“Wow, my love, this has been a day.”
“Aye, it has moved verra fast from a surprise celebration in the woods tae a murder in the upper floors of the castle.” He shook his head. “I grew up in a village, they oft hae deaths, but ye expect them, tis common tae lose yer elders and yer…” he exhaled, “bairns, and the wives in birthing the bairns… it happens more than anyone would like, and I think castles are the same. But deaths usually happen on the lower floors, m’bean ghlan, it can be common, ye ken, in a household of many people.”
“People don’t die that often around me, I’ve only been to a couple of funerals, barely seen a dead body until… time travel started.”
“Tis because ye grew up in the glorious modern age and ye haena gone tae war. In our village it seemed we were always speaking about the death of a neighbor. Twas so ordinary, we barely noticed it, but this… the death of an Earl, this is likely tae be noticed.”
“Do you think um… Lizbeth will be in...?”
He whispered, “Nae, I think she will get away with it.”
“I wonder why she did it.”
“I ken why, Magnus told me, just now. He was concerned I would hear the reason and twould change m’mind on Liam.”
“On Liam, why would your opinion of Liam change?”
“Liam was involved in the massacre at Glencoe.”
“Oh... oh. Oh no. You’re a MacDonald.”
“Aye, it wasna my village, and I was born later, but it affected all of us deeply, we dinna like Campbells much.”
I thought it over and then said, “By involved, what do you mean?”
“I would prefer not tae say beyond he was a lad. He dinna hae much of a choice.”
I nodded. “So what do you think of Liam now?”
“He is still m’brother. My thinkin’ dinna change.”
“Because he is married to Magnus’s half-sister and you are Magnus’s half-brother?”
“Aye, tis enough, we are the same clan, I winna hold it against him.”
“This is one of the things I love about you, you’re good-natured and you forgive easily.”
He shrugged. “But daena think me weak — I can be lethal when I want tae be, but aye, I daena hold people’s pasts against them, tis better tae forgive or I wouldna hae any brothers at all. Think of all the asinine things Magnus has done. I hae tae take the high road and tell him twill be alright or Lochinvar — och, he is a trial, and Sean, and... I would be verra lonely if I dinna forgive them their trespasses.”
I put my head on his shoulder. “Is Wilfred in a lot of trouble?”
“Magnus seems certain we can keep him from the gallows…”
“What doyouthink though?”
“I think twill be difficult. Think of the story: the young Wilfrey has caused a great deal of trouble, tis always the youngmen, they hae heat inside of them that will flash intae rage or desire, tis difficult tae manage them, John will see this, twill be difficult tae persuade John tae spare him.”
“Why would he?
“For Lady Mairead? He daena like her much. Hanging Wilfrey would be easy justice, and wouldna cause him a bit of indecision nor regret.”
“Maybe she can strike a deal.”
He shrugged. “Sheisshrewd.”
“Did you have that heat inside of you back in your youth?”
“Aye, and Lochie, he has it too, tis why he irritates me so. I see m’self in him. I try tae quiet his flame by talking tae him about fishing, as much tae persuade him tae fish as tae bore him so much he will forget about causing trouble — the fire wants tae burn up our world.”
