, Lochie, I know this is hard, but you are going to marry her, right?”
I nodded. “Of course, I asked her last night.”
James said, “How?”
“I got down on m’knees and begged her because she told me tae.”
James’s eyes went wide. “Man, IwishZach and Mags and Frookie were here to hear this story. Okay, you got down on your knees, you begged her, she said yes?”
“Aye, she said yes.”
“Good, then quit your bellyaching, you just have to make it happen.”
“Tis why I wanted tae leave tonight.”
Quentin said, “I know, it sucks, it’s too dark, but if there’s danger afoot none of us need to be out in it. At dawn you can go.”
I nodded. “I ken, I am just irritated that I will sleep yet again in the passage outside her door.”
CHAPTER 17 - ASH
THE GREAT HALL, BALLOCH CASTLE - MAY 28, 1710
Lochinvar sat beside me at dinner in the Great Hall. It was dark outside but there were candles burning on the table and the occasional battery-powered lantern to beat back the shadows. A warming fire in the hearth. Lochinvar was in a mood, overly polite and a bit cool. He also kept quiet, being a little bit sulky, but I forgave him. He was used to getting what he wanted, he was used to fighting and winning prizes, and he had come really close to a prize and then had it taken away.
His clenched jaw meant he was focused on winning it again, and struggling with keeping himself calm while going for it.
I was the prize, of course.
He brought me my meal and an ale — we knew danger was afoot but drinking one wouldn’t hurt. And having Quentin and James back made the meal a bit jovial, even though the guards were on alert and everyone was taking the security of the castle very seriously.
Liam ate a quick meal, but then left for the walls.
It was unnerving to have this unspecified danger surrounding us. Men rushed around and were determined to protect us, but from what? From who? They were protecting me, mostly. And I didn’t know any of them.
Beaty said, “Madame Ash, are yer eyes used tae the darkness?”
“Not yet, it’s awful, so dark, like they haven’t adjusted. And my breathing is really heavy sounding, it’s giving me a headache. It’s deafening.”
She said, “Ye will grow used tae it, though twill take some time.”
James said, “It’s all stuff you get used to, but the shifts in light and the sound differences are jarring at first.”
I said, “Especially if you don’t know you time traveled.”
Quentin said, “Thatmust have sucked.”
Lochinvar, quietly looking down at his plate said, “Och nae, I am sorry I dinna warn ye about the time travel.”
I sighed, watching the side of his face. “It’s okay Lochie, I lived through it, it’s actually made me pretty badass, you know? Like I’m one of the most badass people I know, kidnapped to the thirteenth century! There was a firefight to rescue me, I dislocated my shoulder, barely cried — this is all going down in my heroic story... Wait! This gives me an idea, I should write an epic poem about it. Then when we go in bars I can recite my poem after yours.”
He grinned. “Och, that is an excellent idea, an epic, heroic tale about Ash, named for the Tree of Life.”
“I will talk about my trusty weapon, the spike I carried around. I never got to use it, but boy did I want to. I was so badass as I dragged it along the river when I escaped.”
Quentin shook his head. “You must... and I can’t stress this enough, carry a weapon on you, at all times, from now on. Don’t be a Katie, sheneverhas one when she needs it, don’t do that.”
“You won’t have to tell me twice, there’s no way I’m going anywhere unarmed. Though when I was taken I was armed — it was just in my purse, I couldn’t get it out in time while I was driving.”
