The Empire and the Wolf King (Kaitlyn and the Highlander #21)

46. Chapter 46 - Fraoch

CHAPTER 46 - FRAOCH

INNIS CHONNEL CASTLE - 1301

A t dinner in the Great Hall, I was celebrating that there was a working vessel, even though twas not working here. I had consumed a great deal of drink. I stood, swayin’ just a bit, and held m’glass up until it had grown quiet. “I wanted tae express m’gratitude tae our laird, Cailean Mòr, for takin’ in the bairns of Mag Mòr and the rest of his family?—”

William Wallace said, “Fraoch, must we listen tae ye raise a toast every night? Ye keep me from m’drink.”

I said, “Tis an honor that I hae taken from Mag Mòr. He never saw a dinner he couldna interrupt with long discourse about family and any other ramblings he considered important. I am tryin’ tae keep up his tradition.”

Cailean said, “Tis more likely that ye had tae deal with the gong farmer and now ye are tryin’ tae make us all suffer.”

“Tis just a small bit of it.” I laughed. “Why do I always hae tae be the one tae deal with him?”

Cailean said, “Tis the stench, ye ken, Fraoch, nae one else can bear it. Ye ought tae hae complained more the first day. And now he asks for ye, personally. And tis not so bad, ye only hae tae direct him.”

I sighed, deeply. “I suppose tis that I am so strong, courageous, and endearing, tis hard tae blame the gong farmer for seeking me out.” I raised m’glass even higher. “And ultimately the shite must be moved. I am a hero for it. Where was I…?”

Cailean said, “Ye were singin’ my praises.”

“Och aye, I am filled with gratitude that ye took us in, a decade ago, and tae Wallace for raisin’ arms with us.”

Wallace chuckled. “Tis me raisin’ arms with ye, or ye raisin’ arms with William Wallace?”

Ben said, “Both!”

I said, “Tis all the same, we are all fightin’ the English king!” I raised my glass even higher and then said, “Och nae, I canna remember what I was talking about.” I started to sit down, then jumped back up and said, “Gratitude. It was tae be about gratitude.”

I sat down while everyone drank.

Hayley leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. “A perfect toast.”

I chuckled. “I was ready this time. I dinna want tae embarrass m’self.” I belched.

All the bairns giggled merrily. Jack belched too.

Cailean said, “Yer gratitude is appreciated, Fraoch, but I would always help the bairns of Mag Mòr. He is my king and more than that, my friend.”

We all raised our glasses. “Slàinte!”

Wallace added, “Now that was a good toast. Tae the sons and daughter and the nephew and niece and the brothers and sisters of Mag Mòr!”

We all raised our glasses once more. I wiped my mouth on my sleeve.

Wallace said, “Speaking on the sons, Archibald left so suddenly today. Are ye sure he gets back later in the week?”

I said, “Aye.”

“Ye are certain he inna goin’ tae be caught by Edward or his men? It concerns me greatly —we ought tae hae accompanied him.”

“He will be fine, he’s a big lad, full of vengeful rage. Twill keep him alive.”

Jack said, “How come, Uncle Fraoch?”

“Everyone kens ye canna die when ye are seeking revenge, God inna that cruel.”

Cailean Mòr laughed, “I think ye might want tae speak tae the priest on it, Fraoch. Tis not the way God thinks on vengeance.”

I shrugged. “Och who can remember how tae behave? But tis not about me. I think God allows the bairns tae want vengeance on the man who stole their parents. He might expect them tae.”

Cailean Mòr said, “The bairns are allowed tae hae vengeance?”

“Aye, look how handsome they are, much more than I! God will look down and say, who down there has such bonny faces and kind dispositions, yet ye want revenge? Then God would say, I approve, because ye are so bonny.”

Wallace said, “Ye hae it upside down, Fraoch, God would want the bonny bairns tae keep pure hearts. He would want us auld grizzled men tae take on the affair of revenge.”

I raised my glass. “Ye are correct, Wallace, that is how it must be.”

Tae the bairns I said, “Nae revenge! Ye must allow me tae fight like an auld grizzly bear!”

I jumped up and lumbered around with m’paws out.

Jack jumped up and ran around the table and I followed him around, but he caught up tae me and hugged me around the waist. “I got the big slow grizzly bear!”

“Och, ye are right, the bear has had too much ale and when the grizzled bear has too much ale, all he wants is for the bairns tae give him hugs.

We finished huggin’ and returned tae our seats.

Ben said, “How about, Uncle Fraoch, we can all be bonny and we can all get revenge.”

“Ye are callin’ me bonny!” I pretended tae wipe my eyes. “Such a good lad. Tis verra nice thing tae say tae yer auld uncle.” I returned tae speaking tae Wallace. “Archibald will be back, and he will be ready tae fight. What is our plan?”

Hayley pulled my arm. “Honey, we have been down here for hours and it’s been a lot today, can we go upstairs?”

“Aye! Wallace and I will speak on the coming battle in the morn. Bairns, are ye goin’ up?”

Chef Zach and the kids all got up tae go tae their rooms.

Hayley and I followed them up.

At the top of the stairs Chef Zach said, “Come in the room, we all wanted to say goodnight. It seems important.”

We entered their room and everyone sat around on the floor again.

Emma had eaten in her room, her empty plate was on the side table. She said, “I’m glad you all came, I had something I wanted to say. Can we hold hands?”

Ben groaned. We all put our hands out and sat in a circle. I bowed my head.

She said, “It means a great deal to me that you all were so selfless today. I have been thinking about how I could ever make it up to you that you let your rescuer go and opted for another. I can’t think of a thing except, I love you.”

We said, “I love ye,” back.

“I don’t know how this is going to work. But I want you all to go to bed with full hearts and stomachs and to you bairns, please know, that all the aunts and uncles in the room and in this castle did everything we could to fill them, and keep them safe. I hope when you fall asleep tonight that gives you strength for what comes. And maybe we bow our heads. Who would like to lead us in prayer?”

Jack said, “I would.” We folded our hands and waited for a moment. He began, “God, please watch over Archie as he fixes all the wrong things, and guide him back so that he and Ben can fight the English and he can help me build the raft we were goin’ tae build, and show him how tae rescue us all, because I daena understand it, but I think Archie will ken, and… watch over him as he smites our enemies?—”

Ben added, “Draw them here and I will help him.”

Jack said, “Aye, me too. And bring him safely back here so we can fight Edward and win freedom for Scotland and the throne for our Da. Amen.”

We all said, “Amen.”

Emma said, “That was perfect.”

Hayley and I hugged and kissed everyone good night and left for our room.

We got ready for bed and climbed in.

I said, “Och, I did a little more drinkin’ than I ought tae.”

She laughed.

I added, “And more prayin’ than I meant tae when I drank more than I ought tae.”

She put her head on m’shoulder and asked in the cool darkness of our castle bedroom,“We’re going to be okay?”

I lay there for a moment thinking of all the souls we had tae take care of, how we had let Archie leave without any assurance that he would be all right, and that we were now waiting for help tae come. All we could do was pray that it would work out.

She said, “I love you, honey, but when I ask, ‘We’re going to be okay?’ I kinda need you to say ‘yes,’ not think it through.”

I chuckled. “Tis not so much ‘thinkin’ it through’ as takin’ an inventory of?—”

She raised up and looked down on me. “It is very much the same thing. Are we going to be okay?”

“Aye.”

She lay back down. “You’re just saying that because I made you.”

“Honestly, m’bean ghlan, tis the first time I truly think we will be. Everything changed with the storm this morning. Dost ye feel it? We are rollin’.”

“It does seem like… maybe something changed.”

“Archibald is winning.”

“What do we do now?”

“We hae tae give it time.”