Lizbeth and I entered the Great Hall looking for the men. It was mostly empty until a large group of boisterous men entered, perhaps thirty men altogether, loud enough to be a hundred. For a moment it was noisy and unsettling and I was furious with him and didn’t want to see him but I also kept looking for him in the crowd.

And then there he was.

He came to me — quiet and intent. His eyes had a look to them that reminded me of the day we discussed our wedding across the boardwalk. Not knowing what to say. Not understanding what we each were thinking.

He said, “I was worried ye wouldna be here.”

“I’m not the one who leaves.” I cut my eyes at him and added, “Where else would I be? There’s no where else.”

“Och.” He shifted. His gaze glanced around the room and then settled back on me.

I asked, “What have you been doing?”

“Quentin and I have been improvin’ security. We stationed more men on the walls and have had a strategy meeting with Uncle Baldie and the Earl. I have explained that there may be trouble followin’ us, but I believe the protection is ample.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Aye.” We stood awkwardly.

“Kaitlyn…” he shifted. “You haena learned anythin’ new. I dinna keep the truth from ye.”

“I understand that, but still — seeing it… Once seen, I don’t know if I can unsee it.”

“I still believe we can build strength from the pieces.”

“Yeah… but I tripped on that first piece we placed for our wall.”

“Aye, we have tae place another and another.” He held a hand out before him, flat. I laid a hand over his. He put a hand on top of mine. “That is how we build.”

I nodded.

“Have ye eaten yet? I hear food is about.”

He turned to his Uncle Baldie and said, “I am much starved, Uncle, any chance of food appearin’ before I fall famish’d tae my grave?”

His Uncle Baldie laughed. “Tis the Earl’s schedule we live by here, Young Magnus. Ye needs must be patient. I daena think he has risen yet from his afternoon nap. If we return tae Argyll, then I will ken the food schedule. We will eat on my time.” He patted his round stomach. “All the time.”

Men sat all around on chairs up and down the table, but also gathered in a seating area to the side and a few smaller tables set up in the corners. Trays of food were placed down the table and then men were serving themselves like a buffet, but messier with way fewer manners. Whisky and beer mugs were passed around and voices were raising with excitement and drink. Magnus took two chairs and turned them around so our back was to the table and we faced the room. Quentin sat beside me. We ate with our plates in our lap.

Sean stood up and said, “Young Magnus, I want tae hear your latest tale. Ye have the pallor of someone who has been defeated on a battlefield though ye are walking around nae yet a ghost.”

Magnus smiled. “I haena died yet.” He put his plate down on the table behind him and stood to tell his story.

“Since I left here, Brother, I have been tae see the lands of my father.”

Uncle Baldie called from his place down the table, “Donnan? I thought he was long dead and I rejoiced tae hear of it.”

“Aye, he wasna dead when my story began, and ye were right tae speak of him in that way. I met him and his reputation was much deserved.”

Sean boomed, “So tell us the story of it. Ye are talkin’ of him as if he has passed.”

“Aye, he is nae more, but tis nae his story ye want tae hear, twas my own…” His face turned serious. “While I was in the lands of my father I was made tae fight tae the death in an arena.”

One of the men said, “Does this explain your size? You are twice the man ye once were.”

“Aye, twas much trainin’ tae accomplish it. I became a warrior. I was made tae fight for the throne. I said tae Donnan, ‘I daena want your throne,’ but he wouldna listen. I had tae meet my Uncle Tanrick in the arena. Have ye met Tanrick, Uncle Baldie?”

“Nae.”

“He was verra massive.” Magnus spread his arms to show the width of his shoulders. “The fight was nae fair and I told him so. I said, ‘Uncle Tanrick, lay down your weapons. I do nae want the throne. I daena want tae fight ye, and without a doubt ye are vanquished where ye stand.’” Magnus’s cockiness was met with laughter.

He took a swig of beer while the laughter died down. “But Tanrick would nae put his weapon down. He wanted tae fight, so I fought him.”

“What sword?”

“A broadsword.”

“Yet ye stand here and this daena explain the injury tae the ribs, Young Magnus.”

“It daena. He fought well, though in the end I defeated him and was declared the victor. People were chantin’ my name in the stands.” He pulled up the sleeve to show his shoulder, but dropped his sleeve again before he exposed the bite mark. He pointed to the shoulder instead. “I had a deep cut here and here.”

“A week later I was called upon tae fight one of Donnan’s sons.”

“Your own brother?” asked Sean. “Should I be more cautious with ye?”

“I am the same brother ye ken before. As to this brother, I haena ever met him so twas nae difference tae me. I told him I would spare his life if he would place down his axe. I said I dinna want the throne. That I dinna want tae fight, but he never answered. He stared across the battlefield and shifted the axe from hand tae hand. So I fought him. I was declared the winner with three swings. I was verra surprised, I haena fought with an axe before.”

Uncle Baldie said. “Whoa ho, young Magnus, ye had two victories then!”

“The chantin’ was loud, ‘Magnus! Magnus! Magnus!’” He grinned. “I was verra pleased with the victories, but I wasna allowed tae rest for long. Another son of Donnan wanted tae fight me so I was brought to the arena once more.”

“What weapon this time?” asked Uncle Baldie.

“This time twas a hammer. Twas blunt and had a heavy head about it. And this brother had been trainin’ with the weapon. He had been studyin’ my fightin’ tae learn how tae defeat me. Tae begin the fight I told him I daena want the throne and tae put down his weapon. He answered, ‘I will watch you die at my feet.’ Twas his blows that caused m’injuries.”

Magnus pretended to swing and then groaned and held his ribs. “He hit me again and again and twas a struggle tae remain standin’, but in the end I brought the hammer around and got him tae the ground.” He swung toward the ground like he was reliving it. “I killed him after many blows — he dinna die at my feet though, I lay injured on the ground beside him. I was borne away tae the physician after the fight, but I was nae defeated.”

Sean said, “Well done brother, tis the Campbell in ye that ye fought so well.”

“I was trained by the best.”

Uncle Baldie asked, “But what happened tae Donnan?”

Magnus slowed down his bravado and bragging. He was thoughtful for a moment. “Donnan — I daena wish tae waste m’breath on him. Suffice it tae say King Donnan lay dead at the feet of a Campbell.”

His audience erupted into laughter and general cheering and across the men Magnus’s eyes met mine.

Sean asked, “Tell me, if your father, King Donnan, lies dead in his far-off lands, why are ye here? By my understandin’ ye have a throne now. You are a king.”

Magnus chuckled. “Were ye nae listenin’ tae the story, Sean? I daena want the throne!”

There was a great deal of laughter in the room.

Sean shook his head. “You are willin’ tae give up a kingdom, Brother, what for?”

“For Kaitlyn, tae live with Kaitlyn on an island across a far away ocean. Tis an easy trade for me.”

Sean waved him away with a hand. “Och, Little Brother, ye are always of a different mind than me.” He patted Magnus on the back, overly hard.

Much alcohol was consumed. Many battle stories were told. Most of the men had accents so thick I couldn’t understand a word they said, but the pantomimes and facial expressions helped me enjoy it. The whole evening was immensely entertaining.

Quentin stayed sober but looked like he was enjoying himself. Lizbeth smiled whenever our eyes met, a knowing smile, an I’m-supportive-of-you and you’re-doing-great smile.

As we sat there in our chairs, side by side, Magnus’s hand was resting on his thigh, close to mine. He slowly, very very slowly turned it over, palm up, and then he left it there, open, inviting, tempting.

A few moments later I shifted my hand, slowly, closer and very casually, almost imperceptibly, I placed my hand gingerly in his.

Without looking I felt his hand fold around mine. I took a long breath in and exhaled a long breath out.

And that too was enough for now.

Magnus needed to return to our room. The day had been long and he needed to rest.

We gathered in a small group to say goodnight. Quentin had been sleeping in a guest room of sorts. It was near ours, a sleeping quarters for the men who were casual guests of the castle. Quentin complained, “The room is so full of farts that it’s a surprise we didn’t suffocate.”

He was lobbying to have better quarters, but Sean clapped him on the back as he overheard our discussion. “Black MacMagnus, those are the better quarters. The other option is the nursery with the wailing bairn, or the Great Hall. It may have a better breeze but nae as much comfort.”

Later, headed up the hallways, Quentin complained, “By comfort he means that sack of straw I slept on? I think there were bugs inside.”

Magnus said, “Ye canna sleep with me, Master Quentin. The guard is usually stationed on the outside of the door. We’ll discuss tomorrow the plan tae get ye home, but twould be great fun tae have ye the next day, will be Lughnasadh, a once in a lifetime tae go to a festival in the far past.”