I said, "Aye, I canna understand how Colonel Quentin inna where he said he would be. Tis unsettling, something must hae happened. He haena ever not done what he said he would do."
Fraoch said, "I will go get them from Balloch."
I exhaled, long. “Och, but I need ye, Fraoch, with the English King just miles away... Could I send Sean back, he could...?”
Fraoch said, “Ye ken the answer tae it, Sean canna. He has only ridden a vessel once, he wouldna ken what tae do if he got there and Quentin and Lochinvar werna there.”
“Where might they be?”
Fraoch shrugged.
Chef Zach said, “So we’re all going to ignore that I’m sitting right here? I can go.”
I shook my head, “Nae, ye canna.”
Chef Zach said, “Of course I can go, why ‘nae, ye canna’? Name one good reason why not. I’ve ridden these blasted vessels numerous times. I can shoot, I’ll be armed. My family is here, safe.”
“We daena ken what is happening, and I daena want tae separate any families right now. Emma is likely tae never forgive me.” I shook my head looking in the far distance, thinking. Finally I said, “Ye are right, Fraoch, ye will go. Ye can try tae return the followin’ day, ye will miss the meeting. But Sean will be here — he and Cailean and I can handle parleying with Eddie.”
Fraoch scowled.
“Tis fine, Fraoch, the negotiations are goin’ tae be peaceful. If they are nae I will shut them down and set them for another day when ye are returned.”
Fraoch said, “I guess twill be alright. And Sean and Cailean are able tae speak medieval arsewipe better than I, I hae forgotten how tae converse as I am almost fully a modern man now, from m’tooth down tae my boots. They will advise ye well, I will go be the hero and rescue Quentin and Lochinvar.”
I said, “Maybe ye ought tae take Madame Hayley with ye, then ye will hae two who ken how tae use the vessels.”
Fraoch thought for a moment and nodded. “Aye, she will be glad for somethin’ tae do. She daena like sitting around a castle much.”
I said, “But please daena tell Madame Hayley that I offered her tae go.”
“But ye did! What, Og Maggy, are ye afraid of m’wife?"
I chuckled, "Nae, not at all, but all the same, daena tell her twas my idea."
Then I looked down on the radio. “I suppose I hae tae tell Kaitlyn that Quentin dinna arrive, that Lochinvar and Ash dinna return.”
Zach said, “Radio ahead so they’ll be used to it by the time I get back. They’re going to freak out. Man, if I ever needed a kitchen to cook some comfort food it would be now.”
Fraoch said, “I am glad ye canna cook here, I would hate tae miss it while I am on m’mission.”
I pushed the button on the radio.
Kaitlyn answered.
I said, “None of them came.”
She whispered, “Ugh, Magnus, what happened to them?”
I said, “We daena ken.”
“What about the weapons? Oh no, you need the weapons!”
Fraoch pulled the radio from m’hand and said, “Will ye tell Hayley tae ready herself tae go? Tell her we leave in an hour.”
We had been standin’ in a tight circle, usin’ the ambient light from the moon tae see enough of each other while we discussed, but now twas time tae return tae the castle. Zach turned on his headlamp and we gathered our horses. But then I stopped, my hand on m’saddle and listened. “Dost ye hear it...?” I turned tae the southeast.
Fraoch stilled. “What...?” Then he said, “Och, ye are speakin’ metaphorically.”
