The Guardian by Diana Knightley
Thirty-nine - Hayley
Magnus was staring down at the letter Beaty had dutifully passed him.
He was telling us what it said as he read it, not nearly fast enough.
I said, “She is going to help Lady Mairead? She... she fucking knows better than to do that!”
Magnus said, “Aye.”
I said, “She would leave Isla again? Archie?”
Emma said, “She wouldn’t have, unless she thought this was very important. She was talking to me about Isla just this morning, it must have been really important. I know she didn’t think this was a tenable situation. She was worried that we weren’t solving the problem, we weren’t keeping Isla safe enough. I think she thought this was what she had to do.”
I said, “I think you’re being awfully kind, I think Katie needs an ass kicking.”
Beaty said, “I want tae ask King Magnus, dost ye think I am tae blame? Please daena blame me for her leaving, I did m’best tae make her stay.”
Magnus said, “I daena blame ye Beaty, Kaitlyn kens her own mind.” He folded the letter up and placed it in his sporran.
He was chewing his lip, and looked upset, but said simply, “I expect her home within the next two days, then we will ken.”
I said, “You’re not going after her? What the hell?”
Fraoch said, “Hayley, wheesht.”
“No, I won’t, he should go after her.”
“I canna, I daena ken where she is.” He was massaging his left hand, something I had noticed he did all the time now.
“Great, well how about me? I’ll go!”
Magnus said, “Nae, where are ye tae go? When? Nae one should go runnin’ off lookin’ for her, we are tae remain here until she returns.”
I huffed.
Magnus said, “If ye want something tae do, perhaps ye could take over some of Kaitlyn’s duties for the day.”
“Fine,” I stormed out of the room and waited for Fraoch in the hall and then when he came following me said, “What the hell, Fraoch, why didn’t you back me up in there?”
“I winna, cause ye are wrong, and I dinna want tae take yer side in it.”
I waved my arms incredulously. “You didn’t want to take my side! You have to always take my side, I’m your wife!”
His brow drew down. “Nae, I daena think that’s how it works.”
I crossed my arm and tapped my foot. “How about you tell me how it works, Mister I-side-with-Mags?”
“Ye ken Og Maggy will always go after Kaitlyn, hae ye ever seen him stay behind? He daena ken where she is!”
“That’s never stopped him before.”
“Aye, but he must calculate: his family, his throne, the vessels, he canna risk all of it for one person—”
“She ought to be the most important person.”
“Ye ken she is the most important person, but he has tae calculate all the same — and, m’bhean ghlan, she daena want tae be followed. She made Beaty wait tae tell Og Maggy. I think if she is the most important person tae ye, ye ought tae honor her decision.”
I rolled my eyes, jokingly, finding it hard to stay mad.
He chuckled. “Ye hae been practicin’ yer battling with Kaitlyn, hae ye nae?”
I nodded.
“If yer friend has chosen a battle, has ridden off tae meet it, and has left ye behind on purpose, what are ye tae do?”
“I don’t know, when Katie went off to college I kind of just threw myself into work and drinking too much.”
“Och, maybe nae whisky, twill end poorly, but ye might want tae find something tae do. And when ye are worried, ye can go up on the walls and stand beside Magnus and watch the horizon. He will be up there, m’bhean ghlan, he is always up there.”
I nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m not furious anymore. I forgive you for not taking my side. I forgive Mags for not going after her. I am still mad at Kaitlyn, but that’s mostly because I’m worried.”
“I ken.”
I smiled. “And I’m mostly mad because she left me with her chores. She is off on a jaunt with Lady Mairead while I have to go to the nursery? It’s not fair.”
Fraoch pulled me into his arms and gave me a big long hug, and being held by him made our whole argument slip away.
“Thank you for talking me down.”
“Ye are welcome.”