I passed the vessel tae Fraoch and drew the horses tae the side.
I chewed my lip as I watched.
Sean clamped his hand on Fraoch’s elbow, Hayley had her hands around Fraoch’s other arm. Fraoch was looking down on the vessel.
I called across tae them, “Why arna ye goin’?”
Fraoch said, “I daena want tae say?—”
“Why not?”
“Because ye are crossed.”
I huffed. “Why inna it goin’? Ye ken how tae do it? Daena ye ken?”
“Aye.”
“But och nae, nothin’?”
“Nothin’, tis dead.”
Sean said, “What does this mean?”
I stalked across the field tae them, put out m’hand, and throwin’ caution tae the wind, twisted and turned the vessel. It remained idle, without any stir, still and lifeless.
Sean said, “I canna go home?”
Without answering I twisted the other vessel, then I shook my head. “Nae, we are all stuck. This has happened before. It involved Lady Mairead, controllin’ us. But I am certain she wouldna block us from travelin’, tis unsafe tae block a man from his free passage.”
Fraoch said, “As well as bein’ infuriatin’.”
“Aye, tis. I daena like tae set out on a voyage and hae m’vessel break down.”
The sound of horse hooves rumbled, growing closer through the forest. I drew my gun and turned Dràgon tae meet the men as a large group of them came at a fast clip across the field.
Sean tensely asked, “Who is it?”
I watched for a moment, then relieved, answered, “My soldiers, I sent them tae scout.”
The leader pulled up in front of me. “Yer Majesty, we are returnin’ from Kippen.”
I asked, “What did ye find?”
“Their encampment, they hae raised a tent for yer parley with Longshanks.”
“How many men?”
A different soldier said, “I counted fifty.”
Sean said, “Young Magnus, ye will need tae take seventy-five.”
I said, “That is a great many men tae peacefully negotiate.”
The men said, “Aye.”
I said, “Return and keep watch, report tae me if ye see him gainin’ more troops.”
The soldier turned his horse tae his men and began directing them, while I said tae Fraoch and Sean. “We need tae return tae the castle, prepare for the meeting.”
