Page 114 of Only a Breath Away

“If I was the king would I be trudgin’ down the path?”

“Ye ken ye might be missin’. They might be lookin’ for ye.”

“God, I hope nae, tis a dismayin’ prospect tae hae tae be king here again. Tis too much tae worry about. I want tae relax in the lake with the bairns, go out in the canoe, sleep with m’wife.”

He chuckled, “The bunkhouse got ye down?”

“Aye, the bed is verra short.”

“Ye ken, our bed is a pullout, and it has a bar across the back. Tis nae soft nor comfortable.”

“Aye, and ye can be heard snorin’ throughout the lands.”

“It will teach them, they ought tae give me a proper bedroom.”

“Och aye, but ye will be up doin’ guard duty most of the night anyway, the private room would be a waste on ye.”

“True.”

“And Colonel Quentin needs the vacation and Master James has just become reacquainted with his wife after a great deal of worry, and Zach and Emma run the house, they ought tae hae a good night’s sleep.”

“Aye, tis just for us auld men tae sleep uncomfortably.”

“How auld are we?”

“I daena ken, I believe I am past thirty.”

“Och, so auld. Lochinvar makes me feel my age.”

He scowled as we came tae the village and the Red Lion inn at the edge. Fraoch held the door open.

My eyes scanned the interior, difficult, as it was verra dim, with a small fire along one wall, and a few flickering candles. There were long tables and benches placed near the hearth. But through the gloom, at the far end, I saw that William Wallace was sitting with a small group of men.

Fraoch saw my eyes land and whispered, “Who is it?”

“William Wallace, the man who cut m’shoulder.” I was wearing a sling, but my shoulder ached. The bandage on it itched. “I killed him, yet here he sits.”

William Wallace’s brow drew down, as if he was trying tae remember who I was.

Fraoch and I went tae the proprietor and asked for two flagons of ale.

When Fraoch was handed his flagon, he raised it high. “Tae the king!”

William Wallace scowled.

Fraoch boomed tae the room. “Come on men! Fellow Scots, raise yer ales and hae a drink tae the king — what is his name... I hae forgotten as I hae had too much tae drink!”

The proprietor laughed. “Tae King John.”

Fraoch nodded and smiled at me.

“Och aye, tae the good King John Balliol, a man of royal aspirations and folly.” He raised his glass toward William Wallace.

Wallace raised his own flagon and nodded. “Tae Toon Tabard.”

Fraoch laughed. “Empty coat? Aye, tae Toon Tabard!” He added, “A round of ale for the room,” and tossed the proprietor one gold coin.

Then he joined me on a bench near the fire, on opposite sides of the hearth from William Wallace. I kept m’face turned away because he kept lookin’ as if he was trying tae figure out who I was, but as time would hae it, I had met him three times and all had been recently. If he couldna place me then this was a good thing, as it meant time had been rewritten.

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