“The stars are gone, there are storm clouds covering them.”
I thought,oh, then they are gone.
He is gone.
The soldier asked,“Do you need anything, Your Highness?”
“Do you think you could bring me a chair and a… a wrap of some kind?”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
The nice thing was that I got to stand there, watching, while two soldiers found me the most comfortable chair and a military blanket to wrap around my shoulders, so I could sit there, wrapped up, watching the spot by the road.
A little whilelater Aunt Claray came out with a mug of tea.
“Dost ye mind if I sit here with ye? I will be verra quiet, I just want tae be near ye.”
“I would like the company, actually.”
Aunt Claray had another chair and another blanket brought out, and we sat side by side staring out at the road, sipping on warm tea.
After about a halfhour she said, “Ye ken they winna return until the morrow.”
I nodded.
And we both continued to watch.
20
TORIN
1308 - GATHERING NEAR DUNSTAFFNAGE
The world was wet and chilled me tae the bone. I was stiff and achy. There were soldiers already guardin’ the perimeter as we planned. Uncle Ryan was with them, havin’ come with the first group.
All was well, except I hurt everywhere.
I groaned as I pushed upright, my palms sinking intae thick, dew-heavy moss. The air smelled of peat and pine and verra auld. I put elbows on my knees, hangin’ m’head in despair, but raisin’ up a bit tae take stock of the other men. Aenghus was here, Charlie would come with the next wave of men.
And Max was here, just beginning tae stir.
Max said, with his arm across his eyes, “Och, I daena like doing it.”
“If I hae tae travel in this hellish way and lay in the mud in a primeval forest, then the prince has tae…”
I wasna sure twas true, but I was in a complainin’ mood.
Aenghus said, “Aye, here we are, once again, wallowin’ in the mud in the middle ages.”
My vision was blurry — I brushed m’hair from my eyes with a muddy hand.
“At least we cleaned up for the occasion.”
Fog drifted low across the moor, curling around us. I could barely see beyond our group. I joked, “And the weather is verra fine, just as ye said.”
Aenghus said, “Twill clear.”
Ryan stalked over. “Everyone alive?”
