I watched Lochinvar’s face, he was torn between fury at his circumstances and worry over his lass, and looked as if he might decide tae brawl.
I clapped him on the back. “We hae another room near mine, ye can sleep there, I daena want ye in the barracks.”
“Thank ye, Magnus. Twould be good, it has been a long time since I slept.”
I climbed intae m’bed verra late at night. Kaitlyn wrapped her arms around me, “You’re cold.”
“Twas cool out taenight and tis late.”
“No sign of trouble?”
“Nae, twas a calm Scottish night, not a sign of trouble anywhere.”
She raised her thigh up across m’hip. “You showed Lochie and Ash to their room?”
“We hae shown them each tae separate rooms, they winna share a bed until they are married in the morn.”
Her quiet voice in the darkness, “Very interesting... and that’s nice, our Lochie is going to get married.”
“Aye, twill be an important step for him, I am proud he is takin’ it.”
Far too soon there was a soft knock on the door of our outer room.
I rose and shuffled tae see who was there at the cusp of dawn.
Twas Lochinvar. “Magnus, I was wonderin’ if we could prepare for the ceremony.”
I chuckled. “So early, ye must hae barely slept.”
“Aye, twas troubled in m’mind about not bringing ye the weapons, and I ken I disappointed ye, it weighed heavy on my thoughts... And I want tae marry Ash. I hae a verra strong feelin’ that all will be well once I do.”
I said, “I also hae a strong feeling all will be well once ye do?—”
Kaitlyn emerged from our room, “Who is it — Lochie?”
He said, “Aye, Queen Kaitlyn, m’apologies for wakin’ ye, I wanted tae ready for the ceremony.”
Kaitlyn said sleepily. “That’s fine, Iloveweddings, we might as well get up and get ready.”
She sent maids tae Ash’s room tae help her ready for the ceremony.
CHAPTER 24 - MAGNUS
DAWN, STIRLING CASTLE - JUNE 18, 1291
Lochinvar had bathed and I had given him a fine tunic and cloak for the occasion. Fraoch, Sean, and I were speakin’ with him as he sat in a chair and pulled on his boots.
Fraoch said, “So what is the longer explanation of what transpired with ye and the lass that ye are here tae get married?”
Lochinvar leaned back with a sigh. “Ye ken how I rescued her?”
Fraoch laughed. “Aye, we were there.”
Sean said, “I heard the story.”
“Just when I thought I was goin’ tae bed her again, which we haena done in a verra long time, a verra verra long time — we were interrupted. Strangers arrived at Balloch, a group of six men, the guards allowed them intae the courtyard.”
Sean said, “Och nae, I told Liam tae be careful with the security.”
