“Yes, at my Lochinvar, you bossed me around again.”
“Och, ye told me tae!”
“Doesn’t mean it was okay.”
“Ye are bellyachin’ because I told ye tae listen tae me and we were goin’ tae jump. Would ye hae jumped if I haena? Nae, ye would be standin’ in the field still.”
“You would have left me?”
“Nae, of course not. I would hae stayed, but och, tis not manly for me tae stay and cajole ye tae come, ye must come when ye are told tae.”
“I am not okay with taking orders, just so you...” Her voice trailed off. “Why are you so ornery?”
I exhaled, checking behind us again. “Somehow we ended up in the wrong place again.”
She said, “But you were sure we were going to the right place!” She sat up, running her fingers around in her hair to set it tae rights.
I asked, “Did ye feel the tug?”
She nodded. “Yes, I did, actually, it felt like I was being forced in another direction, who would do that... ?” She whispered, “Asgall?”
“I am not certain but we must get tae a secluded place in the trees, can ye rise?”
She put out a hand and I heaved her up. I led her tae the cover of the trees. “Pull yer gun, I want ye tae remain here, guard well, I am goin’ tae grab Finny.”
I pulled my gun from my holster and jogged out, gave a quick glance around as I picked up Finny’s reins, and led him tae the woods.
Ash said, “Sorry I didn’t help.” She patted her cheeks. “Need to wake up.”
“Nae, tis fine, we need tae be on guard, but it seems as if nae one else is here.” I added, “Och I need a tent.”
“Why do we need a tent?”
“Tis about tae rain.”
She looked around at the trees and up at the sky. “Ugh.”
We sat down on a log. Ash had opened the flap on Finny’s saddle bag, pulled out a piece of bread and tore it in two. She gave me the biggest piece and we sat chewing. “Could the vessel be broken?”
“I hae never heard of it. But I do remember hearin’ a story of someone in the family bein’ pulled against their will, I canna remember who told the story. I wish I had paid attention tae it.”
“We have to jump again?”
“I canna decide. We might need tae search for a village tae find out where we are. Unless...” I dug through the pack until I found a phone tucked in the back. I passed it tae her. “Can ye see if it will work here?”
She worked on the phone for a few moments then said, “It’s not picking up any wifi or signals at all. Clock is...” She banged it and held it tae her ear. “I think we must be pre-phone.” She climbed tae her feet and stepped away from the tree line tae look up at the sky. “It doesn’t feel medieval, right? Do you notice that?”
“Aye, but I canna place why — m’thinking inna as muddled, tis not as dark as it would be.”
“I agree. It was really dark when we went to Stirling. This, not so much, but maybe we are used to it… We ought to get higher.”
I said, “Aye, tae do it, ye will need tae ride, without complaint, on Finny.”
“Without complaint? I reserve the right to complain about anything.”
“Fine, ye can complain, I daena mind, but ye will hae tae ride andhemight mind.”
She put her hands on her hips and huffed. “I don’t think he likes me.”
