Luag only allowed himself to watch Katherine on the horse until she was safely moving along the road. Luck had won and it was a market day, so wagonful after wagonful of produce was headed for the next town over. She would be well.

Thinking it was time to leave because he shouldn’t let himself be caught sending her away, he turned around.

His heart nearly stopped.

Someone stood there.

Luag relaxed when he saw that it was Gehrig. Still, he stood and waited to see what the man would do.

Gehrig just nodded toward where they were supposed to go muster for the March. "Glad I am ye sent her away. That market toon is as good a place for her tae wait for ye as any."

Luag had put a few provisions from the saddlebags into his own knapsack. He adjusted it, and his sword, on his back and joined Gehrig to muster for the march. When they arrived, everyone else stood in formation, waiting.

Donald beckoned.

Before going to join his uncle, Luag gave Gehrig the slightest shrug of apology. “See ye at the midday meal."

Donald sat his horse proudly and patiently until Luag was beside him. "Now that my nephew has decided tae get up for the morning, we can leave!"

Everyone forced themselves to laugh.

Donald turned to Luag. "I see ye hae misplaced yer horse and yer wife."

Luag didn't have an answer. Knowing his uncle, he just remained silent.

Donald gave a small shake of his head. "Na matter." He turned to a young aide Luag thought might be the son of Gwendolyn. "Get Luag a horse tae ride, and be quick aboot it."

The young warrior ran off.

Donald appraised Luag. "At least ye hae the presence o’ mind tae keep some vittles aboot ye. Otherwise I would be calling ye a fool, giving yer wife yer horse. Na matter. I shall be honored if ye take yer meals with me."

That oily feeling took to Luag’s skin again. The urge to try and rub off his uncle's cloying indulgence was almost unbearable. Thankfully, a horse soon appeared, and Luag mounted, happy to ride, at least, rather than stand there under scrutiny.

The army began its two-day march on Aberdeen.

Riding next to his uncle was hardly a treat. The man's comments made Luag uncomfortable. The other clan chieftains rode near, and Donald kept up a constant conversation with them.

"Och, how wull they march."

"Aye, this time we wull hae the prize."

“Nay thanks tae Roland."

“We hae na need o’ the puny druid. He has served his purpose in telling us what must be done, but we who are indeed men need tae dae it." This was met with uproarious laughter every time it was said.

"They will na ken what has struck them."

"Aye, they are ripe for the taking."

Luag grinned and bore with it. Riding with these people would have been an entirely distasteful experience except for one fact. Roland was right. From the soaring heights of the gray stone-top mountains to the vast expanses of meadow between them and the waterfalls that graced the rivers and streams, everything about this land inspired awe. Having seen modern man-made monstrosities and wonders, Luag appreciated Scottish scenery as he never had before. It was his one pleasure on this forsaken journey. And it must be preserved.

At the midday meal —which Luag was now cursed to spend far away from Gehrig—Uncle's boasting became even more unbearable.

"We shall take them unawares, and Aberdeen will be mine. Just the next step upon my ladder tae glory as king o' Scotland. I could na dae it with nary all o’ ye." He smiled at his sycophants. "And therefore, ye will all hae prominent places in my kingdom."

"Long live the king!"

"May he reign in majesty glorious."

Never in all this revelry did anyone look at Luag. Oh, Donald glanced his way now and then, appearing to include Luag in his assurance that everyone who had helped him would be part of his kingdom. But his uncle never did meet Luag's eyes, even though Luag was seated prominently on his right with Donald's current young wife on his left.

All this only solidified Luag’s conviction that had been right to leave his clan and join Leif's. Uncle was an insufferable arrogant oaf, and Luag looked forward to his defeat at Aberdeen with great relish, even though Luag would be entirely too close to the action.

Donald must have guessed Luag’s plan to turn his cousins against the cause, because his uncle kept Luag with him always.

“Yer rightful place is beside me, Nephew. Ride with me.”

Once darkness was near, they made camp. Donald called an even more elaborate evening meal with not only all the other clan chiefs, but also their wives and aides. Hunting parties had returned with deer, and It was a celebratory feast before the battle had even taken place.

Luag wanted no part of it, but he knew what he'd signed up for. If he was going to pretend to be back in the clan, that meant nodding and smiling at all of his uncle’s braggery.

"Once I am king,” said Donald, “I will award ye all lairdships. Be thinking aboot which castle ye wish tae be laird o', because ye shall hae it, each and every one o' ye." Once again, Donald's glance glazed over Luag but didn't quite settle on him.

Luag felt uneasy. This was over-the-top even for his uncle, to be so secure in the confidence of his victory before battle.

Later that evening, Donald’s young and beautiful current wife approached where the clan chieftains sat around the fire together, toasting each other's battle prowess.

"Husband, 'tis time tae retire."

Donald raised his eyebrows and gave a heavy wink as he looped his wife's arm through his and headed off to their tent.

Finally, Luag had his chance. He stood up and toasted the chiefs with his tankard and turned as if he were going off to bed as well, walking toward his billet until he heard them laughing and joking among themselves behind him once more. Only then did he head off to find his cousins.

Luag approached the fire where his cousin Bran sat joking with others their age. Luag had trouble meeting Bran’s eyes, so Luag moved closer into the fire circle and sat down across from him. While Luag waited for his cousin to realize he was there, he listened to what they had to say.

"Gaun'ae be an easy battle."

"Aye. The lowlanders are na match for us."

"Anyone who puts his trust in them is foolish."

Luag’s temper rose at the slights to Leif’s people, and his cousin still hadn't looked him in the eye and acknowledged his presence.

Luag stood up.

As the only one standing in the fire circle, he was clearly visible. He held his position there for a few moments, but it became clear what was happening.

Bran was shunning him.

It was pointless to try and say anything, so Luag left.

He had a similar experience around his cousin Searc’s fire.

Luag slumped off to where he had lain his billet next to Gehrig's.

But he couldn’t find his billet. He looked everywhere.

Finally, Igor showed up and told him, "Ye hae been moved ower near Laird Donald's tent."

Luag was back inside the marvelous castle-like hotel with Katherine, calling for room service.

Katherine was watching him do so, looking proud. Her beautiful hair hung down loose about her face, and she wore one of those skimpy outfits so common in her time.

He smiled at her and raised his eyebrows as if to say ‘See? I can learn.’

She gave him a very satisfying nod of agreement that made him warm inside like none of his uncle’s empty praise ever could.

He put the phone down. “I took your advice and ordered from the menu this time.”

She took a step closer to him. Just one step, but it made his heart race and his skin feel warm. “Oh yeah? What should I look forward to having?”

Was that yearning he saw in her eyes, or was he just feeding into her expression the way he felt? "Verra soon, we will be dining on spaghetti with meatballs, accompanied by garlic bread and corn on the cob."

In that adorable way she had, she suppressed a grin at his expense. "And do you have any idea what all that is?"

Testing a theory, he went over and sat down on a chair at the small table, a few feet nearer to her than he had been before.

It worked. She came and sat down beside him, so close that if he reached out, he could touch her. But he didn't. What was the hurry? It was so nice just to have her here by his side. They were young. They had all the time in the world. This was all he needed right now. They sat there at the table smiling at each other.

While it wasn't awkward at all, he felt a cloying tension grow in the air, his desire to reach over and touch her became so urgent. Again, what was the hurry?

The hotel suite’s television droned on, some story about a man in the jungle, fighting monsters called alligators. Luag and Katherine listened to the story, but they were watching each other's faces, smiling together at the comical parts and grimacing in horror together with the man was in peril.

It was more fun than Luag had ever had.

There was a knock at the door. "Room service."

The food was delicious, and they concentrated on eating, only exchanging pleasantries.

"I find I quite like spaghetti and meatballs."

"How about the garlic bread and corn?"

He wanted to tell her that her company would make anything taste good, but he found his normal wit didn't seem appropriate in this moment. He just wanted to enjoy her closeness while he could.

His instincts told him there was a reason he ought to savor each and every moment with Katherine, but he couldn't think what that might be. It nagged at him, this feeling that he had better enjoy these moments with her because… No, try as he might, he just couldn't think why their time together would be limited.

He did enjoy these moments with her, stealing glances while she ate.

She excused herself and went to the restroom.

He thought he'd go check on Roland, but then he knew somehow that Roland wasn't in the next room, and it didn't distress him. Why not?

Katherine was back, and all thoughts of anything else left him. She was breathtakingly beautiful, and he felt drawn to her the way he had never felt drawn to anyone before.

He went to her, holding out his arms for her to walk into his embrace.

She did.

They settled onto the couch in each other’s arms and watched the TV together in cozy comfort.

Holding her close made him feel like finally, he had a home.

“Katherine, ye fell asleep on my arm and ‘tis killing me. Wake up.”

Luag opened his eyes to the starry night sky with just a hint of dawn. He felt around him for Katherine, certain he would find her there by his side where she belonged.

But then full wakefulness took hold of him and he remembered. He'd sent her away. And for good reason. He needed to see a friendly face, and now was his chance, before the camp awoke. He quickly packed up his billet onto his horse and went to find Gehrig.

Everyone’s resolve to pointedly ignore Luag served him well here. Uncle’s guards let him walk right past them away from his billet near Donald’s tent to where the common soldiers lay asleep. The guards on watch there ignored him too.

He entered their camp, knelt down by Gehrig, and shook his shoulder a bit.

"Gehrig, wake up. This may be oor only chance tae speak."

Gehrig's eyes opened and he stretched. He met Luag's eyes, but he didn't smile or say a word in greeting. As he packed up his things onto his back, he merely nodded toward where the aroma of some aught to break the men’s fast wafted over.

Luag fell in beside him, and as they walked the short distance, they had a short whispered conversation.

"Wish I were marching with ye instead o’ riding with my uncle."

"Nay, ye dinna."

"Why na?"

"Na matter what anyone says, everyone still thinks ye a traitor."